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Pituitary microadenoma ?'s
I was told I possibly have a pituitary microadenoma based on my MRI results, but the doctor wants to do the wait and see approach. The doctor said he was "100% sure this was not causing any symptoms." What are the symptoms a non-secreting, non-functioning pituitary microadenoma may cause?
I am going to push to have the doctor remove the microadenoma, as I didn't feel this way 5 years ago until I broke my nose. Maybe breaking my nose did something to the microadenoma or possibly caused it. All I know is my TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 always come back normal, but they are all at the bottom of the range, which suggests a pituitary problem.
Even if it is non-secreting/non-functioning, can't it still cause depression, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, vision problems, etc...?
Has anyone heard the medications might not work correctly because of the adenoma?
The doctors told me it's too small to remove, but at this point I think they should try to remove it as it can't get any worse. Oh, and I really don't believe a doctor who states there "100% sure it's not causing any of my symptoms". How would anyone know until they remove it or something. A broken finger could affect someone different than the next person...you just never know.
Even if it is non-secreting/non-functioning, can't it still cause depression, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, vision problems, etc...?
Has anyone heard the medications might not work correctly because of the adenoma?
The doctors told me it's too small to remove, but at this point I think they should try to remove it as it can't get any worse. Oh, and I really don't believe a doctor who states there "100% sure it's not causing any of my symptoms". How would anyone know until they remove it or something. A broken finger could affect someone different than the next person...you just never know.
I have to say Rumpled is right, you must be your own advocate and go with your gut feeling. I believe some of the doctors use meds like a band-aid and not get at the root of a problem.
I am waiting for my report because I was getting conflicting info regarding which types of hormones they tested for. The only one I know was the prolactin which came back normal. The drs are going to change my blood pressure med. because they think possibly the Spironalactone which is what is in my blood pressure med has been known to cause lactation in men and possibly that is what is causing it in me. I did see the psychologist and he felt at this time some talk therapy would be good for me and to learn some relaxing technics. I take all this with a grain of salt.
My gut says something is wrong so I will keep plugging away at this. It might take a while but I will not give up and maybe in a year or 2 the blood levels will finally show abnormal.
Good Luck to you
I am waiting for my report because I was getting conflicting info regarding which types of hormones they tested for. The only one I know was the prolactin which came back normal. The drs are going to change my blood pressure med. because they think possibly the Spironalactone which is what is in my blood pressure med has been known to cause lactation in men and possibly that is what is causing it in me. I did see the psychologist and he felt at this time some talk therapy would be good for me and to learn some relaxing technics. I take all this with a grain of salt.
My gut says something is wrong so I will keep plugging away at this. It might take a while but I will not give up and maybe in a year or 2 the blood levels will finally show abnormal.
Good Luck to you
I would get another opinion, from a neuro-endocrinologist.
I had an MRI that showed a 5-6mm adenoma on the left.
I saw a few specialists and they told me my tumor was non-secreting, an incidentaloma. They told me my symptoms were thyroid, not pituitary. I had a barely elevated prolactin, and I was tired. My TSH was bouncing all over the place.
Over the years, I progressively got sicker and sicker, but like a good patient, I ignored the pit tumor as I was told to do so by some reputable hospitals instead of trusting my gut.
In the end, the symptoms finally got too horrible to ignore. I was then told by a specialist that my tumor was 'too old" to be causing my issues and their surgeon read my latest films as "no tumor."
I persisted. I found another doctor and gosh oh golly gee... this doctor diagnosed me with Cushing's disease and the new scan found a second tumor on the right - a prolactinoma that was confirmed with pathology.
Alas, all this took so long that I am now disabled from the effect of the Cushing's.
Always get copies of everything, read it and question it all.
I had an MRI that showed a 5-6mm adenoma on the left.
I saw a few specialists and they told me my tumor was non-secreting, an incidentaloma. They told me my symptoms were thyroid, not pituitary. I had a barely elevated prolactin, and I was tired. My TSH was bouncing all over the place.
Over the years, I progressively got sicker and sicker, but like a good patient, I ignored the pit tumor as I was told to do so by some reputable hospitals instead of trusting my gut.
In the end, the symptoms finally got too horrible to ignore. I was then told by a specialist that my tumor was 'too old" to be causing my issues and their surgeon read my latest films as "no tumor."
I persisted. I found another doctor and gosh oh golly gee... this doctor diagnosed me with Cushing's disease and the new scan found a second tumor on the right - a prolactinoma that was confirmed with pathology.
Alas, all this took so long that I am now disabled from the effect of the Cushing's.
Always get copies of everything, read it and question it all.
Hi,
i have pituitary microadenoma about 5 x 5 mm. Detected in 2002. No treatment. No testing except prolactin, which has been high from time to time and treated with bromocriptine.
I have thyroid failure of unknown cause. My TSH does go up when I am very hypo, but when FT3 and FT4 are within range TSH is normally very low. I have to keep reminding my endo that because every now and then he gets upset with the very low TSH...
