My Pituitary

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.

10/22/10

What's wrong?

10/12/10 MRI report - Interval growth of the sellar mass. (Tumor grew) The mass has a new nodule of tissue which extends superiorly contacting and slightly displacing the prechiasmatic cisternal segment of the left optic nerve. This is new from the prior examination. (It's pressing against my optic nerve.)

Had a decent day today.

Easily tired, emotional but no body aches, little nausea and no headache for most of the day. Walked with the boys. Welcome break. Early evening alas it returned. Sigh. Can't sleep.

10/20/10

Feeling bad

I didn't appreciate how much the GH helped before but stopping it abruptly certain drove the point home. Mind numbing fatigue, stomach hurts (they don't know exactly why but happens whenever the tumor grows past a certain point) struggle to concentrate, persistant pressure headache, constipation, nausea etc... That mature attitude -- I'm still working on that because right now - this bites.