Pituitary News, Issue 5 - Autumn 1997.

One members's account of the symptoms experienced from a Prolactinoma and the effects of medical therapy.

By M.H.

No one can be sure when the tumour started growing. It grew so slowly that I did not notice any symptoms until 8 years ago when I began to have a general feeling of lethargy and occasional migraine type headaches. When I caught a cold, my sinuses were blocked and pressure built up causing pain. Sneezing was agony. I learnt to sneeze through my mouth. My left eye became light sensitive and watery and I began to get a pain down the left side of my face to my jaw.

I had an operation to straighten my nose to help my breathing. At the same time, an allergy test was done with no positive result. I had my teeth x-rayed, eliminating the possibility of an impacted wisdom tooth.

My general feeling was of tiredness, discomfort when moving my head and weight increase. When I walked on a pavement with hard soled shoes, it appeared to cause a jarring pain in my neck. I had physiotherapy for a damaged neck. I was taking beta blockers, antihistamine tablets, antimigraine tablets and inhalers. I tried a food intolerance diet and got spectacles for reading and for long sight.

The headaches got worse and became more frequent. I would sleep at night, wake in the morning, shower and have to go back to bed where I would sleep until lunchtime. Every month or two the headaches were so severe that I had to have pethidine. I tried acupuncture and homeopathy.

I could not play games with my children. My wife was stressed with the worry. I found it difficult to do simple tasks, and my work suffered.

In February 1996 I asked my ENT specialist for a CT scan. He phoned me afterwards saying that my sinuses were alright, but that I had a prolactinoma. I was so relieved that he had found something that I told him the news was wonderful.

With only two small tablets of cabergoline a week my life has completely changed. Between March and Christmas 1996, I have had filming trips to The Gambia twice, India twice and Madagascar twice. I feel 20 years younger. My weight has dropped from 12 stone to 10 stone. I have never enjoyed life so much. All the symptoms have gone.

People I meet can't believe how much I have changed. Some people that I have known for years haven't recognised me. My only regret is that at 48 years old, I am just beginning to really enjoy life.