Monday, February 08, 2010

In Which I Get Disturbing Health News, But Am Actually Rather Stoked About It

So remember when I mentioned my wacky gynecological problems? They are hormonal in nature, which I figured, and might need some tinkering to fix.

I got a call from my doctor's office two weeks ago. The nurse told me that the blood they took for my tests revealed low prolactin. I did a quickie consult with my friend Dr. Google, who was puzzled. Prolactin is the hormone that kicks in after you give birth that makes your milk come in. Any other time, it doesn't really matter. I called them back and asked them to mail me a copy of the test results along with the test forms for the second round of blood tests they wanted.

I'm glad I did that, as the nurse was reading the paperwork wrong. I actually have HIGH prolactin. Dr. Google was much more useful on that subject. High prolactin is a sign of three possible things: hypothyroidism, which runs in my family, polycystic ovarian syndrome, which I have a lot the symptoms of, and a pituitary tumor causing various problems. The nice thing is these are all things people are willing to treat. Heck, the treatment for a pituitary tumor can even be brain surgery, which I would be more freaked about the possibility of if Lisa over at Filthy Commerce hadn't had it last year. Aces told me really play up the brain surgery possibility and that I could be totally over the top demanding attention for that, but that's not in my nature. So more medical stuff is in my future, but I am just happy that it's not stuff that's in my imagination.

4 comments:

Cookbook said...

Aw, man. I hope you don't have to have brain surgery!

drwende said...

There's something very soothing about having it acknowledged that one is actually sick, isn't there?

I'll join Cookbook in hoping it stops short of brain surgery, regardless of the potential cheap thrills.

Anne At Large said...

It's always weirdly nice to know that what you're feeling has a medical justification. I will, however, third the hopes for no brain surgery and go knock on some wood somewhere.

Bridget Callahan said...

I'd like to announce that from now on, you win. Everything. You are the most hardcore forever and ever amen.