A year ago I was diagnosed with a pit tumor (prolactinoma - macro). It was 6cm x 5cm x 4cm, and my prolactin level was 14,400. Had a crainiotomy, radiation, was on bormocriptine (reacted with swelling of the nasal tissues), so now on dostinex. Prior to surgery, I had constant headaches everyday for 3 years. I had always had bad allergies as a child, so when my GP told me I was having sinus headaches, I accepted it and moved on. I had been to urgent care on 2 different occasions, complaining of intense sharp headaches, but a CT (or MRI) was never done. My GP still told me it was sinus and/or migraines. It wasn't until I took myself into urgent care for a 3rd time due to sharp head pain that the Dr on call decided to do an MRI - although he said he didn't think they would find anything, but "better to be safe than sorry". A week later they did the MRI, and I was in surgery that same week (the tumor was life threatening at that point). I think the problem may be with men ignoring the symptoms, but in my case I beleive it was my age and physical appearence. I am 6'5, 250lbs, black/cuban, appear young (I am 33), and look like an athelete. I was told by my GP (and other Urgent care Dr's) that I "was too young to have these problems". I think they saw my size, and just could not beleive there was anything wrong with me. Unfortunatly, I fell into this trap as well. I think women aren't as prone to the male machismo of "suck it up, throw a little dirt on it, and it'll be allright" way of thinking. A woman probably would not have accepted the Dr's reasoning like I did; a woman is more apt to acknowledge her pain as something being wrong - men tend to view pain as a weakness; instead of something being wrong. Just my 2 cents :) FYI: Tumor is now 5x4x5 cm, and prolactin level is in the neighborhood of 35 (I am a 33 year old male). Still on dostinex, and other hormone replacements (testosterone & thyroid). Still have headaches, daily nosebleeds, sizures (although medication controls them) ugly mood swings (mostly depression and agitation). Tumor has shrunk a little - final away from my optic nerve. |
