MRI - Slightly Prominent (upper Range Of Normal) Pituitary Gland
My MRI report had two findings. I am worried about the second one more than the first, and I'll explain why.
"Slightly prominent (upper range of normal) pituitary gland" is the first and impression was the radiologist recommended a second detailed 3D scan.
Secondly, there was a non-specific finding of an "8mm nodule medial to the internal carotid just outside the skull base, mildly hyperintense" - impression was it was not fully imaged and more detailed scan needed.
That second one worries me.
Could this be cancer? Tumor?
For the first, my family doctor ordered a blood test and my hormone levels were normal so she said its probably just a slightly oversized pituitary.
Pituitary :: Adrenal Crisis - Brain Fog, Light Sensitivity, Blurred Vision, Weakness
Hi, I’m hoping some people can hopefully give me some advice please regarding treatment. My history: I’m 30, diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency via an insulin tolerance test. I have borderline low hypothyroidism, low prolactin. No cysts. I am 40kg, 5ft tall so I am very petite.
I currently take hydrocortisone after each meal 8am-4 mg, 12m-4mg, 3.30pm-4mg, 8pm- 3 mg. I have to take my medication following food to reduce the intensity of the spike. I also cannot tolerate more than 5mg at one time without getting awful side effects of anxiety and panic when the tablet peaks in my blood at 30 minutes. Each doe I take only lasts around 2.5-3 hours.If I am to take 10mg at once I feel ‘high’ and ‘rushy’ and anxious when it kicks in then after 3 hours its starts to drop and I feel low cortisol again.
I feel like I am swinging all day every day. I am still so fatigued, have very bad dizziness and brain fog, light sensitivity, blurred vision, weakness, leg and arm cramps, reactive hypoglycemia and achy.
4 weeks ago I ended up having an adrenal crises, yes it was horrendous and scary but I got through it and in a way it was a blessing because it has been a BIG wake up call that I need to stop being scared of trying new medication in fear of getting sicker and realised I have got to try and get myself well.
I have been so unwell since I was 21 I am now 30. ….i have lost so much of my life and I am sacred I am never going to get better or managed.
My consultant prescribes medrol a while ago and I have been too scared to start to but after my crises I started it. I am now taking 1mg Medrol in the morning and then 3 more doses of hydrocortisone at 4mg, 4mg and 2.5mg…
When I first started the Medrol I could feel it working but now its like I can not feel it and by 4 hours later I am feeling hypoglycaemic, weak nauseas etc… I am feeling so unwell after I eat a meal, like all my bodies energy is wiped out from digesting my food and im now lying in bed weak, giddy and lots of pain cramps in my arms and legs…
I have low blood pressure and my consultants suggested
fludrocortisone. I just don’t know what to do anymore. My consultants saying I shouldn’t feel so unwell and im just so lost.
Has anyone been on Medrol and can give advice on this. Im very petite, 5ft and 40 kg…I just feel so up and down and struggling with it all and also feel my symptoms get worse or better during certain times of the month..
i also cannot tolerate many carbohydrates because my blood glucose pikes very high at 1 1/2 hours post eating and drops every low by 21/2-3 hours.
I’ve now had to set up a backup carer to help when am unwell because i am on my own with 2 young children. I am getting help with them now and also trying to get support for taking them to school…im slowly getting there
I have also done a month of blood tests looking at progesterone and estrogen and have found a pattern in some of my symptoms.. I most definitely feel my worst when I am coming off my period, stopping bleeding where I start to feel cold and foggy and nauseous I then when ovulating feel at my worst and the 2 days when my estrogen was highest I had severe anxiety, tremor, agoraphobia, intense drowsiness after eating and these symptoms always disappear once I ovulate and start seeing progesterone mucous . Apart from these symptoms which come on with my cycle I suffer with all my other symptoms throughout the whole month with increase and decrease throughout my cycle.
