advice on Pituarty Gland Tumor

hi in 2001 i had a heart attack and had a second one in 2010 the first heart attack i was given a clot busting injection and came out of the hospital feeling great my second heart attack they fitted a metal stent since leaving hospital i have been totally unwell and very depressed i went back to my gp and he started me on sick tablets for my nausea (i feel nausiated every day ) and pain killers for my headach i am also on antidepressents for my depression my condition was not getting any better and another doctor sent me to hospital for a cat scan i recieved a phone call the next day from my doctor he told me the cat scan had shown an abnormality and i was sent that day for a mri scan this was a friday and on monday morning i was told by my doctor to go strait to the southern general hospital in glasgow to see the neuroligist he showed me my brain scan on his computer and told me i had a tumor at the pituarty gland and it was about 15-20mm in size he told me that he had a discussion with other neuroligists and had come to the conclusion the tumor was not growing and ussually they are all benign he said he would do another scan in two months to see if it had grown any when the scan was done i was told it had not grown and they would wait until mid. 2013 and scan again in the meantime there was no action to take place.i was not very pleased with that as i have no quality of health with the symptoms i am having which are Daily Nausea,Fatigue,Depression Headaches and a feeling of total Fatigue.But to let you understand we in scotland are under the national Health which is a great asset to have but can be ackward to get a second opinion.could you tell me if you beleave with the symtoms (symptoms) i am having in your opinion are they common with this type of tumor and how you would deal with it any help would be appreciated as i have no quality of life at the moment i am 61years old in April 2013.

[rumpled]

First, you don't want your phone number out there - ANYONE can call you...

Second, your doctor is an idiot. I mean that nicely.  Your tumor is classified as a macro-adenoma. A tumor that large is automatically slated for treatment if not removal - depending on the type of tumor. If the doctor has not run the proper testing to determine the type of tumor (there are many) then the doctor is doing you a great disservice. It does not matter that the tumor has not grown - it matters about the hormones and the location of the lesion. Imaging can only tell you a limited amount - the lab testing is the critical part of the deal. To wait a year on a larger lesion, BTW is not a good idea - they tend to grow faster.

You need a pituitary center. You need a neuro-endo and a surgeon that has done tons of these surgeries. If you are lucky, you have a type that can be shrunk with medications otherwise surgery is in your future. I had the surgery myself and it is not a bad one in the hands of a skilled person. Note that I keep pushing skill and experience!!!

Your symptoms are very very common with the tumor and your doctor is also very common in ignoring them. I know you are in national health - but you should still be able to work the system (I know of some in England that have done it) but even in the US we flounder so it is a matter of silly doctors and ignorance all around.

There are resources in the health pages - check those out. Some do cover Europe as well.

[rumpled]

First, you don't want your phone number out there - ANYONE can call you...

Second, your doctor is an idiot. I mean that nicely.  Your tumor is classified as a macro-adenoma. A tumor that large is automatically slated for treatment if not removal - depending on the type of tumor. If the doctor has not run the proper testing to determine the type of tumor (there are many) then the doctor is doing you a great disservice. It does not matter that the tumor has not grown - it matters about the hormones and the location of the lesion. Imaging can only tell you a limited amount - the lab testing is the critical part of the deal. To wait a year on a larger lesion, BTW is not a good idea - they tend to grow faster.

You need a pituitary center. You need a neuro-endo and a surgeon that has done tons of these surgeries. If you are lucky, you have a type that can be shrunk with medications otherwise surgery is in your future. I had the surgery myself and it is not a bad one in the hands of a skilled person. Note that I keep pushing skill and experience!!!

Your symptoms are very very common with the tumor and your doctor is also very common in ignoring them. I know you are in national health - but you should still be able to work the system (I know of some in England that have done it) but even in the US we flounder so it is a matter of silly doctors and ignorance all around.

There are resources in the health pages - check those out. Some do cover Europe as well.

[jimlinda]

hi i really do appreciate your time and expertease on my Pituarty Tumor and i will certainly consider your comments if it is possible could you get back to me on anything else that you remember or would like to comment on "I really respect your comments and the time you have afforded me "I am sorry i did not get back to you sooner i am new to this and hopefully i will get more experienced as i go along hope everything is well and hope to speak to you soon JimLinda.

[rumpled]

I appreciate the compliments. I am a pituitary patient myself just helping others like other pit patients helped me - and without them I would have been in deep water.

It is new - and hopefully you will come up to speed soon! I do hope that you can find a good set of doctors and get the help that you need.

Keep us posted.