Tears at Work

This is the worst. Eyes red, nose running. Face all scruntched up, trying to hold it off. The mad dash to the washroom. I know that if caught, mascara will tell all.

So today I called my family doctor, to see where my prolactin levels were at. The receptionist would not give me the level over the phone.

"Sorry dear, I can just tell you that it is normal."

"Normal?"

"Yes it is normal dear, so you don't have anything to worry about."

"N-nothing to worry about?" You mean the two periods over nine months is nothing to worry about? You mean the fact that I do not ovulate is nothing to worry about? How about this one - you mean the fact that I have a tumor IN MY BRAIN is nothing to worry about?

So I said, in my open cubicle at work, for all to hear "I had an MRI last week, where they found a prolactin secreting microandenoma on my pituitary gland. I am pretty sure my prolactin is not normal."

"Well, you will have to speak to the nurse then."

Fine.

So the good news is that my prolactin has gone down to 28.6 from 40.2. Normal is anything under 20. So although improving, I am not normal, and do not have regular periods. And I do have the oh-so-fun related symptom of galactorrhea.

So next step. I call the OB/GYN to see if they are going to refer me to an endocrinologist, a hormone doctor. She told me before the MRI that they would, if they found anything lurking on my pituitary gland, which they did.

No such luck. She told me that since my levels are close to "normal" (gee... there is that word again), and since there is a one to two year waiting period for an endo, I would not be referred. Great. Good thing I was not dying or anything.

She also told me that, at I can just go ahead and start trying to get pregnant!

Oh can I?

First that would mean an egg was present, which would be evident by a monthly period, which I in fact, do not have.

Since I made such a fuss, the doctor told me I can go on Dostinex if I want. If I want. Since I am the one with the medical degree. No mention of dosage. No mention of side effects. No mention of the other drug, Bromocriptine, which has been around longer, has had more testing and therefore may be safer while trying to conceive.

Am I falling through the cracks in this healthcare system of ours?

Mark was very supportive. He listened as I cried over the phone. He told me that if the healthcare system had a nose, he would punch it on my behalf.

God I love that man.