Hello, I am responding to others with pituitary adenomas. My grandmother, her dad, and my daughter all had benign macro pituitary adenomas. My grandmother and her dad both passed away as a result of the tumor growth. With the advancements in medical science, my daughter’s was successfully removed, and she is past the 15 year mark. She was young and we had an intuitive local family practice Doc who did his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He looked at her and saw more than what logic dictated. We have been blessed! She has needed no supplemental hormone therapy and is doing well. I don’t have to describe to the group of people on this blog how stressful and devastating this condition can be to all parties involved. The waiting portion was the worst, for all of us. Once the tumor was removed, we were able to move forward. However, not all macro adenomas are created equal. We all know that. The different treatment options definitely vary according to the type, size, effects and direction of the growth, and the health of the individual. Anyone who has been diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma, micro or macro, of any type, should go to a center which specializes in this treatment. The diagnostic tools are imperative to reach a conclusive refined diagnosis and then an appropriate treatment plan. These include targeted blood work, imaging, physician team, and comprehensive patient education. The patient receives a group judgement with a lot of experience tossed into the decision making. It’s very helpful to have knowledge on your side. I hope this helps anyone who is struggling with this condition. You can have a positive outcome in many different ways.
Respectfully,
UPArtist

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Thank you for sharing

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Is there anyother method of folowup with a person such as myself who has a microadenoma other than a mri in which they put a mask over your face? I have not gone back for a followupbecause of claustophobia. The test took almost one hour to do. That is why I have not gone back to see my neurosurgeon. Torino1.

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Hello It will be three years this May that I was diagnosed with my Pituitary tumor. It was discovered after my gynecologist ordered bloodwork and found that my Prolactin levels were very elevated. She immediately sent me to an Endocrinologist who ordered an MRI and an Ultrasound of my Thyroid because she felt nodules. The MRI came back positive for the Pituitary tumor, and I was referred to a Neurosurgeon. It took me time to find one as the one she referred me to didn’t take my insurance. Once I found one he explained to me in more detail what was going on. He told me there are only three instances where he operates, one if it continues to grow, two if it starts to affect my vision and the third is if I started having other symptoms. He also informed me that he saw something else on my MRI and asked if I had previously had any other scans of my brain. I told him two years prior I’d had a CAT Scan to make sure all of a tumor had been removed from the base of my skull. It was to make sure all the cancer had been removed. I was able to pull the films up on my IPad. He said the same spot was on the CAT Scan. At my six month MRI appointment he informed me I also have a Meningioma.Fast forward to my November appointment with the Endocrinologist my labs were all abnormal and I started having symptoms. The Endocrinologist ordered more bloodwork. One of the test was the glucose suppression test to check my growth hormones. Had to get the test done twice because the lab did it wrong the first time. The Endocrinologist warned me it might happen. In the meantime I had my appointment with the Neurosurgeon he said that the Pituitary and the Meningioma tumors are both stable. When I mentioned my recent lab work and symptoms he said if the lab work came back abnormal it would be time to discuss removal of the tumor. All my labs came back fine except my Prolactin levels are going back up. The Endocrinologist changed my medication dosage for the fifth time and said if it doesn’t go down she will repeat the glucose testing. If there’s a change in the Glucose Test then she will recommend to my Neurosurgeon to move forward with removal of the tumor. I go in two weeks get my Prolactin levels checked.

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Hi, Sandy I hope you are doing well. I dont know where you live but, University of Miami and Jackson Hospital took care my husband Dr kargi endocrinologist and Dr Bienveniste neurosurgeon are mu husband doctor . My husband spend 5 years under treatment and when he started showing signs blood pressure, sugar level rising, weight gain and and not improving he decided have surgery, it has been 8 months seems his surgery and he has been taken off all medicines. He is doing great and I hope maybe you can go see his doctors for a second, third or fourth opinion it's all worth it. May God be with you and I will put you in my prayers.

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Hello It will be three years this May that I was diagnosed with my Pituitary tumor. It was discovered after my gynecologist ordered bloodwork and found that my Prolactin levels were very elevated. She immediately sent me to an Endocrinologist who ordered an MRI and an Ultrasound of my Thyroid because she felt nodules. The MRI came back positive for the Pituitary tumor, and I was referred to a Neurosurgeon. It took me time to find one as the one she referred me to didn’t take my insurance. Once I found one he explained to me in more detail what was going on. He told me there are only three instances where he operates, one if it continues to grow, two if it starts to affect my vision and the third is if I started having other symptoms. He also informed me that he saw something else on my MRI and asked if I had previously had any other scans of my brain. I told him two years prior I’d had a CAT Scan to make sure all of a tumor had been removed from the base of my skull. It was to make sure all the cancer had been removed. I was able to pull the films up on my IPad. He said the same spot was on the CAT Scan. At my six month MRI appointment he informed me I also have a Meningioma.Fast forward to my November appointment with the Endocrinologist my labs were all abnormal and I started having symptoms. The Endocrinologist ordered more bloodwork. One of the test was the glucose suppression test to check my growth hormones. Had to get the test done twice because the lab did it wrong the first time. The Endocrinologist warned me it might happen. In the meantime I had my appointment with the Neurosurgeon he said that the Pituitary and the Meningioma tumors are both stable. When I mentioned my recent lab work and symptoms he said if the lab work came back abnormal it would be time to discuss removal of the tumor. All my labs came back fine except my Prolactin levels are going back up. The Endocrinologist changed my medication dosage for the fifth time and said if it doesn’t go down she will repeat the glucose testing. If there’s a change in the Glucose Test then she will recommend to my Neurosurgeon to move forward with removal of the tumor. I go in two weeks get my Prolactin levels checked.

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Welcome to Connect, @remsen. It can take time to recover from brain surgery. members talk about life after brain surgery here:
– Life after Brain surgery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/life-after-brain-surgery/

Remsen, you say that you have bouts of tiredness. Have you noticed any particular pattern? When are you most affected by the fatigue? Have you found tricks to help manage and/or prevent the tiredness?

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