Hi all
Been doing ok - or so I thought. But went to docs a month or so ago with a change to menses, X1 sore breast and a few other symptoms I thought were unrelated to thyroid (been happening since Xmas) however, after speaking to my endo she wants to check my prolactin? Anyone got any ideas about what this is? How it relates to thyroid or any similar experience? thanks in advance 😘
Hello Natalie286,
Prolactin is a hormone produced by your pituitary gland and causes breasts to develop and milk to be made after a baby is born. Prolactin levels are controlled by other hormones
Hyperprolactinemia is when there is too much prolactin in the blood of women who are not pregnant. It is relatively common, can interfere with other hormone levels and as all hormones work in synenergy, this could in turn effect your thyroid function or your monthly cycle.
A previous post indicated you suffer Hashimotos and the following link explains the effects of Hashimotos on a woman's monthly cycle.
hashimotoshealing.com/hashi...
Flower007
Thanks flower. So complicated though 😳 gutted about this latest bump in the road I have to say! Got a blood test tomorrow to check prolactin levels but have 9/10 of the symptoms - don't really want more tablets. Just a fix for all this 😕
Join the club Natalie286.
Lol. Hope problems resolve soon.
Flower007
Me too thanks x
High prolactin is strongly associated with hypothyroidism. Are you sure you aren't undermedicated?
The docs had messed up my dose - long story it I was on 2 1/2 grains armour and then they had me reduce to 1 3/4 and then another doc said this is wrong! Up your dose again. But, the above symptoms seem to have been around since I was on the 2.1/2 grains??
I had no idea they could be linked. So are you suggesting that when my dose is correct I will no longer have high levels of prolactin? TIA
I'm currently going through the same as you. I have breast discharge (milk) so my GP tested my prolactin and it was way too high. Got a referral to the hospital and they wanted to check it again, I will know the results in two weeks.
If its really high you will get a MRI scan of the brain to check for a prolactinoma.
There is a connection between thyroid and prolactin. If your TSH is too high (and the control of this is coming from the pituitary gland which produces prolactin) you can get a high prolactin. This should go away when you are on thyroid meds and your blood results are good.
Hi flower3
So sorry to hear you're going through the same.
I have most of the symptoms so endo has requested the test- no milk for me but I had implants a few years back and they said it was unlikely I would be able to breast feed whilst I still had them in.
My tsh is suppressed at 0.05 - how's yours? My t4 is low at 14.4 (range 14-22) I got to be honest I don't really understand how the whole thyroid thing is connected other than I know it is?😁
I'd love to hear you get on tho' if you're ok with that?
At the hospital they asked me a few questions about symptoms that could come from a high prolactin level. I only have the milk. It can affect your periods and libido, weight gain is also associated with it. If you have headaches or loss of vision it could be from a prolactinoma.
They told me they see it as two different things (high prolactin and hypothyroidism) till they get the newest blood results.
The way I understood it is that the pituitary produces TRH and TRH produces TSH. So if your TSH is high (hypo), TRH will also be high. And a high TRH stimulates the production of prolactin, prolactin is also produced by the pituitary gland. It's a difficult thing but that's the way it is connected and that explains why (untreated) hypothyroid patients can have a high prolactin level. You would expect that if the TSH will get down because of meds your prolactin will too.
I'm still trying to find my dose of levo..I'm taking it since november 2014 and my TSH/FT4 levels keeps going up and down, really annoying! But my TSH is 0,2 so if in my case there is a connection with the prolactin, no idea. I also don't know how quick the prolactin will lower itself, maybe that takes months? The endo wouldn't answer my questions because he first wants to wait till the newest blood results are in.
Awh bless you flower3. My tsh is also low (0.05) so I would guess it's not that? but weight gain, zero sex drive and periods have become odd and very light? Should get my blood results today from docs - although, I'll wait till my endo calls- docs keep telling me bloods are normal? Thyroid, iron etc and they're not! 😠😘
Forgot to say - and not sure if it's of any link but I have a HUGE lump on my shoulder - doc said its a lipoma??? Said nothing needed to be done with it? An I right in thinking a lipoma is a benign Timor? 😳
That is the most frustrated thing, if everything was normal you would feel normal. As long as you don't something is not right.
Your light periods could be from a high prolactin level. Because that hormone is high in pregnant woman to produce milk. So you will not ovulate and often will not have your period.
Good luck today!
Hi flower3
Just had prolactin bloods back and they said 120? Any idea if this is good or bad?
I have no idea, sorry..Every lab is different so you need to know the ranges of the lab where you've got your blood tested.
Didn't they tell you if this is a good result or not?
They said normal no action BUT they said that about my thyroid and it needed treating and also about my anemia but that too needed treating😱 they gave me a range 0-300 but I think that also includes pregnant women. As per what I've read on the net. Also it's always given to me by reception and not a doctor.😁😘
That's annoying and I understand you don't trust it. Maybe you can get a appointment with the doctor and ask about it? That the result is normal is great but your symptoms aren't so that needs to be investigated where it comes from.
High prolactin levels have come down in both men and women when they were given levothyroxine. Are you getting enough T4 from your Armour?
Or, as Flower3 says, you may have a prolactinoma.
I just reread your original post. You said nothing about having high prolactin levels, just that your doctor wanted to test for it. Are you having milk discharge?
You mentioned sore breasts, which can be a symptom of T3 levels that are too high. How high is your FT3? You can only see it's true peak if you measure it 2-4 hours after your dose. Periods that are closer together can also be a sign your dose is too high.
Hi HIFL
I think we must of posted about the same time but due to a mess up at docs my T4 is at lower end of range 14.1 (14-22 range).
I also had implants a few years back and they said high likely I wouldn't be able to breast feed? But my left breast is super sore and swollen for 5 or so days each month. I also have other high prolactin symptoms. They all started though when my T4?was higher and about 6 months ago?
Forgot to say they are only testing TSH and T4😐
Well hopefully your doctor will run enough tests to pinpoint what's causing this. They REALLY should run FT3, since it may or may not be related. Good luck.
Thank you so much and me too re T3 but I'm lucky if my doctors read my bloods right 😠😘
Hi Natalie, I know Dr. Bergman talks about prolactin but I'm not sure if it is in this video...he has so many. But this will give you an idea about how many hormones the adrenals glands control, i.e. sex hormones, gluticosteroids, etc. and needs cholesterol to do it.
Link between hypothyroidism and breast cancer?
Hypothyroidism and sore tounge
UK Visa for Medical Care of hypothyroidism and breast cancer.
Does sore throat come with hypothyroidism and Hashi? 
Prolactin
