Pituitary Tumors: A Neurosurgeon's Perspective

[MotoVader1965]

Very informative, I see my brain dr next week. This gave me some good ideas of what to discuss with him when I see him next week. Really kinda freaked out about the whole thing!

[XPR12]

I probably have 1 of the worst cases for the serious things it has caused. So far tumour has continued to grow and I have only developed swollen tongue/glands, LVH, bradycardia, low blood platelets, cancer, am getting diabetes, & a million other problems. For the last couple of years I've had mega skin changes but huge irregular itchy moles are simply sprayed off with can. (Have suspected melanoma for a long time). Am taking Dostinex but can't see endocrinologist or skin specialist (Cda)

[michelleluman]

I couldn't even watch this before I had mine removed. Now it's not that bad. I had mine removed 31, 2010. I get a little better every day. The radiation was rough and all the other health issues suck...but it could be worse.

[cine121]

my pituitary tumor was removed after i suffered visual problems, thats the only symptom i had, it grew back and i had to go through the nightmare of surgery all over again, no joke you bet its not, i was first diagnosed at 44, i'm now told that i'm now on cortico steroids and testosterone for life and yes it may recur.

[MyAnq]

g protein mutations are probably the best charachterised molecular abnormalties in pitutary adenomas

[699hazard]

hi i was diagnosed with a craniopharyingioma when i was 11years old! i've had most of the tumour removed now but my pituitary was severly damaged during that operation aswell as my vision (i'm now blind in my right eye) i'm taking four different types of medication daily and i have testosterone injections every 3 months!

[tracy10UT]

Yes, doctors will often say they don't cause a lot of problems. But they cause constant problems such as constant sneezing, brown spots on face, weight gain or loss, round faces, double vision, etc. etc. And just because you have a prolactin secreting tumour doesn't mean you can't ALSO have the other kind that also makes your hands and feet grow. I myself have one that grows and grows but I'm allergic to the drugs so it's now a macroadenoma. It's really dangerous to take it out though.

[Yneekas]

@tracy10UT are you having problems with memory loss? Do you find it hard to retain information?

[Samuzas666]

my hormone lvls went back up and i dont have to take any meds thank fully and im starting to get allot more energy and im getting allot more hair on my face

[4EvaThrowed]

@Samuzas666 What were your symptoms of the pituitary cyst before you had surgery mines is headaches confusion and floaters.How are you doing now after surgery is everything back to normal do you have to take any hormones.

[rctriplefresh5]

pituitary surgery is through the nose. size is ot the only factor, a lot of neuros are misinformed. a 2mm tumor c\an be just as symptomatic as a 30mm tumor. theres more factors. it sucks that icant convince any surgeons to help.

[rctriplefresh5]

i have a pit tumor, and no surgeon will remove it. all of the doctors ive been to are idiots they say its not causoing me symptoms but im positive its ruing my fuckings life./

[karuspery]

Thank you for this concise,professional information.

[MAYACAPORELLA]

may i ask what kind of treatment did you receive? i was just diagnosed with a 2mm. i am doing so much reading i am getting scared.

[hunbolenn]

Hi, I'm 29 year old and have prolactinoma. I've been treated for over 7 years now. First I took bromocriptine then Norprolac because of resistancy to the bromocriptine. The tumor already disappeared twice, and my last MR shows that it is 7 x 4 mm again and reached this size within or less then a year. This scares me. Actually I am more worried about infertility than mortality. (PS: I apologize for any mistakes, I'm from Hungary)

[Samuzas666]

I'm a19 year old male and i learned like a month ago that i have a pituitary tumor after freaking out because of some lactation and nowIi'm going to have surgery on Oct 6 to remove it i hope my testosterone balances out after if not I would have be on medication forever :(

[StarlightMassacre]

looks like you just had that surgery yesterday

good luck bro hope all goes well for you

[Samuzas666]

Your right i did have it yesterday and I'm back at home now and the surgery went good .iIhave some bleeding from the nose but its normal . I can't taste much food except for fruit but that's okay. I see this as a good chance to lose some weight. LOL

[4EvaThrowed]

@Samuzas666 what kind of pit tumor did you have and what size and what problems did it cause.And how are you doin now

[stephaniesmeow]

Not terrified for the tumor itself, more so because my endocrinologist informed me that tumors as large as mine generally don't respond to medication. Therefore, surgery is my only option. Also, I've been to my ophthalmologist, and I've already begun losing my peripheral vision. I understand that they are common, but I believe that the popularity of these tumors refers to the teeny tiny to generally small ones, not so much to the "I'm going to steal your vision" sized tumors.

[stephaniesmeow]

I apologize for my poor attitude, but I see no other viewpoint on this subject when it comes to my situation.

[hollihobbit1]

I have just recently been diagnosed with a pituitary tumor as well. My symptoms are mainly severe headaches and major depression. I go for more testing on July 28th.

[mleepaschall]

ok, so my husband has vision issues and constant headaches and he has these blacking out episodes which have no warning. He has gained alot of weight in his face, he's very very moody and his sinuses are always draining. Doctors have run all kinds of tests and the only thing abnormal is the 4mm tumor within his pituitary gland. No one seems to be worried about it though. Now the doctors are saying he has psychosomatic manifestation. WTF!!

