I have been diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. I have been put on cabergoline and bromocriptine. Currently I am taking bromocriptine, and it has significantly dropped my prolactin levels. I'm finally feeling better then I have felt since I've been diagnosed.
Unfortunately it messed up alot of things with my body , especially my period. I haven't had a period in over 5 years before I was diagnosed. They tried putting me on birth control , and it didn't work. Next they had me take progesterone and I got my period once and then never again, so they switched me back to birth control. After taking the birth control , I had spotting for about 3-4 days, and never got my period again, and it's almost been 3 years since I was treated. So all together haven't had a period in almost 8 years. All my doctors seem to just keep tossing me around to my gyno, to my endocrinologist, then back to my primary Dr. for answers , but no one can give me a reason as to why I haven't constantly had my period back . Keep in mind I am 25 right now , so I'm pretty young and feel like this should be of concern , but I don't feel like any of my Dr feel as it is.
Please help any suggestions , or if you're going through something similar , and aren't getting results either , just anything will help.
Thank you ,
Lina
Hi Lina
firstly, it's great to hear that the medications are at least making you feel better.
the pituitary is so complex that sometimes it can take quite a while to sort out how to resolve some problems. i wonder if the tumour has affected part of the pituitary gland and if that is causing your periods to stop.
this is question maybe for your endocrinologist, to check your pituitary profile and to check that your body is still making the necessary hormones and pre-hormones. what type of tumour is it? is it a prolactinoma? if your prolactin levels are still high is that tricking your body into thinking that you are pregnant? i don't know - please check with your doctor.
you might also find some useful information on the website of the pituitary foundation, or the pituitary network foundation. if you google them then you'll be able to find their websites.
good luck and i hope that things work out
hi Lina,
well I would be guessing but it sounds like your
pituitary tumor is still there
maybe you didnt want the surgery
It sounds like you may have a prolactinoma
and they are managing it with medications
you can do your own research and see if
you'd think surgery might be something you'd want to do
medications and sometimes surgery can maybe help you
I might also check to see you dont have any fibroid tumors, etc
Although an operation on your pituitary to excise a tumour is not the big deal it once was, it is not trivial either as it is right up against your brain (although outside it). Pituitary tumours are almost always benign, so there has to be a very good reason to the op - such as a macroadenoma that threatens your optical nerves. Treatment by medication is preferable (and would continue after an op in any case).
You might want to ask about getting a second opinion from another endo.
hi Lina
this sounds somewhat familiar to me
where you go to your doctor and they
send you to an endo, etc...
Since pituitary tumors are classified as rare
some doctors tend to ignore them
more than others.
If you have a question, I'd be happy to see if
I know something but I think certain medical tests
can be quite helpful
First you have to figure out if you have a tumor
in your adrenals or pituitary and sometimes
hypothalamus