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Pituitary adenoma

Hello
I live in Nigeria and got diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma in December, I was placed on bromocriptine since then , but I feel worse. I am now considering surgery. The thing is I'm not sure of the quality of healthcare over here, so Im considering have the surgery in South Africa as I have family there and also a valid visa.
Please can anyone refer a very good neurosurgeon/endocrinologist anywhere in South Africa.

I will very much appreciate a response, @rumpled

Thank you
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8149410 tn?1399084012
Good luck to ya!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you KateGram and Rumpled ,I will take the tests as advised
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Avatar universal
I hope you get good doctor to help you.

I would suggest as Kate above with more thyroid if you can get it - free T3, free T4, and testosterone and any vitamins/minerals you can get like D, B12, ferratin as those tend to be low.
Helpful - 0
8149410 tn?1399084012
Make sure to get at IGF-1 test to screen for a growth hormone secreting tumor. This causes acromegly. You need TSH and free T4 tested as central hypothyroidism an develop. Also see an eye doctor for visual field testing. If you can get cabergoline, it is more effective at shrinking tumors esp larger tumors like yours. This can make surgery more successsful.
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Avatar universal
Thank you very much rumpled,I've been out of town with limited Internet connection. I'm back on the bromo,I didn't know going off could make it grow.

I took a hormone profile test yesterday,to test for  estradiol,FSH,LH,prolactin and progesterone?

Are there any other tests I should be taking?  Thanks again
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Avatar universal
To me, as a layman, blood tests are more effective for routine but you also need regular MRIs just to track that the thing up there is reducing not growing. So you need to schedule both on a regular basis with blood tests being more often. That is how I have been monitored here. That way if there is a change you can act promptly.

Please don't go off the meds without doc knowing and his/her request. It can make the tumor grow and you don't want that. Yours is already pushing size limits. There are other med options so ask what else is available. Bromo is the oldest med. That is the one I tool.
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Avatar universal
At the time,the only symptoms I had was the burning sensation and so the doctor asked me to do a hormone profile test, but right now my most disturbing symptom is a hurting left eye,and some visual problems in the same eye.
I went off bromo last week but I'm back on it -10mg a day.do you think I should a repeat MRI or a repeat blood test.

I'm just hoping I don't need to do surgery right away and want to explore all available options first
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
With elevated prolactin and a lesion on the large side (large being relative to pituitary tumors) it sounds like, to my layman eyes, your doc probably does have it right. The way to tell is the blood test. Did you have symptoms?

With it not effecting the stalk (which means it is not growing up) it does not appear (guessing!) to be around or near the optic nerve, but there is not enough data to really know. When the tumor is a macro-adenoma such as yours, then you have to worry about where the tumor is going to grow. It can grow up in to the optic chasm, or down into the cavernous sinus (not mentioned) or it can wrap around things. Your seems to be nice and oval.

It can still cause headaches and other symptoms from the hormones and the meds may have side effects too. But I don't know if all the symptoms you have are part of it to be honest.

There is a UK pituitary organization as well. There should be some leads on that site and I think they have a call in or email there too. Horselip used to post on there and she posts here a bit.
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Avatar universal

Just to add, my symptoms are a heavy head and visual problems and a hurting left eye,although I've used glasses for about four years, I also have a burning sensation under my skin at different parts of my body.

I did and MRI in December and the report says 'The sella turcica reveals an ovoid shaped anterior pituitary lesion measuring 11*7*8mm (AP*long*transv) with normal appearing pituitary stalk.The lesion is enhancing on post contrast sequences.'
There's more on the report but everything else  is normal
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Avatar universal
Wow, thank you for being so willing to help.

I'm not hundred per cent sure if its a prolactinoma but the blood test showed that my prolactin level was 771 compared to a limit of 496.So my doc suspects it is.

Is there any other way to tell?

I would be happy to be in touch with the SA forum, my other option is the UK, do you know any doctors there? Getting a visa to the USA will take a very long time.
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Avatar universal
Bromo will only work with prolactinomas - so is that the type of tumor you have?

Surgery is an option, but do know that there can be complications and the loss of other hormones that may need replacement. Thyroid is usually a must, and sometimes others need replacement too.

There is a pituitary association in South Africa (another user has used that and there has been other post on it recently) but I cannot vouch for doctors. But I would use the association to put you in touch with a few for you to talk to until you find one you like.

You should also get copies of your tests so you know what type of tumor you have.
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