I have included a lot of tests below and anyone who feels they can help would be so much appreciated. Thank you for your time
These are my most recent blood test
June 20th 2014
Autoimmune profile – normal no action
Mitochondrial antibody level – negative
Anti-smooth muscle autoantibodies – negative
Panetta cell autoantibodies – negative
Reticulum antibody titre – negative
Anti-liver kidney micro ab lev – negative
Serum vitamin D – 71 nmol/l
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate – 9 mm/h (0-15)
Total white cell count - 6.5 10*9/L (3.5-10.0010*9/L)
Red blood cell count - 4.14 10*12/L (3.8-5.0010*12/L)
Haemoglobin estimation - 119g/L (115.00-145.00g/L)
Haematocrit - 0.360L/L (0.36-0.46L/L)
Mean Corpuscular volume (MCV) - 87Fl (84-98)
Mean Corusc. Haemoglobin (MCH) - 28.7pg (27.5-32)
Mean Corpusc. HB conc (MCHC) - 331g/L (300-360)
Red cell distribution width - 15.1% (<14.50%)
Platelet count - 194 10.9/L (150-400 0010*9/L)
Neutrophil count 3.3 - 10.9/L (1-3.5010*9/L)
Lymphocyte count - 2.0 10*9/l (1-3.5010*9/L)
Monocyte count 0.8 - 10.9/L (0.31.0010*9/L)
Eosinophil count - 0.3 10*9/L (<0.401089/L)
Basophil count - 0.1 10*9/L (<0.1010*9/L)
Serum folate - 4ug/L (3-20)
Serum ferritin - 8ug/L (10-200)
Vitamin B12 - 632 ng/L (200-910)
TSH - 3.04 mu/L (0.35-5)
Free T4 - 11pmol/L (9-22)
Liver function tests
Total bilirubin level - 7umol/L (1-21)
ALT - 9 U/L (1-50)
Blood calcium level 2.16 mmol//L
Corrected serum calcium level – 2.14 mmol/L (2.20-2.60)
Serum inorganic phosphate - 1.44mmol/L (0.8-1.50)
Serum alkaline phosphatase – 54 U/L (30-130)
Serum total protein 69 g/L (60-80)
Serum albumin - 40 g/L (35-50)
Serum globulin - 29 g/L(22-40)
Serum sodium - 136 mmol/L (133-146)
Serum potassium - 4mmol (3.5-5.3)
Serum urea level - 3.8 (2.50-7.8)
Serum creatinine - 49 umol/L (20-103)
Plasma C reactive protein - 0.3mg/L (<5.00mg/l)
I paid for a whole series of blood tests. They was taken on day 4 of my period, I had fasted for 12 hours. I was salt fasted for 24 hours and remained sitting up prior to the test and during the test so the aldosterone and renin tests were accurate. The bloods were taken at 9am. I take hydrocortisone 15mg a day and took my last dose of 2.5mg at 8pm the night before the test. I was taking no supplimenst or anything else around the time of the test.