[lilmisslaywer]

Im 22 just like the last 2 ladies and have a pituitary tumor as well today, June 10th 2009... I pray for those who are dealing with the same thing :] We will all fight this and make it through!

[stephaniesmeow]

I'm 22 and have a pituitary tumor barely smaller than a golfball (that's what my doc told me, don't remember exact measurements). On medication right now, as my prolactin levels are high, and I go back in august 7th for another MRI to see if the medication has helped at all. I've known for years that something was wrong, just wrong diagnosis after wrong diagnosis. I'm terrified.

[kathrynsue1986]

I am 22 I have it they found it July 2008

a friend of mine sister in law had 1 she lived 6 year afterward

[spyderrules897]

I have a 4 mm pituitary tumor and it has wreaked incredible havoc but the damn doctors don't think its important! I have been out of school for about a year with very severe headaches,flushing,intense sweating,and heat and cold intolerance. I'm fighting so that I have the surgery done. I'm a bit confused though because medical doctors say my adrenals are fine yet an alternative medicine doctor did tests and said my cortisol is low. I think 4mm isn't small compared to something pea size. HELP!!!

[mleepaschall]

What kind of symptoms and problems are you having with this tumor? My husband has one that is the same size and he is going through the same kind of issues with the doctors.

[tennesseemtgirl]

Your symptoms are exactly what I had last summer and I felt horrible and very, very sick. I found out in February I had a spot on my pituitary and also dx with Adrenal Insufficiency. Do your research on the web....screw doctors..most of them know less than you do. Are you Hypothyroid? Usually goes together. Don't let them kid you...Adrenal failure can cause major crisis in you life. Find a doctor who is sympathetic...keep looking if you have trouble finding one. Good luck!

[10291415]

I had a pitutitary tumor, and yea it's no joke, I had problems as soon as my mother brought me home from the hospital, and that was at 6 wks old, I had seizures, My mother was told that I had neurological problems, but they didn't know what to do, because they couldn't find the problem. I went threw 29 years of sheer hell. Like headaches dizziness, nausea, and most important vision loss, now that was from my childhood, until my teen years. now from the age of 20-29 no periods, headaches

[LaDawn8284]

I have a pituitary tumor, suspected to be a Prolactin tumor although I do not have those symptoms related to it. I also have adrenal insufficiency, very bad. I have horrible symptoms from that. I have only a 6mm tumor I am told, however, that does not seem insignificant to me considering the pituitary gland is pea sized. Doctors want to always use horrible pharmaceutical drugs rather than surgery which really bugs me. Those drugs for this can cause heart valve damage. Surgery please!

[schnurr31]

cool. im scared to death of getting my tumor removed.

[7foot6munchkin]

It's for the better if you get it removed.

don't be scared. :)

[trish9a]

My husbabd had radiotherapy followed by transphenoidal surgery - scary but no option. He is Acromegalic and is doing well physically on various medications. Tiredeness is still is a real problem and the psychological hurt caused by having an incurable condition should not be underestimated.

We try to enjoy life and be glad he was finally diagnose and is here!

[schnurr31]

I got so lucky. Mine is so small, there is barely any treatment needed for me

[7600Augusta]

dude thats my mom. not even joking. im brendan rosseau her son. my bff is conor dunbar. wow dude thats my mom!!!! im gonna show her that!!!! omg!!!!!!!!!!

[krjone2423]

Awesome Brendan! I've linked the video to our Pituitary Chat Friends site on Multiply! I am so glad Dr. Rosseau did a video! Minniechat

[skux1234]

dude i swear i saw ur mum in a porno

[cinna71]

wow shes beautiful

[Ninotchka14]

Thank you so much for posting this. I have all the symptoms that were mentioned, especially the vision and headaches are really annoying. i was at the endocrinologists few days ago and now I am waiting for results. Once I already had a diagnose of PCO according to high prolactin. It's so hard to just wait for tests, since there is nothing I can do about. Except to inform myself. So thank you again.

[tracy10UT]

Thanks, yes. Endocrinologist, neurosurgeon, all! Also have some diplopia in each eye. But after the bromocriptine which I had to try 1st even though there were better drugs, I was scared to take anything else because that drug darn near killed me! Then I saw the neurosurgeon who said she could operate but she told me how unbearable the pain would be and gave me a whole list of horrible terrifying outcomes that could happen if anything went wrong, all of which seemed far worse than death.

[tracy10UT]

So many millions of people suffer from this so badly yet most doctors know almost NOTHING about it at all. My last MRI showed the tumour had grown regularly from 3mm to 11 in just 5 years That's over 1mm a year. That was 5 years ago & I've given up since doctors can't do anything anyway,& bromocriptine caused serious problems. My teeth are now growing apart & causing bad problems w/chewing although they can't find any growth hormone. I wonder why. Have to accept I'll just die from it I guess.

[suemrose]

Have you visited an Ophthalmologist? Have you seen an Endocrinologist? There are non-surgical procedures (such as medication) that can shrink pituitary adenomas. These medicines are are often prescribed when a patient is exhibiting visual disturbances. If your MD or specialist is not helping or advising you, seek a second opinion. But, be aware that many specialists believe a watchful waiting is the best solution. Good luck to you.

[EdugeBDroN]

Thank You