I guess I am asking for good vibes... About 3 years ago I went to see my doctor because I was getting frequent headaches and dizzy spells. I was also having some abnormalities with my periods, even though I was on bc pills. They took blood work and found that my hormone levels were very off and one especially, prolactin, was extremely elevated. The doctor told me she thought I had a brain tumor! I was sent in for an MRI, nothing was found. They told me to come back 6 months later because she thought the tumor might be to small at that point for the MRI to read. I went back and they found nothing. It's now been 2 and 1/2 years since my last MRI and I still experience the same symptoms. I finally made the decision to switch to a brand new Gyn for my annual exam this year. If is an office of all female doctors who focus on problems, they do not deliver babies. My new doctor sent me for bloodwork, found the same problems, and is sending me for another MRI.
She is great though and explained to me that they suspect a pituitary tumor called Prolactenoma. They are typically benign, so it is not a death sentence. My old doctor never explained that to me, so you can imagine my fear all this time. Anyway, I was doing some research on the tumor last night online (trying to stick to reputable websites) and found that the tumor can be treated by surgery, radiation therapy, or if it caught early enough medication. Surgery and radiation scare me. In both of those cases, once the tumor is gone, you have to take hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life. I don't want to do that. I am scared of a lifetime of side affects from the medication. I have my MRI on the 18th (I HATE those things, they can't do an open MRI to see your pituitary gland), and then I see my doctor for the resluts the 1st week in August.
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? I read that 14 people in 1000 worldwide have pituitary tumors with complications/ symptoms. I guess it is not terribly uncommon, but something I would prefer not to deal with.
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? I read that 14 people in 1000 worldwide have pituitary tumors with complications/ symptoms. I guess it is not terribly uncommon, but something I would prefer not to deal with.