HORMONE PROFILE
Aldosterone 399.0 pmol/L Upright 100 - 800 pmol/L Supine 100 - 8450pmol/L
RENIN 66.2 mU/L Upright 5.4 - 60 mU/L Supine 5.4 - 30 mU/L
Aldosterone: Renin ratio 6 <80 Conn's Unlikely
FSH 6.1 U/L
LH 11.9
Oestradiol 106 pmol/L
Prolactin 144 mU/L 102 - 496
Cortisol (basal) 449 nmol/L (171 - 536) (BASAL 171-536, EVENING 64 - 327)
Free T3 4.8 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)
Thyroid stimulating hormone 2.310 mU/L (0.270 -4.200)
Free T4 14.0 pmol/L (12 - 22)
FULL BLOOD COUNT
WBC 4.90 x10^9/L (4.0 - 11.0)
RBC 4.43 x10^12/L (3.80 -5.80)
Haemoglobin 135 g/L (120 - 150) R
HCT 0.41 ratio (0.36 -0.46)
MCV 93.0 fL (80.0 -100.0)
MCH 30.4 pg (27.0 -32.0)
MCHC 326 g/L (315 - 345)
Platelets 241 x10^9/L (140 - 440)
RDW 11.8 (0.0 - 14.0) **
MPV 9.3 fL
Neutrophils(Abs) 2.58 10^9/L (2.0 - 7.5)
Lymphocytes (Abs) 1.69 10^9/L (1.5 - 4.0)
Monocytes (Abs) 0.44 10^9/L (0.2 - 0.8)
Eosinophils (Abs) 0.22 10^9/L (0.0 - 0.4)
Basophils (Abs) 0.02 10^9/L (0 - 0.1)
CRP< 0.3 mg/L (0 - 5)
BIOCHEMISTRY
Sodium 139 mmol/L (133 - 146)
Potassium 4.2 mmol/L (3.5 - 5.3)
Urea 4.9 mmol/L (2.8 - 7.8)
Creatinine 56 umol/L (45 - 84)
estimated GFR (eGFR) >90 ml/min
LIVER FUNCTION TEST
Total bilirubin 5 umol/L (0 - 21)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 65 Iu/L (30 - 130)
ALT 11 Iu/L (0 - 33)
GGT 8 Iu/L (UP TO 40)
Total Protein 78 g/L (60 - 80)
Albumin 49 g/L (35 - 50)
Globulin 29 g/L (18 - 35)
AST 16 Iu/L (UP TO 32)
Lactate dehydrogenase 171 Iu/L (135 - 214)
Serum Calcium 2.39 mmol/L (2.2 - 2.6)
Albumin 49 g/L (35 - 50)
Adjusted Calcium 2.30 mmol/L (2.20 -2.60)
Uric Acid 278 umol/L (140 - 360)
Glucose 3.8 mmol/L (4.2 - 6.1) **
LIPID PROFILE
Cholesterol 3.94 mmol/L (0.0 - 5.2)
Triglycerides 0.54 mmol/L (2.26) *
HDL cholesterol 1.41 mmol/L (> 1.68)
Cholesterol/HDL ratio 2.8 ( <5)
Low density lipoprotein 2.28 mmol/L (2.5 - 4.5) **
% HDL/Total Cholesterol 35.79 %
B12 687 ng/L (191 - 663) **
Folate (serum) 5.4 ug/L (4.6 - 18.7)
IRON AND UIBC
UIBC 60.0 umol/L
Iron 17.0 umol/L (6.6 - 30.4)
Total iron binding Capacity 77.0 umol/L (41-77)
Transferrin saturation 22.1 % (20-55)
Ferritin 13.1 ug/L (13 - 400)
Ferritin 13.1 ug/L (13 - 400)
Vitamin D 24.5 nmol/L Reported
<25 nmol/L: Severe Vitamin D deficiency
25-75 nmol/L:Borderline ranging to insufficiency
75-200 nmol/L: Optimally replete
>250 nmol/L:Possible toxicity, if sustained
Pituitary Function Recovery After Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma Surgery
How long does it take to get full pituitary function recovery after surgery to remove a non-functioning pituitary adenoma that was approximately 3cm in size.
View 1 RepliesPituitary :: Micro Pituitary Adenoma, Prolactin And Testosterone Levels
It was discovered i had an 8mm microadenoma. It raised my prolactin to 175 and lowered testosterone to 70. cabergoline lowered prolactin to normal levels. I had testosterone therapy raising my levels to normal but they went much lower again after the therapy. prolactin remains low. cortisol and insulin growth like factor 1 remain slightly elevated. Can any help as to why my testosterone remains low. I am 45 and active. slightly overweight by about 25 lbs but have always been even before the adenoma and prolactin issues.
View 1 RepliesSinus Problems Causing Vision Problems?
