Officially it's called an adenoma

You can Google Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma if you want detailed information but in a nutshell it’s a benign tumor in my pituitary gland.

Three times, it's grown to the point where it affected my optic nerves and pituitary function. Surgery was performed Feb. 2007 again in Feb. 2009 and yet again Nov. 11, 2010 to remove as much of it as possible.

My vision was preserved in each case however I've lost Growth Hormone production and am on thyroid medication to help those levels.

I had radiation after my last surgery. The risk is I could over time loose all pituitary function. The hope is it will slow or stop the persistent tumor's aggressive growth.

5/3/12

GH & Thyroid increase

My dear Mother has been on thyroid replacement for decades.  She's never had a reaction, any trouble at all, starting medication or changing dosage.  I tease her that she sucked up all my tolerances.

Unlike my mom when I start thyroid or change thyroid dosage I feel like I have a slight flu, excessively tired, achy, headaches, basically feel like crud for weeks to a month.  Once I adjust concentration improves, its easier to think and energy level increases a little.  Definitely worth it but I hate the process
 
GH is worse.  When I start it,  I have horrible daily headaches for a month or more.  It's a miserable time.  Slowly I adjust, it starts to help.  Over time fatigue lessens a little, moods level and the odd feeling of feeling withdrawn from the world fades.  The first couple weeks there were times I questioned if the misery was worth it.  Now though the pain in my head is gone, Chris assures me he sees some improvement so I'm willing to go on.