2nd time around

[2time2many]

Well, I am a 39 yr old mom. I am scheduled to have the re-section for 12 mm adenoma on feb 17th. This will be my second surgery after 5 yrs of 2 cm non funct pit tumor removal. I found this good surgeon who suggested the surgery vs Gamma Knife. But he did not even send me to an endo for blood work. I am straight to the surgery room. When asked, he said we know what is going on , no need for complex blood tests.

The first time 5 yrs ago, I had gone thru many blood tests to understand the nature of the tumor, whether I had Cushing's disease, all was fine exc Prolactin.

Now no blood test to check aything, just the original blood work that made me go see a dr with a slightly hi Prolactin level...

Does that sound ok? If I did not trust this dr, I would see a third one. (the second suggested gamma knife) but he is a prominent brain surgeon.

A bit confused now...
I don't think I can find a better neurosurgeon but is it normal not to go thru the endo check up before the surgery????


Thank you and best to all
ASLI

[2time2many]

I will definitley let you guys know
thank you

[rumpled]

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[2time2many]

I have been having these 2 day monthly headaches the last 8 months, prob since the tumor started to grow. not painful but as if an elephant is sitting on my head. The last 10 days it has been non stop .. 10 more days and hopefully it is over. feb 17 is the date...

[horselip]

Hi-
I just got back from 3 weeks of testing and diagnostic stuff for Constant headaches that I've had since my Pit surgery in Jan 2006, Ends up that I had two issues #1 a CSF leak and #2 damage to the spenopallatine nerve. The CSF leak was repaired and the nerve will be ablated (killed off) in ~ a month. So yes, pit growths and surgeries CAN cause headaches.

For the headaches there are some treatments. No one deserves to be in constant pain in my humble opinion. I've been working with a very good Pain Center and they've told me that they have other Pituitary patients with similar issues so....

[2time2many]

Thank you rumpled.. You are a great help to everybody on this forum.  I also wrote my story in the other forum mdjunction in more detail. Need all the info I can get. I practically read every article/ forum on the net. But it is different to read stories of people who went thru that.  This surgeon is the co-director  of Columbia Presbyterian in NY, He is a very trusted , prominent surgeon. Yet he just looked at the MRI and suggested surgery.  I saw another surgeon in NYU who suggested Gamma Knife but this one I am going ahead with, said there is 50% chance it will kill my pit gland and I will be on HRT all my life. The first had said this was a small chance and said not a big deal to pop a pill for the rest of your life. Based on what I read, it IS a big deal to have your hormones wreaking havoc.  I am sure I wil be under endo's care after the surg.
My question is this: You said you had 2 types of pit tumor. Is it possible for the tumor to change the type from non funct to hormone secreting?? Or benign to God forbid canc#$%$- don't even want to write.
Also I have been having non stop headaches from the day I learned the MRI results. I had monthly headaches pre-period for 2-3 days before. Surgeon said this non stop headache is not tumor related, must be stress. What do you think???
Thanks so much

[rumpled]

It is normal to see an endo. Plus you are going to need an endo after the surgery. Most surgeons I know work with the endos - and need a referral from an endo before they will do surgery. They get blood tests to classify the tumor as non-secreting, prolactinoma, etc. Your tumor is large, so you don't have to do extensive testing - by basis of its size it has to be removed, but I cannot imagine why he would not want the care of an endo involved.

There are pros and cons vs surgery and gamma knife. But make sure this guy has done a lot of second surgeries as they are harder since there is scar tissue and loss of anatomical markers the second time around - so I would go for a much more experienced guy/gal.

There are pros and cons to radiation vs surgery. I just did another post -
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Brain-Pituitary-Tumors/seizures-getting-worse-pituitary-tumor-comming-back/show/1154299