Ask Endochick: Pituitary Tumors and Endometriosis

Endochick,

  Does having endometriosis cause pituitary tumors?  – L

  L,

While having endometriosis doesn’t guarantee you’ll be diagnosed with a pituitary tumor, or another endocrine tumor, it does increase the odds.

First, some basic background. Endometriosis is an endocrine disease causing aninflammation in your pelvic cavity (and any where else you have implants). Because these implants bleed with the monthly release of  hormones but are unable to shed from the body, the contents remain inside. That’s where they fester, the implants continue too grow in size and depth each month and cause varying degrees of agony.

There’s always a concern that endometriosis may turn into endometrial cancer — or cancer of the urine lining. And while some studies are still arguing whether endo women need to be concerned about uterine and endometrial cancers, a a study out of Denmark says there’s real concern for endocrine cancers. Researchers studied over 114,000 women with endometriosis. They found women were more likely to develop “brain and endocrine cancers, such as cancers of the pituitary or thyroid glands, but a reduced risk of cervical cancer.” according to HealthyWomen.org.

And of special importance:

The Institute of Cancer Research’s Minouk J. Schoemaker published in 2009 that women who have gone thru surgical menopause, or early menopause, are at an increased risk for pituitary tumors. Women with endometriosis often resort to partial or full hysterectomies due to excessive bleeding (menorrhaghia) or unmanageable pain (dysmenorrhea). Shoemaker also found a correlation between women who had given birth before turning 20, and later being diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. He does stress, though, that, they “are usually benign but are associated with substantial morbidity.”

Just because you have endometriosis doesn’t mean you’ll get a pituitary tumor. Tumors of any kind are not something to mess around with. Speak with your doctor about your personal medical history, and chances of getting an endocrine tumor.

** If you experience a combination of these symptoms, see your personal physician. Remember, this blog is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace your doctor. **

Endo Status

The above title applies to both Endometriosis and Endocrinology. See, I can multitask! 🙂

Actually, the title refers to both because this post will talk about both. Rather candidly, I might add.

My endometriosis is being a literal pain in the bum. I can’t even go to the bathroom without knowing “this is gonna hurt.” And there this area, where the groin meets the pelvis – the pain just shoots from that spot down my inner thigh. Awful. I hate it. Hoping my endocrinology appointment tomorrow will offer some helpful advice.

And that brings us to the endocrinologist.

The much anticicpated appoint is almost here. I can’t wait. For a month I’ve been in limbo land  – do I have diabetes insipidus? Do I have a pituitary tumor? What the heck is going? And I have a sneaking feeling that I will still know nothing when I walk out of that appointment. I need to group my self and come up with some specific questions. I need to take a notebook and write down what he says. I need to get a grasp of this situation before it becomes to big for me to hold onto. Unless it already has.

Pity Party?

I sit here staring sleepy eyed at the computer screen.

My coffee has turned cold, my Kashi Pumpkin Spice Flax bar is but crumbs on my desk.

My EndoFemm has been reheated twice this morning and helping me to cope.

I’m desperatly trying to keep from reaching for that bottle of Cataflam in my medicine cabinet.

I really just want to climb into bed and hide from the world and wait out the pain. It’s hit a climax today. And the more I prepare myself for my April 8th Endocrinology appointment, the more I realize that A) I could end up starting next week off with a pituitary tumor, B) and I may have to try Danazol, Lupron Depot, or Amiredex for my endometriosis before he will approve a hysterectomy. And here I am, in endometriosis pain, left in limbo land hell.

And it’s days like this I wish I didn’t work and could lay on my couch drugged up in a stupor. I know, this isn’t healthy, but I’m fed up with pain. FED UP! Chronic conditions stink. OK. If you’d like to be invited to my pity party, the door’s open, bring meds and kleenex. 🙂

Update – Urology

Alright, so I went for my IVP and had the blood work he wanted done yesterday. I am still waiting for my cystoscope on Thursday morning. I recieve a call from his office right as I was walking out the door yesterday afternoon:

Nurse: “Mrs. *****, this is so-and-so from Dr. Maurer’s office.”

Me: “Alright.”

Nurse: “Dr. Maurer wanted me to call you. Your blood works already come in [wow, that was fast!] and he’s looked over the IVP…”

Me: “Wow, ok.”

Nurse: “He wanted me to let you know that everything’s coming back highly suggestive of diabetes insipidus and he needs to refer you to an endocrinologist.”

At this point I’m speechless. At my consult he did mention this condition but said it was very rare. How could I have a very rare disease? And he told, very matter of factly, that if my tests showed diabetes insipidus then it would most likely be from….. a pituitary tumor. He kept reassuring me that this was very rare and that it was more likely something else. I could have a brain tumor! I could be getting surgery on my brain! They might have to go through my nose and mess around with stuff! I think I’m allowed to freak out a little, no?

I go tomorrow morning for even more blood work! Then Thursday morning for the cystoscope. And I can’t get in to the endocrinologist until April 8th! And I’m so overwhelmed! I was just supposed to be cleared for the hysterectomy and they find this! I’m in complete awe. Just overwhelmed!