Changing body and symptoms at 30 years old

Hello

I'm new on here - just wanted to share my experience thus far, partly for myself but also for anyone who may have been through similar cascade of symptoms and dealing with a changing body. If anyone has tips or advice to share I would appreciate it too.

Throughout my 20's I had noticed my period was a bit irregular here and there, and once or twice it has been incredibly painful, once to the point I couldn't walk and wanted to call an ambulance. This cleared up with painkillers. I had experienced chest pain once or twice and been into A&E, worried about it but doctors always sent me home without anything wrong. I also had recurring UTI's. I discovered Acupuncture early on (when age 20/21) to cope with these, as medicine didn't help for long term prevention. I found great results with Acupuncture, combined with stopping drinking, sex and drugs, getting more sleep and rest generally, and have never had UTI's as painful since.

I noticed that whenever I went through a period of stress and loss of sleep my symptoms got gradually worse. Between 2016-2017 my period were absent for many months. I went again to the Hospital and they found nothing wrong. In 2017 I regained my normal cycle for a few months, although it was very heavy and sore. In September 2017 my periods stopped again and I have not had one since, except randomly in the month April 2018, I had a perfectly normal period. It is now mid 2019 and I have still not had anything.

In September/October 2017 I noticed that I was lactating from both breasts slightly.

In January 2018 I was abroad working on a project in Austria. I spent a long time in a sauna there and that following evening I experienced symptoms of anxiety/panic attacks, tingling and pins and needles in my left hand side even my face, which I now know as neuralgia.

This continued for a few months. I experienced painful headaches that were sharp and accompanied by neuralgia. It was discovered I was low in Vitamin D. A doctor prescribed me Vitamin D3 which helped the neuralgia clear up, I have only had momentary bursts of it since then.

When back in Scotland I went for blood tests and it was discovered that my Prolactin level was fairly high, around 1020. It was also discovered that my testosterone level was a little high above average. I went for a pituitary MRI which revealed the presence of a microprolactinoma (small benign swelling on my pituitary) less than 5mm of size.

I was prescribed Cabergoline to treat the swelling and to try and regain my monthly cycle. I was afraid of the side effects of this medication and put off taking it, deciding to try some alternative treatments first.

During 2018 my symptoms changed constantly and were persistent. I couldn't work a day job and my mood was up and down all the time. I was quick to come to emotional collapse because of all the strange changes. First, my body became very hot all the time, and I developed some varicose veins on my leg and groin. My veins on my arms and legs are enlarged and feel uncomfortable, closer to how veins look on bodybuilders.

I have continued to experience chest pains, which come and go sometimes over a few hours. Every visit to A&E came back positive and despite my repeated requests for further investigation the doctors don't think it necessary.

I had some periods of vomiting and diarrhoea, which would last for a fay/few days, accompanied by flu like symptoms (extreme tiredness, exhaustion)

I went through a period of insomnia, which still returns now and again. It was at its peak later in 2018. I went to see an Ayurvedic doctor outside of Glasgow, in a state of desperation. I also saw a herbalist. I was given some herbs (Ashwaghanda and St John's Wort) to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and help with sleep. After using this for two nights it took effect and I was able to sleep. However the continued use of these herbs made me very sleepy during the day.

In early 2019 I had some Ultrasounds made of my pelvis and kidneys. Small cysts were found in my right ovary (they couldn't see the other ovary in the scan for some reason) which would indicate PCOS.

More recently, I have experienced a bit of Acne and oily skin, and some lower abdominal pain, around my ovaries.

I have been having Acupuncture for the past few months which has helped a lot with anxiety symptoms and the pain, however, sometimes it can provoke the pain.

I have recently decided to try the Cabergoline. I have something of irrational fear around taking prescription medicine and try to avoid it where possible. So if anyone has comments on their experiences with this drug and whether it helped your periods to return and things to settle, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Staying positive and trying to get through these crazy symptoms x