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.

10/31/10

Is it easier the third time?

Ah... hell no.

The pituitary is normally the size of a pea. The tumor by itself measures double that, (I know amazing that something that size can wreak such havoc.)  part of which is around my carotid artery and part has my optic nerve draped over it.  Now add scar tissue from the previous two operations and all things being considered I'd rather scrub toilets. 
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)