crowdog66

Aaaand the survey says...

High prolactin levels, sitting at 28 when they should be below 20. Something's going on with my pituitary. Either (a) there's a growth on it, a pituitary adenoma, that's stimulating prolactin production, or (b) my psychiatric meds are screwing around with the regulation of prolactin in my system.

I'm lacking some of the classic symptoms -- cessation of periods and lactation -- but I've been able to find some scattered references to fatigue as one of the associated signs. My doctor is going to stop investigation at this point until we can get an MRI (should take about a month to set up) to check for that adenoma. If it is a growth, there are drugs that can regulate my prolactin levels. If it's medication related, then it's time to adjust my meds (always a fun, fun, FUN prospect).

Am I convinced that this is the answer? Not entirely. I'm missing primary symptoms and displaying others that don't fit with high prolactin levels. The fatigue in particular is something I'm not satisfied with. However, short of yanking my chart from my current clinic and going in search of another doctor (yeah, right), all I can really do at this point is wait for my next appointment and confront my doc with what I perceive to be the flaws in his diagnosis.

I go in for a consulation and my flu shot on November 24th. Oh, and I can start exercising again, but I've been cautioned to be careful, and to stop if I get chest pain or a racing heartbeat.

*takes a deep breath and releases a yell of pure frustration* Aaaaaaaaaaah, dammit, even when I get a diagnosis it's not a satisfying answer! Oh, ye Gods!!! *another scream*

... well, what can I do? Put on my big girl panties and deal, that's what. And prepare a list of symptoms and other possible diagnoses to take along when I see my doctor next.

In the world of dragons (because of course you KNEW they were coming)...

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In the last 24 hours I've picked up two rares -- the dino egg AND the silver hatchling, which I must guiltily admit that I suspect I poached from a trade-in-progress... but it showed up on the Abandoned Egg page while I was checking out the drops and I clicked on it without thinking. Never expecting to actually GET it, of course. And I did. *sighs and sends out a mental apology to whomever it was intended for*

I don't like achieving what I want at the expense of someone else. And that's what I just did.

All in all, a day of mixed blessings.

Went to see my doctor today and submitted blood and urine samples. He put the urine tests on a "rush" to get results in ten minutes, to see if I needed an antibiotic. Nope. My kidneys and bladder are clear of infection.

The blood tests -- for cortisol, testosterone, and prolactin levels, among other things -- are focussed on my hormone levels. He's hoping to pick something, anything, up there. My blood pressure is still high (135/80) compared to my normal bp (120/80), and he didn't take my pulse rate. He pronounced the little red spots on my upper back to be a non-specific rash that could have any number of causes and therefore isn't helpful in terms of diagnosis. He's talking about an ultrasound to look at my adrenals and make sure they're normal. Honestly, I don't think he has any idea of where to go next.

I'm tired, discouraged, and depressed. I just want a diagnosis. I just want this to be over.

On the plus side, I finished 5 pages of HB yesterday, which is more than I've been able to manage at any point since the hysteroscopy on October 2nd.

Dragon eggs. Please click?

/ /

My scroll with all the dragons you've helped to grow up big and strong.

I've got a soy milk latte from Starbucks that will hopefully get me through the afternoon. Hopefully.