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What Causes Hyperprolactinemia, Bloating, Weight Gain And Dizziness?
Question: Hi, I have been suffering from high prolactin levels.....first reading was 86.7, then a week later it was 100.2. I have excessive weight gain....I am already 30 pounds overweight within the last 3 months. I am experiencing alot of bloating in my abdomen to the point of looking 9 months pregnant. They did find multiple masses in uterus but say that I have no need to worry they are ONLY Fibroids....the problem is all of this is affecting my everyday life. I swell up when on my feet and I get headaches, dizziness, extreme fatigue almost dangerously while driving and my drive to work is 2 hours! I am feeling very down and out...loss of memory, headaches and blurred vision as well....I had one MRI w/o contrast read normal and now I am scheduled to get another MRI w/contrast on Sept 8th, meanwhile I don't know what to do...waiting for answers....also Cancer runs in my family....I have been having alot of chest pain the last week with a hard time breathing....maybe it is anxiety, I dont know....please help me. Thank you
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
Hyperprolactinemia primarily cause irregular or absent periods with infertility. It doesnt cause weight gain. However, if there is hypothyroidism, you may gain weight.
Hypothyroidism can cause high prolactin as well. Since your MRi was normal, we have to suspect hypothyroidism. Was a Thyroid function test done ? Hypothyroidism can cause bloating, and few other symptoms which you mentioned.
Regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
Hyperprolactinemia primarily cause irregular or absent periods with infertility. It doesnt cause weight gain. However, if there is hypothyroidism, you may gain weight.
Hypothyroidism can cause high prolactin as well. Since your MRi was normal, we have to suspect hypothyroidism. Was a Thyroid function test done ? Hypothyroidism can cause bloating, and few other symptoms which you mentioned.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My Thyroids are normal.....if weight gain should not be occurring with Hyperprolactinoma why is it that so many other people with this are also complaining about the horrible weight gain.....I thought the Pituitary Gland is considered the "Master Gland" and therefore would throw off all the hormones including the metabolism....is this not correct. I am not eating more and havn't done anything different to continue to be gaining so much weight,,,,if it is not my Thyroid and it could still possiblt be a tumor on the Pituitary Gland would the tumor cause this? I am getting really depressed over this weight gain.....I dont know how to get this weight off. I am confused because some doctors say with High Prolactin levels you gain weight and others say you don't what is the correct answer to this then?
Could the weight gain be from the "Fibroids" maybe they have grown or even possibly I have other ones that the dr could see on the ultrasound....when my gma had fibroids she was told it was normal.....she gained weight just like me....then eventually she was told she wasnt fat it was a huge tumor and she died of Ovarian Cancer at age 62.....I am concerned that I am being told everything is ok then I find out that it could have been dealt with early on but it just was not detected when it was addressed.....I am dealing with the fibroid problems and the Hyperprolactinemia....so with these two things going on can that cause this weight problem....I am so confused.
Could the weight gain be from the "Fibroids" maybe they have grown or even possibly I have other ones that the dr could see on the ultrasound....when my gma had fibroids she was told it was normal.....she gained weight just like me....then eventually she was told she wasnt fat it was a huge tumor and she died of Ovarian Cancer at age 62.....I am concerned that I am being told everything is ok then I find out that it could have been dealt with early on but it just was not detected when it was addressed.....I am dealing with the fibroid problems and the Hyperprolactinemia....so with these two things going on can that cause this weight problem....I am so confused.
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good morning,
Aplologies for the delay in reply. Its the time zone diffrenece. It was late in night here when i answered your question and waited for one hour for your reply before i slept. now it is 7 in the morning here.
I do agree that there are case reports of hyperprolactinemia (associated with a pituitary mass) causing weight gain. Huge weight gain with out a pituitary mass is unusual. The cause of this kind of weight gain is poorly understood. In your case, the pituitary and hypothalmus area was clear of any mass, hence a huge weight gain is unlikely ( there can be few kilo weigh gain though). Often, Growth hormone is co secreted with prolactin in those pituitary masses and that cause weight gain. It is not clear i they tested you for that.
Fibroids can cause weight gain if they are huge. In your case, ultrasound has defined the sizes of uterus and fibroids. If they are small and overall uterus volume is not enlarged, this also may not cause weight gain.
I have had few similar cases where there was weight gain with hyperprolactinemia. But they had elevation of other hormones too ( either high cortisol or growth hormone). In your case, you may discuss this point with endocrinologist. However,all of them had pituitary masses in MRI.
It appears that you are very sressed. Please relax. Since you strted on cabergoline, the prolactin will soon normalize ( days to weeks). It is surely worth waiting few weeks to see if cabergoline treatment make any difference in your weight too.
Regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good morning,
Aplologies for the delay in reply. Its the time zone diffrenece. It was late in night here when i answered your question and waited for one hour for your reply before i slept. now it is 7 in the morning here.
I do agree that there are case reports of hyperprolactinemia (associated with a pituitary mass) causing weight gain. Huge weight gain with out a pituitary mass is unusual. The cause of this kind of weight gain is poorly understood. In your case, the pituitary and hypothalmus area was clear of any mass, hence a huge weight gain is unlikely ( there can be few kilo weigh gain though). Often, Growth hormone is co secreted with prolactin in those pituitary masses and that cause weight gain. It is not clear i they tested you for that.
Fibroids can cause weight gain if they are huge. In your case, ultrasound has defined the sizes of uterus and fibroids. If they are small and overall uterus volume is not enlarged, this also may not cause weight gain.
I have had few similar cases where there was weight gain with hyperprolactinemia. But they had elevation of other hormones too ( either high cortisol or growth hormone). In your case, you may discuss this point with endocrinologist. However,all of them had pituitary masses in MRI.
It appears that you are very sressed. Please relax. Since you strted on cabergoline, the prolactin will soon normalize ( days to weeks). It is surely worth waiting few weeks to see if cabergoline treatment make any difference in your weight too.
Regards
Binu
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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