growth hormone

[brainpain]

im a 35 yr old woman.i had a pituitary stalk tumor [suprasellar crainopharyngioma] had a crainotomy 06  it is was totaly removed. i had my pituitary labs drawn ,nurse said g-h was low.i am gaing weight all in my stomach.look 6mnts prg.hard time sleeping,very dry hair,so tired doesent matter how much i sleep.i have bad anger-snap on anything.no sex drive.headaches daily.could you look at my labs and give me your advice.with tumor  ACTH 16  FSH 3.9  LH 4.6     PROLACTION 6.4   HGH 1.15  IGF1 140 TSH 0.80  T3 117    FT4  1.3 CORTISOL SERUM  7.6    AFTER TUMOR   ACTH  6    FSH 7.9   LH 8.4   PROLACTION 9.7  HGH 0.12  IGF1 131   TSH  0.53  T3  86  FT4 0.8  CORTISOL SERUM 6.4.  is my pituitary the problem do i need gh

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The normal IGF-1 suggests against a GH deficiency.  GH release is very pulsatile, so a single value cannot be used to make a diagnosis.

The other labs look pretty good - the TSH and FT4 are low normal and could be retested in the future to make certain there is not a secondary hypothyroidism.  The ACTH and cortisol are non-diagnostic, so an adrenal-pituitary problem is not ruled out, but the symptoms of weight gain suggests against deficiency and the labs suggest against over-production of cortisol.

With the headaches, would talk to your doctor about head imaging to make sure there is no recurrence or other problems.

[brainpain]

had mri done in dec 07 no tumor was found.was told my hypothalamus was damanged during sugery.was told i could have d i .all my blood work has slowly dropped each time ive had it drawn.i have anixety and heart palpations with being dizzy.had ekg when heart palps and was normal.dont understand why ive gained almost 30pnds and so tired and have very bad anger problems.neuro surgeon said breast leaking was idiotpathic.wont give me meds for it.is it true that pituitary sugery or any trouble with it makes you gain weight?thanks again.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

I can't answer your questions regarding your tests, Dr. Lupo will address that.

But I would like you to know that there is a yahoo patient to patient support group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/thehypopituitaryalliance

You would have to contact the moderator and tell her your story and she will accept you to the group.  It is a small group and they are very supportive....

Sally