I've had headaches and migraines my entire life. Started having occasional episodes of passing out since 4th grade. Pituitary tumor found at age 16. Doctors have blown off my issues constantly ever since. I'm now 33, had tubes tied after having my second kid. Usually my periods have always been extremely heavy and occasionally skipped an entire month here and there. Now for 2 months I have barely bled. Just enough for me to toss a pad on but not enough at all to even call a period by any standard. It does this barely spotting routine of dark blood for about a week and a half then goes away. I've noticed my clothes being big on me. Weighed myself and have lost 15 pounds in about a month and a half to two months. I'm not trying to lose weight at all. I've been an Lpn for 9 years and am in RN school now. I am not stressed anymore now than normal. School is going good. I still have the same appetite and eat and drink the same stuff I always have with a little more fast food added into the mix due to less time some days between work and school. Any ideas what could be going on? Anyone else experience this?
normally I would say your lucky to have lost 15 pounds
but with your other symptoms, it could
definitely be something.
the only thing I can think of right now
is hypopituitarism
it can definitely be because of a pituitary tumor
and it can cause weight loss
Did you already get the first tumor out
tumors can also grow back
I guess they are sort of like weeds
check your cortisol level
if low , then check acth level
if low or normal then it is usually
hypopituitarism
the other one is called Addisons
that is low cortisol, high acth
No my tumor has never been removed. I've spent my whole life trying to find a doctor that cares and listens with no luck. I need to get my blood work done. I'm supposed to have blood work every 6 months to check all of the hormones and an MRI every year. First time I've ever dealt with these symptoms though and the weight loss has me a bit happy yet very concerned. I noticed my clothes falling off of me and clinical scrubs getting huge all of the sudden recently. That's why I weighed myself today and was shocked at the numbers. Thank you
I can't believe that they found a pituitary tumor and never did anything.
of course theh would think it is benign, no big deal right?
I don't believe it.
what you really need to do is collect your paperwork, results, lab work
and send it to a pituitary specialty hospital
that provides second opinions
it will cost about 800$ US
there is UCSF and Massachusetts General (Harvard )
also provides second opinions
hi Amber
I really hope you can get a second opinion
I think it will really help you
It is great your still able to have a normal career
but if you can get your cortisol tested
that is a place to start
plasma cortisol can tell you a lot.
there is also salivary cortisol.
doctors are probably going to test your tsh and
thyroid hormones and might think you have
hyperthyroidism
the thing is you don't want to take yhyroid medications
if you have an overactive pituitary tumor
hope this helps
As a medic, you will know that any kind of op is risky - even though pituitary surgery nowadays is not a major op, So no-one will operate on your adenoma unless it threatens your sight or is seriously affecting your hormone balance (hypo or hyper)--nor would you want it. Pituitary adenomas are almost always benign.
But sudden weight loss (or gain) for no obvious reason needs to be explained so you do need to see a doctor to investigate.