[Llamapalooza]

#1019790

I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease over 10 years ago and had radioiodine ablation in a nuclear lab here in the Greater Phoenix area. Over the years I have had routine/regular blood work, many MANY med adjustments and for the most part have been controlled well on levo.

My interolerance to cold has increased significantly to the point where it takes me hours to warm up. My hands are always like little icecicles and people even comment on how cold my hands are if I hug/touch someone. I am fatigued, have severe mood swings and depression. I was also diagnosed as bipolar/manic many years ago. There are varying parallels between bipolar/manic and the symptomatology of Grave’s. I had a conversation concerning these parallels with one of my past psychiatrists and strangely, she wasn’t aware of what I was telling her concerning the things I thought were interestingly significant between the two diagnoses.

So for many years I have been treated with antidepressants, mood elevators and my mind spins out of control at times. My friends say I’m "speeded up" and tell me to try to slow down. I have increased short-term memory, depression, mood swings, the cold intolerance, muscle aching of my arms, high blood pressure, backache (which is yet another problem with four ruptured discs in my lumbar spine and cervical spine, and one herniated disc of my lumbar spine, whole other treatment regimen.

Seven weeks ago I had my thyroid function studies done via the usual blood work. My doctor was concerned because I think what is normal is 0.4 and I was like "129" which is what, 12.9 or actually 129? At any rate, one of the levels which wasn’t my TSH I believe, was alarmingly elevated. They had me come back in last week to get another blood draw and again, extremely elevated. Now they want me to have an MRI of my brain because they are concerned about a pituitary disorder.

Needless to say, I am concerned and frightened and really stressed out about this. I am looking for personal information by anyone who has run into a pituitary issue stemming from their thyroid disease. I have researched the various pituitary diseases and tumors. I read that one in five people have pit tumors which was an amazing finding. I also read about the surgical procedure to go after the tumor which made me about half sick because it’s almost gruesome.

Anyway, I am interested in hearing from anyone who has this correlation and has had findings similar or has undergone pit surgery and the relationship with their Grave’s. I don’t know how rare this is or what to expect. I could use some reassurance at this point. I’m awaiting authorization from my insurance for the MRI and I’m a nervous wreck in the meanwhile. I have undergone a huge amount of stress over the past few years having lost both my parents within 11 months of one another, lost my home among other things. I read where stress can actually bring on these pituitary tumors in addition to other things and a correlation between thyroid disease and pit disease.

So, I’m all ears if anyone has some enlightening information first hand. Thank you in advance for any information you can provide me.

[DianneW]

#1074067

Hi, and welcome!

I’m so sorry for your many losses, and understand your fears. While I think most of your questions will need to be answered by a doctor, I understand your desire to find someone else who has been through something similar. I think the first step though will be to get that MRI and find out whether or not you actually have a pituitary tumor. Until then, if possible try not to worry too much. I’ve found that dealing with the problems that I know I have today are generally enough, and I will deal with any new problems when I’m sure I have them.

That said, I can understand your fears, and if it helps at all, my niece had a pituitary tumor that was operated on endoscopically in Los Angeles last year. The surgery wasn’t bad for her, and she recovered quickly. She stays on a med to keep the tumor from growing back, since it couldn’t be completely removed. Otherwise, her health is good. The program she was in was one of the best in the country, and if you should receive a diagnosis of a tumor, and want a referral to that program, I’d be happy to contact my niece on your behalf and find out the specifics. I’m sure she’d be willing to correspond with you directly as well. She doesn’t have thyroid problems though.

Best wishes,

[Llamapalooza]

#1074068

Thank you Diane for your reply. I guess the word "tumor" (while most pituitary tumors are said to be benign) is always just a scary word no matter where it is. I was looking up another condition I had when I was eight months pregnant with my first child (who will be 17 tomorrow) and am wondering about that factoring in with the current problems/symptoms. I was diagnosed with pseudo-tumor cerebrii during my eighth month. My OB/GYN was in Newport Bch so UCLA docs were consulted and I was referred to a neurologist in Newport Beach (I worked for Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach at the time). The docs at UCLA just said there was no time to do another amniocentesis but that they needed to do a STAT C-section because the situation was an impending stroke and I might not make it if they didn’t take the baby right away, which is what they did and the PTC cleared up within a couple of days, as far as the blindness went.

It had been a number of years since I researched psuedo-tumor and so I was just seeing how that might factor into the current situation as well. I know I could just drive myself MAD if I continue to self-diagnose. I spent years diagnosing symptoms of various diseases and nine out of 10 times, I was right so my self-diagnosing is probably not the best tihng I could be doing right now! What I am going to do today is call my health plan and see if they can expedite the authorization to go ahead with the MRI and just get the ball rolling and I can get a little relief of stress and not stress out for two whole weeks waiting on the authorization and going on with the MRI. AND then there’s the MRI itself which I cannot do if it’s closed (claustrophic) but that’s another problem I can easily deal with.

Anyway Dianne, thank you very much for your post and I will log in frequently. I do like this forum, it is a great place for support with thyroid diseases which in and of themselves is a lot to deal with sometimes. There is so much more to thyroid disease than the average Joe even knows about and for all of you having issues with your particular T-disease, just hang in there and persevere!

Rochelle

[DianneW]

#1074069

Rochelle, you sound like an intelligent lady and I think you probably could come close to your diagnosis a lot of the time; but as you said, drive yourself mad in the process. That’s a really good plan to expedite your MRI, and I think it’s fortunate that you remembered your medical history so that if it should factor into the equation, it won’t be missed, which with as many complications as are going on with you, could be a mess. Do let us know what you find out!

[sarabear0508]

#1074070

HEY Rochelle!

I was diagnosed with Grave’s a few months ago. My doctor was horrible and so I switched. I saw the new doc today and she said that it’s good that I got a referral to see an endocrinologist because a lot of my symptoms may be because of a pituitary tumor. The PTU meds make me sick and the body aches are hell and the taste I can’t handle. I see the endo on the 10th. I look at it this way. I am sick enough…if I have a tumor THANK GOD WE KNOW WHATS MAKING ME SICK…and now we can do something to make it better. I greet every health discovery ( good or bad) with joy that I am learning more about my body and now I can create a new wellness plan to better fit my needs. Remember that worrying won’t add a day to your life or change any possible outcome. Fear may be normal but getting yourself all hyped up just makes EVERYTHING worse. You can’t run from your problems you have to face them.
Hang in there. Keep us posted!

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