My prolactinoma has grown :-/

[Kirsten]

Thinking of you, Kirsten. It must be tough to go through, but as others have already said, PT always has an ear to lend.

On a side note, never think your health problems would be a burden to others. Those who truly care are always prepared to let the good outweigh the 'bad'

Thank you! But to be honest - and that is almost embarrassing -, one of the tragedies of my life is that there never was somebody who would have cared enough, at least when it comes to relationships. Never! The one and only relationship I ever had ended 'cause I got depressive from birth control pill (yes, as it seems, I've always been dealing with hormonal issues!), and after that; I decided it's healtlier for me to be single. And it was only a couple of years ago that I noticed something is missing in my life.

[momcat]

Kirsten, Please know you are, and have been, very much in my thoughts. You are a highly respected and valued member of our PT family so you're not completely alone. You're in a pretty scary place right now and we all understand that. Many of us here do believe in prayer and you're always in mine. We're here for you, just let us know what we can do. As always, I'm only a pm away. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!!!

[Kirsten]

Kirsten, Please know you are, and have been, very much in my thoughts. You are a highly respected and valued member of our PT family so you're not completely alone. You're in a pretty scary place right now and we all understand that. Many of us here do believe in prayer and you're always in mine. We're here for you, just let us know what we can do. As always, I'm only a pm away. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!!!

Thank you very much. Means a lot!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Kirsten, Please know you are, and have been, very much in my thoughts. You are a highly respected and valued member of our PT family so you're not completely alone. You're in a pretty scary place right now and we all understand that. Many of us here do believe in prayer and you're always in mine. We're here for you, just let us know what we can do. As always, I'm only a pm away. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!!!

This goes for me too. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

[mrspunkysmom]

Kirsten, I am sorry to hear about the tumor. Prayers and pawsitive thoughts headed your way!

[Karen]

Remember, a psychosis is only a possible side effect, and it does not happen to everyone. Kristen, the lovely person I know would had that surgery as a a teen, was as nice, and as stable and non-psychotic a person as you could ever hope to meet.

[robinh]

You are definitely NOT alone. You have made many friends here who care about you.

What is the medication they recommend for the prolactinoma? I have elevated prolactin levels. I took one medication that caused me to be slightly nauseaous and faint at the drop of a hat, so we had to introduce it very slowly. I took it for a couple of years and the levels got much better at which time they took me off the medication. I still have to have blood work yearly to check my levels. They are higher than "normal" but my endocrinologist doesn't want me back on the pills just yet.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Kirsten, Please know you are, and have been, very much in my thoughts. You are a highly respected and valued member of our PT family so you're not completely alone. You're in a pretty scary place right now and we all understand that. Many of us here do believe in prayer and you're always in mine. We're here for you, just let us know what we can do. As always, I'm only a pm away. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!!!

I cannot say it any better than this:

[Barbara]

Hi Kirsten,
I am sorry to hear about your tumor. But I also hope that medicine will have a good solution whcih will defintely be more advanced than 20 years ago. You know I had my brain tumor remived in 1994- and I would most certainly have died of it in 1974.
Plus as Karen said: the side effects of medication are not a must, they are a maybe.
I can imagine that that extra hormonal production wreaks havoc in your life. In hormones, even small dysbalances can have big effects. So let's hope that whatever happens makes your life better

[Kirsten]

Thank you everyone for your kind words, and prayers. I've been dealing with terrible headaches for 6 days, but I don't think it's the tumor, guess it's something in my cervical spine. It's a bit better right now.

robinh, the recommended medication are dopamine agonists, and their side effects are nausea, even vomiting, and - which scares me the most - phychosis. I fear everything dopamine-related; dopamine antagonists like MCP also make me feel very strange. Glad you don't need any more medication. Do you know the cause for your higher prolactine levels?

Barbara, yes, I know about the brain tumor you had removed, and I'm glad medicine was already that advanced in 1994 that they did such a good job! The strange thing, I fear the medication more than a possible surgery, due to the side effects. The surgery itself isn't so bad these days; as far as I know, they're removing the tumor through your nose... If I had the choice, I'd go for the surgery, even though it's won't be any fun, either. And yes, you're definitely right; everything hormonal is terribly messed up in my system. Not only due to the tumor in the pituitary gland, but also because of my autoimmune thyroidism. I don't think I'll ever have a chance for a "normal" life. Never had, as it seems...

[robinh]

The medication I took was Bromocriptine. I looked it up....yikes, glad I didn't do that before I took it. I might never had started it. I had CT scans and they never could tell me exactly what was causing the elevated levels. It is still quite high, but not enough for me to go back on the meds. Hoping it stays that way.

You have just had a tough time lately. Definitely hope things improve for you.

[Karen]

I don't think I'll ever have a chance for a "normal" life. Never had, as it seems...

Oh, dear gal, "normal" is just a state of mind! Think of yourself as a rare breed, a unique and special specimen of humanity! As you are, of course, just ask Luna and Lily!

[robinh]

Ditto to what Karen says!!

[Catty1]

"Normal" is a setting on a washing machine.

I gathered from looking at the links (it was a fairly quick look, I admit) that the pituitary is the master gland as it controls a heck of a lot of hormones in the body - including the thyroid hormone.

Your body may have quite an adjustment to the removal of the gland - but it may be waay better for you in the long run.

And just because the writeup on a med tells you the side effects, doesn't mean you'll get them! Ask your doctor how many people have taken the meds and how they are doing.

My meds had side effects - and the worst was over in a week as my body adjusted.

[phesina]

To dearest Kirsten, my cats and I are sending you much love and prayers and good wishes and healing energies. I am so sorry you have been going through so much pain and difficulties.

And I want to echo what everyone else has been saying in response to your feelings of loneliness. You are a vital and fascinating member of this group of wonderful people who live all around the world and whom I feel very privileged to know. When you feel too isolated, remind yourself that there are (for example) one person and seven cats in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, who think the world of you! We always look forward to your latest photographic explorations and reports on the adventures of your beloved Lily and Luna (who love you back just as much).

And once again quoting Eileen (and thank you, Eileen), who said it SO well for me too:

Kirsten, Please know you are, and have been, very much in my thoughts. You are a highly respected and valued member of our PT family so you're not completely alone. You're in a pretty scary place right now and we all understand that. Many of us here do believe in prayer and you're always in mine. We're here for you, just let us know what we can do. As always, I'm only a pm away. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!!!

Thinking of you and sending you {{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}} and ~~~~~~~PURRS~~~~~~~ and ,

Pat, Sydney, Poppy, Elmer, Bob, Sparkler, Lavinia, and Princess Poppaea Sabine Eugenia