i thought i had pcos turns out it might be a brain tumour! - Page 3

Momstoy01 · 03-29-2008, 11:18 AM

Hi Annie,

I don't really have any pain, weird. My Dr. Did call me yesterday and kind of reassured me that he feels it isn't a renal tumor but wants to make certain and will put me thru another MRI this time for my abdomen to see. I just started seeing him in January,after seeing several other Endocrinologists in the past. He took bloodwork beside my past history and one of my test came back 3x the normal level.... (my DHEA level is elevated) I was looking it up and it's usually significant with an adreal tumor, but he said that one of the other test didn't come back evevated so he really doesn't thing it is, but he wants to be sure so he we go with the MRI. What weird is that I really dont fit into a specific catagory because most of the other tests are within normal levels ( IE... Cortisol level and Cushing Syndrome) which makes it difficult to treat. Boy, talk about feeling like a misfit ,I think I need to go to the land of misfit toys! LOL.... anyway I will let you know the results of the MRI when i go. Talk soon,
Darleen

Melanie28 · 06-27-2008, 10:11 PM

Okay, first of all--as freaked out as I am by having a pituitary microadenoma (adenoma smaller than 10mm---mine is 4mm), I know they are benign about 99 percent of the time. Dostinex or Bromocriptine can normalize prolactin levels and shrink the tumor. Second, a pituitary tumor is NOT a brain tumor. Yes, the pituitary is in the human skull but it's in its own little compartment separate from the brain. Mine was 2-3mm 6 years ago, and it's about 4 now. Did I grow because I had a baby? Possibly. Did it not grow and the MRI results aren't spot on? Again, possible. However, I have no loss of vision and no bad headaches. Thirdly, Kevin Aucoin had a pituitary tumor that causes acromegaly which is different from one that elevates prolactin. Acromegaly causes gigantism, basically--coarsening and masculinization of the features and growth of the hands, feet, and skull. He died from kidney and liver failure because of taking massive amounts of Tylenol for the pain caused by his condition. A little research--or a lot--can be a good thing. Good luck to all.

dancechic21 · 06-28-2008, 05:08 PM

I was told that is could be a possiblity for me also. Along with having only 2 periods in 2 years I also had very painful headaches in the back of my head. So painful that I had to go to the ER and they proformed a CT scan and everything was ok. I hope everything turns out to be ok with you!

TVproducer · 07-02-2008, 11:49 PM

Prior to testing me for PCOS they tested me for Cushing's disease, which is a tumor on the Pituitary(sp??) gland because PCOS and Cushings have very similar symptoms... turns out that I have PCOS and not Cushings. I was told that the tumor on the gland can be removed if it's Cushings.

NicT101208 · 07-04-2008, 11:57 AM

Does anyone know the normal range for prolactin levels?

I've read its between 2 - 20. My doctor told me the range is 2.2 - 29.2. My blood tests showed that I have a level of 29. At the moment, my health insurance completely sucks, so I can't really request imaging, but I really want an MRI to see if there is a pituitary tumor (which was my first guess about the hormone imbalances, rather than PCOS). Especially since my only other confirming diagnosis is LH:FSH of 3:1.

I do have very bad migraines a lot....

Anyone else going through the same doubts about their diagnosis??

Jai · 07-05-2008, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicT101208

Does anyone know the normal range for prolactin levels?

I've read its between 2 - 20. My doctor told me the range is 2.2 - 29.2. My blood tests showed that I have a level of 29.

On my blood test results mine is shown as mIU/L and normal range is 85-500 and my levels were 859.

I had the test again a few weeks later and my levels were within normal range.