I have occasional problems with my sinuses. It usually happens in autumn and spring and my doctor says it is connected to my allergy. I usually have running nose and congestion after that. Headaches are also common and I get used to them. But I have noticed my eyes become blurry and I feel strange pressure in my eyes. Could sinus problems be causing vision problems?
View 1 RepliesVision / Eye :: Flying Black Dots In My Peripheral Vision
I'm not particularly worried about this but I'd rather know what it is. I quite commonly will get, after stretching or getting up suddenly, flying black dots in my peripheral vision. These tiny black dots just appear, fly in a direction, then disappear. A bit like a swarm of flies in the corner of my eye except they keep appearing and disappearing individually. It might last up to five seconds or so. Then it's gone and I feel fine. I'm pretty sure I've had this for years.
View 1 RepliesHypothyroidism :: Thyroiditis On My Remaining Gland
I had one of my thyroid glands removed about 11 years ago and about 18 months ago I was diagnosed with thyroiditis on my remaining gland. I have lot of the symptoms of hypothyroidism but every time my bloods are checked my hormone levels seem to be ok. As anyone else experienced this.
View 1 RepliesENT :: Jaw, Neck And Ear Pain, And Gland Swollen On One Side
Last night, I abruptly developed constant, fairly severe pain on the left side of my head radiating from my jaw (right in front of my ear) to the point where I could feel it in my left upper teeth, and up the back of my neck to the base of my skull. My left ear also felt full, and my throat was constricted. It continued this way for several hours at work until I got home, took Ibuprofen, and iced it. I also noticed a swollen lump (probably lymph node?) halfway down the left side of my neck, towards the back. The lymph nodes under my jaw on the left also feel swollen. Today, it isn't hurting constantly anymore, but the ear fullness and throat constriction is still present, along with the swelling of the lymph nodes. All of these symptoms are localized to the left side. I have a doctor's appointment in a few days, but until then I was wondering if anyone had experienced something similar?
View 3 RepliesHidradenitis Suppurativa :: Sweat Gland Removed?
I am a 27 year old female who has suffered with HS for more than 5 years, i have been put on alot of different tablets by my GP and Dermatologist, the last meds i was put on was Isotretinoin which i was on for 5 months which was last May, my HS is in my Groin, around the breasts and top of buttocks, my groin being the worst and most painful. On 4th June this year i had a large abscess which needed to be drained, this was done in day surgery, i went to my GP the following day for it to be re-packed and re-dressed. My GP told me that it was looking good and didn't need to be re-packed so he would prescribe me dressings and i could wash it following his instructions and change dressings on a daily basis. My leg has still not healed, the last month i have been to my nurse every other day having it checked and re-dressed, i did about a month and half ago have silver nitrate put on it due to granulation and im having it done again tomorrow, both my GP and Nurse think i have another two abscesses coming underneath my wound and i also have a sinus tract. I have an appointment with the surgeons on 4th September and im going to ask about having my sweat gland in groin area removed. I'm so fed up in last 3 months i have been on antibiotics for 5 weeks not at same time, i have no life, no boyfriend and don't wish to as embarrassed about all my nasty scarring. I am just after some advice about having sweat gland removed, has anyone had this done? have any information about this? or other procedures expect more tablets. thank you
View 1 RepliesChronic Fatigue Syndrome :: Possible To Recover With Only One Adrenal Gland?
I'm pretty sure i have cfs and i need help please, to cut a long story short i have cushings disease which has led me to have one of my adrenal glands removed, my cortisol levels are ok now but what concerns me is that is it possible to recover from cfs with only one adrenal gland ? i hear so much about how adrenal burn out is a huge thing in recovery so i'm worried that it will hold me back forever.
