Preparing for an appointment

You'll likely start by seeing your family doctor. You may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders that affect your glands and hormones (endocrinologist).

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

• Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• For women, write down your menstrual history, age at onset of periods, episodes of missed menstrual periods, approximate dates and type of contraceptives used.
• Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
• List all medications, vitamins and supplements you're taking.
• Write down questions for your doctor.

Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For prolactinoma, some basic questions to ask include:

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• What are other possible causes?
• What tests do I need? Do they require special preparation?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• What side effects can I expect from treatment?
• If I have surgery, will the prolactinoma come back?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Will I be able to have children?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
• Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, including:

• When did your symptoms begin?
• Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
• Have you or family members ever had high calcium levels, kidney stones or tumors in endocrine glands?