I get MRI to monitor about every 2 years and visual field testing annually. But dr. says the pituitary microadenoma is too small to be significant. Haven't had cortisol testing except morning cortisol once in a blue moon. He refuses to test anything else and he's about hte best doc i've found (at least he doesn't brush me off), so I'll just work with him for now...
Have major problems with weird allergies - can't identify cause but get major itching and flushing.... Anyone else experience this?
i have pituitary microadenoma about 5 x 5 mm. Detected in 2002. No treatment. No testing except prolactin, which has been high from time to time and treated with bromocriptine.
I have thyroid failure of unknown cause. My TSH does go up when I am very hypo, but when FT3 and FT4 are within range TSH is normally very low. I have to keep reminding my endo that because every now and then he gets upset with the very low TSH...
I get MRI to monitor about every 2 years and visual field testing annually. But dr. says the pituitary microadenoma is too small to be significant. Haven't had cortisol testing except morning cortisol once in a blue moon. He refuses to test anything else and he's about hte best doc i've found (at least he doesn't brush me off), so I'll just work with him for now...
Have major problems with weird allergies - can't identify cause but get major itching and flushing.... Anyone else experience this?
That is very interesting to hear...that the Mayo is not recommended and you and I have went through almost the same situation. Keep me updated if you don't mind.
Since my problems started in around 2003, the doctor's have tried me on Clonezapan, Ativan, Lorazepan, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Zoloft, Cymbalta, Welbutrin, Xanax, Paxil, Paxil CR, Cytomel, Hydrocortisone, Testosterone injections, Avelox, Prednisone, Remeron, Ambien, Ambien CR, Chloral Hydrate, Clomipramine, Buspirone, Lexapro, Lunesta, Ru-Tuss, Amoxicillin, Taurine, Flonase, Lamictal, Invega, Hydrocone, Lortab, Oxycodone, Morphine ER, Metopropal (high blood pressure), Amitryptiline, etc...
All these medicines and I can't tell I'm taking anything. I get the worst headaches and pain behind my eyes, just above my nose and sometimes in the temple area. From time to time it feels like my equilibreum is messed up and I have a hard time hearing. For all these years I've told the doctors my right eye almost feels as though it's lower than my left and it doesn't feel like it tracks correctly. Looking sideways...I feel almost like I'm slow and dumb. I was just so amazed that the doctors came back and said what they found was located on my right side, but they were "100% sure it wasn't causing my symptoms".
Has anyone ever heard of medications possibly not working on a person with a pituitary microadenoma or tumor? I had heard that the medications might not work, because a tumor would block or not process the medicine correctly through the A and B receptors. I have tried to tell the doctors that my anxiety and depression comes from the way I feel and they do not seem like the main factors in my case. To me it seems if that many anti-anxiety/anti-depressants don't work, then maybe there is an underlying cause of them.
Since my problems started in around 2003, the doctor's have tried me on Clonezapan, Ativan, Lorazepan, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Zoloft, Cymbalta, Welbutrin, Xanax, Paxil, Paxil CR, Cytomel, Hydrocortisone, Testosterone injections, Avelox, Prednisone, Remeron, Ambien, Ambien CR, Chloral Hydrate, Clomipramine, Buspirone, Lexapro, Lunesta, Ru-Tuss, Amoxicillin, Taurine, Flonase, Lamictal, Invega, Hydrocone, Lortab, Oxycodone, Morphine ER, Metopropal (high blood pressure), Amitryptiline, etc...
All these medicines and I can't tell I'm taking anything. I get the worst headaches and pain behind my eyes, just above my nose and sometimes in the temple area. From time to time it feels like my equilibreum is messed up and I have a hard time hearing. For all these years I've told the doctors my right eye almost feels as though it's lower than my left and it doesn't feel like it tracks correctly. Looking sideways...I feel almost like I'm slow and dumb. I was just so amazed that the doctors came back and said what they found was located on my right side, but they were "100% sure it wasn't causing my symptoms".
Has anyone ever heard of medications possibly not working on a person with a pituitary microadenoma or tumor? I had heard that the medications might not work, because a tumor would block or not process the medicine correctly through the A and B receptors. I have tried to tell the doctors that my anxiety and depression comes from the way I feel and they do not seem like the main factors in my case. To me it seems if that many anti-anxiety/anti-depressants don't work, then maybe there is an underlying cause of them.
This is so intresting reading everyones posts. I too have these symptoms. I just thought it was because I work a lot so I'm exhausted. Well my prolactinoma was diagnoses 23 years ago, successfully treated with Parlodel for 1 year--then got endometriosis, had my left tube and ovary removed, I did get pregnant and had 2 sons, I had 3 other pregnancies though and lost them far along. I haven't thought much about the prolactinoma until recent, because I am gaining weight daily despite my working out and weight watchers, I am depressed, EXHAUSTED, get frequent infections and have had about 4 fractures in the last 9 years. When I put this all together I think the adenoma history needs to be relooked at. Any comments?
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