View 14 RepliesOmeprazole :: Causing Rash - Lapromazole Causing Diarrhoea
I have a horrendous rash on my feet, upper arms, back and hands. I have been taking Omeprazole for about 6 weeks, and am due to see a consultant in a few days. As no one had mentioned a rash to me, I assumed it was a heat rash, as I have a habit of warming my feet by the fire, but the rash has got much worse, and now I have ENORMOUS blisters on my big toes and small ones elsewhere on my feet and hands. I have phoned the GP surgery as I see this is listed as a possible side effect, and was told to stop taking the omeprazole which I did yesterday. So far there is no improvement, but it is only 24 hours, so I am hoping there will be some improvement very soon. I have also lost my sense of taste and smell which may be due to a bad cold, but I have a very dry mouth and a horrid taste in it when I wake up in the morning. This is also a listed side effect. The doctor I spoke to seemed to think the rash IS due to the omeprazole. Incidentally, I took lapromazole for 2 weeks previously, but it gave me dreadful diarrhoea, so the consultant changed me to omeprazole. I will post another message on here when I have seen the consultant.
View 1 RepliesPituitary Disorders :: LH Is 5.6 And FSH Is 3.7 - High Or Low?
My LH is 5.6 and my FSH is 3.7. One Dr says this is good and shows I'm not going through menopause. Another Dr said they are low for my age (I'm 37). My testosterone was also low. My prolactin is 412. One Dr says its within normal range, another says its slightly high lol So here I am, wondering if anyone else has had similar levels & if so what they mean?
View 4 RepliesPituitary :: Low T, Ultra Low LH And FSH, Vitamin In D Deficiency
Very healthy adult male, with these numbers:
LH: <0.2 (undetectable)
FSH: <0.2 (undetectable)
Vitamins D, 25-hydroxy: 27.4
T: 154
All of these are abnormally low. I feel fine, but I suffer from ED, low libido
Doctors 'note' on the bottom of the test results were:
Needs to see endocrinology specialist AASAP!
Ok, nobody likes to see ASAP! Written by a Physician... How worried should I be?
Pituitary Tumors :: Low Testosterone Levels
I had a pituitary tumor removed several years ago. I had a follow up MRI last month and an appointment with my neurosurgeon. All is well. I did inform the Doctor I have been tired lately so he ordered blood work to check hormone levels. Turns out my testosterone level is low. Actually looked at my bloodwork records just prior to tumor removal and all hormone levels were WAY OFF - They have all seemed to come back to normal levels with the exception of my testosterone. My surgeon is referring me to a endocrinologist. Working on making an appointment now. Has anyone else experienced a low testosterone level after this tumor removal and if so what course of action did you have to take? I am 46 now and I understand testosterone levels do begin to drop a bit in males once reaching the age of 40.
View 2 RepliesPituitary Disorders :: High Prolactin Levels
I found out about 6 months ago that I have high prolactin levels. They have put me on 2 different medications to reduce the levels. The first one made me sick so they lowered the dose. I am still experiencing abdominal cramps when I take them and my doctor doesn't seem to be concerned about it.
View 1 RepliesPituitary Disorders :: Prolactin Levels But No Tumor?
I'm a 30 year old active female with a history of prolactin/pituitary problems.
- When I was 17 I was diagnosed with a pituitary macro adenoma. I responded well to cabergoline so no surgery was carried out to shrink the tumour.
- When I was 19 my MRI showed a small bleed to the tumour which caused it to shrink completely.
- when I was 21 I was taken off cabergoline and my prolactin levels remained normal for a few years.
- when I was 25 I noticed familiar symptoms, breast discharge and fatigue so went back to my consultant. My prolactin levels creeped back into the abnormal range and I was put back on cabergoline. MRI showed no tumour.
- 3 months back into treatment I found that cabergoline was making me incredibly tired and low so my consultant switched me to Quinagolide (norprolac) which worked and gave me no nasty side effects.
- I'm now 30years old and last year my consultant and I thought it was time to stop medication as my prolactin levels remained in the normal 300 mark. 2 weeks after coming off my medication I noticed my moods changed significantly and my sex drive vanished. I went back for immediate blood tests and my prolactin levels had raised up to 700! I went back on Quinagolide to reduce the levels and once again felt OK.
