[ykpettengill]

Hi there,
I just googled the meds I was given and found this site. I have a fairly high prolactin level 55. I had been on the pill for about 20 years, and have battled with my weight since I was 9. This year has been the most difficult. My husband and I were married in June and decided to start trying for a baby. After 6 months of me gaining weight and not getting my period, my doc finally told me that I have a high prolactin level and that's what's causing me to be infertile.

they did the brain MRI, and nothing. It wasn't a tumor or anything with the endocrine glad as thought. So, now they have me on Bromocriptine which is supposed to regulate my prolactin and hopefully make me ovulate. I'd be lying if I were to say I miss periods, but the fact that it's been 9 months so far is a little depressing.

The plan so far is that I will stay on these meds for a month, recheck and then see if I get my period. Well it's been 5 weeks, and nothing has happened in that department. The one thing that has happened is that I have gained 30 pounds in 4 months. There are multiple reasons why the weight has most likely come on. 1 - I have a ruptured disc on my L5 and a bulge on L4 which is super painful and can only walk (painfully) to exercise. And while being an esthetician, my profession depends on me being able to use my back. So yea, not working out and eating a little more has contributed. but I'm really feeling like the prolactin has to be a factor. I'm not eating pints of ice cream and fried foods...yes more, but not enough to explain 30 pounds!

the doc's are now saying that despite the prolactin levels, my now technically obese body is another cause of not only the prolactin but the fact that I'm not ovulating. So I'm getting fatter cause of the meds, but the weight is one of the reasons I can't get pregnant or work out? I'm so confused and I'm sure you are all confused too, but I guess my question is...who out there is suffering and is as confused as I am about the effects of prolactin levels, bromochriptine and weight gain?

I'm getting fatter by the second, going up 4 sizes in a quarter is devastating in of itself...but the fact that I can't heal my back cause I can't work out sucks, and I can't have a baby cause I'm getting too fat and my levels are all off? Anyone? Help! I can't keep getting fatter and obviously more depressed. I'm stuck, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance...

[Bokkie91]

Hey "ykpettengill",
I just read your post and I want to tell you that you are not alone!
I have never had regular periods, and I have always had a weight problem. When I was 16 I started lactating, which is how they found my tumor. I then started on medication and continued to gain weight. Im now 20 years old and I have gained 15kgs, 30 pounds since they found it. I have changed to a healthier diet, joined gyms, did gym boot camps, shake diets, pill diets, and the most strict diet ever was one where I ate only 500 cals a day for 6 weeks. NONE of these things have helped me loose any weight, if anything I keep gaining! I get an MRI and mutliple blood tests every 6months and everytime I see my specialist he tells me to lose weight! I found this site today, and after reading that I am not the only person struggling with this, I have decided to tell my doctor on tuesday to remove my tumor. I read on this site that one lady only started loosing weight once her tumor was removed...it came back 15years later though. But if surgery can buy me 15years with no weight problems I'll be more than happy with that!

Regards! xx

[Caramel33]

Hello ladies, I have always had irregular periods like only having one every other month or maybe skipping a month or two. In 2006 I began lactating and was sent to get an MRI done b/c my prolactin level was high, and I was told that my braces interfered with the results but if I had a tumor it was small and could be dissolved with medication. I was prescribed Cabergoline to take 2x a week. July 2010 I had a period for one day and did not have another one so I went to a clinic in Oct and was told my prolactin level was extremely high 132 and was referred to a Dr. I was able to get in to see the Dr in Nov at which I was told my prolactin level was up to 136. Again I had to get an MRI done, but was told again that it wasn’t a tumor or anything. It was a long process for me so it was March when I found out the results of the MRI & was prescribed Cabergoline again, but this time I had to start out with the dose ½ of one 2x a week for a month and if my period didn’t start change the dose to 2x a week, which is what I had to do. I got my first period since July in May, 10 months without a period reminded me of a pregnancy. Over this time I have gained like 30 lbs, although the Dr & endocrine said that weight gain is a side effect, they didn’t say that my weight would start going doing as my prolactin level goes down (wish it was that easy). Well my last appt was a 2wks ago and which before then my prolactin level was still in the 120’s…. still waiting on a call to be informed of what it is now. I have to continue taking the Cabergoline for 2yrs. I joined this forum because I am tired of aching(back, gout/foot) and every ache seem to have something to do with me being overweight, so I decided to try and take control of my body now since I am able to walk. When I was barely able to walk(due to gout) I was so terrified that I wouldn’t be able to walk let alone jog to get this weight off of me.

Ykpettengill – have you tried water aerobics? I know on the Biggest Loser the people that have knee or back issues, they start them out in the pool for exercise until they lose some of their weight. Also have you had to take Cabergoline, or you have only had Bromocriptine?

Ladies we can do this, lets take control of our bodies and our lives again!!!

It has only been a week but I have lost 5 lbs…. I know I have to start somewhere.