Just for reference I am going to do a quick and dirty timeline so that I and anyone that may read this can see and maybe give some input on my situation.....
March 2008 - diagnosed w/ 7mm prolactinoma due to infertility. Prolactin at 70. Started on Bromo and Clomid.
April 2008 - Pregnant and went off meds.
June 2008 - miscarried and had a D&C. Went back on Bromo and Clomid.
Nov. 2008 - Pregnant
Aug. 2009 - Had a beautiful bouncing baby boy! Nursing and on zero meds.
Beginning of Oct. 2009 - Blood tests show Prolactin is at 225 schedule MRI.
end of Oct. 2009 - MRI show my tumor has grown to 1.2 cm.
Beginning of Nov. 2009 - Prolatin is at 241.
end of Nov. 2009 - see endo, neurosurgeon and eye specialist. They recommend for me to stop nursing, go on meds or get surgery. I decide I want the surgery to just "get this thing out of my head once and for all".
Dec. 2009 - start researching like crazy for alternate treatments. I start taking Vitex.
Feb. 1st 2010 - Continue my searching and start on Frankincense. Decide to avoid surgery at ALL costs!
Feb. 13th 2010 - Prolactin is at 201! Went off Vitex.
Feb. 26th 2010 - Prolactin is at 155.
April 13th 2010 - Prolactin is 108.
May 6th 2010 - Start weaning process.
June 3rd 2010 - After being off frankincense for 2 weeks Prolactin is at 130.
June 26th 2010 - back on frankincense since 2nd week of June. Prolactin is at 110.
June 29th 2010 - had an MRI. Shows tumor at 1.2 cm, but looks different. Done nursing...mixed feelings.
So, there is my time line. The way I see it....from the time of my MRI in Oct to the beginning of Feb. I didn't have any blood tests and wasn't on any medication and was nursing (producing enough milk for at least 3 babies) so i have no idea what my tumor did during that time....my questions for my doc are:
-Is it possible it grew during that time and has been shrinking since then?
-What specifically made him think I had surgery since Oct.?
-What does he think in general about my alternative methods of shrinking my tumor?
-What his recommendations are.
Are there other questions I should ask???? I'm sure more will come up.
I have to say I'm somewhat in the same situation. I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago with a pituitary tumor also due to infertility. I'm 34yrs old and have no children. My doctor is sending me for a consultation with a neurosurgeon at the end of this month, and I am trying so hard not to freak out. Last my doctor checked my prolactin level was over 100; not to mention that I also have iron-deficiency anemia as well. So I completely understand where you are coming from. The size of the tumor, according to the MRI technician is 1.3.8cm or something like that. I don't know what that means, but I just want it gone. Good luck to you!
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