- I recently had another MRI to see if there had been any changes. My MRI was once again clear.
I'm incredibly frustrated and gutted to still be taking medication for something that I simply don't understand. Why are my prolactin levels continuing to rise yet I no longer have a pituitary tumour!? I go back to see my consultant in a couple of weeks but I fear that nothing will change and I will continue to treat a problem rather than get to the bottom of the cause.
Hemorrhoids :: Pea Like Growth Outside My Anus
This is sort of an embarrassing question...Recently I found out that there is something unusual just outside of my anus. It has grown like a pea. When I touch it, it is sort of hard but smooth red colour,and it hurts a bit. What should I do ?
View 1 RepliesNeurology :: Pituitary Removed And Visual Field Loss
I might have had 2 or 3 mild headaches in my life.
6 months ago i had most of my pituitary gland removed due to Cushing's Disease.
3 months ago i had a visual field test that showed possible swelling around the optic nerve.
6 weeks ago i started waking with headaches at about 4.30am ! i would sleep more then wake later with less of a headache but when i stood up i would get a whooshing sound in my ears and a throbbing in the top of my head. i told me GP. She said its normal when you first stand up ( Normal My #$$, if it was normal wouldnt it have been happening all my life, anyway i digress lol ). So i had these headaches, i got blurred vision and my blood pressure went up to 234/127. So off i go to hospital for 4 days.They played around with my blood pressure meds and sent me home. I still had headaches, blurred vision and my BP was 180/105( now on 4 different BP meds ).
2 weeks ago i went and had a repeat of my visual field test. The Opthmalogist wasnt too happy, basically told me one quadrant of my vision in my left eye was gone. Said he would speak to my Endocrinologist !
2 days later i noticed what i can only describe as a smudge in my vision...very annoying, but not painful and yes i can still see. but im not driving, im too scared to. I drove one day and as it got darker i couldnt tell where the other cars on the road were, kind of a distortion thing i guess
My Endocrinologist rang the next day and said i need to go for an urgent MRI...so i did.
That was 1 week ago. i have had no results, no phone calls. But i did get a letter advising me i have a Neurology outpatient appointment on 13th october ! i rang to confirm as i was waiting for an endocrine appointment. Hospital said, yes, the neurosurgeon refered you to neurolgy following your MRI. Hmmm thanks for that.
So now im trying to guess whats going on. Did my MRI show up something, if so what?, if not then why am i being referred to neurology?
I hate being in the dark. Yes i know i only have 2 weeks til i find out, but 2 weeks is hell when your second guessing.
Summary : i still have headaches ( they are for the most part mild, throbbing when i stand followed by whooshing in ears), vision has maybe slightly improved in last 2 days but still not normal. Blood pressure is still sitting around 180/105
Brain/Pituitary Tumors :: Parapharyngeal Space Tumor (pps)
This is all very new to me so I hope I'm doing this right but I'm just looking for some reassurance. I'm 26 years old and was diagnosed with a parapharyngeal space tumour in late 2012. 2013 my surgeon attempted to remove the tumor by cutting my jaw and going through the back of my throat into the pps, unfortunately he was unsuccessful and didn't remove any of the tumor. We decided to monitor it over two years and see if a change in growth was noted. I should mention that for the last 4 years I've had pain in my left ear and face which has been gradually worsening, and around 10 months ago I lost hearing in the same ear which is now joined by a high pitched ringing. A mri in early December 2015 showed a growth in tumor so my surgeon decided to remove it, however he would need to take a wider approach to ensure he would get the tumor this time, he is concerned that it's involved with my lower cranial nerves so we may need to remove or damage them which would greatly alter my quality of life. Currently I'm looking at other options or other ENT over the world for more opinions.im desperate to find someone else who has been through something similar or if anyone has a suggestion of surgeon or alternative treatments. They are unsure the nature of my tumor so time is of the essence for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a 1 year old baby who I need to be around for to watch grow up.
View 1 Replies