Pituitary Tumor Causing Headaches

Re: Pituitary Tumor Causing Headaches

• JSS1002 member

  January 2013

  Re: the sick time -- I thni I'm not understanding.  If you have the time built up, do you need one of them to write you a note?  Can't you just use the time at your discretion?  If you need a note, I don't have any tips -- other than to just be frank and say "look, one of you jerks needs to write me a note."

   Headache tips... i have lots of them, but most are related to migraines that have specific triggers.  yours sound less avoidable - but for relief, in addition to drugs, I highly recommend warmth -- warm towels, water bottles, heating pads... massage... dim lighting... sleep... stay really hydrated... a little bit of caffeine....

  Good luck, it sounds really painful and scary.

     

  
  

  
  

  

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• Larchila member

  January 2013

  I am a principal at a school so what I have been doing is calling off everyday. A note from the doctor would make things official so instead of my work building and continuing to call off, they would send me off, get a replacement for me and I wouldn't have to feel that feeling that I am failing by calling in daily.
  
  Thanks for the tips!

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• wendalsue member

  January 2013

  I have one myself!  It's never gotten big enough to cause headaches or optical problems, but my prolactin is always really high.  I discovered it because I started lactating and hadn't breastfed in 10 years!  I never ovulated or had periods when my prolactin was high, which kept me from getting pregnant for years.  I was put on the drug Cabergoline several months and stopped lactating, ovulated, and then got pregnant.  That pregnancy was lost early, around 4 weeks.  I was told that I could take the Cabergoline while trying to get pregnant, but then had to stop once I became pregnant because it is not safe for the baby.  So I went back on it, and then got pregnant with this LO.  As soon as I was sure that I had ovulated, I discontinuted the meds.  My prolactin levels have come back up, but I'm told that they are not harmful to the baby.  Fortunately for me, the worst thing that could happen is that I may lactate, but that hasn't happened yet...surprisingly.  Like I said earlier, my "tumor" isn't big enough to cause any other problems so I don't have to deal with what you're going through.  I did have migraines before I was pregnant, but they were unrelated to the tumor.  Those have gone away since I've been out of the 1st tri.  I'm sorry you're dealing with that.  I don't have advice for dealing with the headaches.  My doctors told me to go ahead and take Imitrex and/or Vicodin for migraines if I got them...but to use it very very sparingly.  I know not everyone agrees on the safety of drugs like that, but when headaches are very severe...the benefits of the meds outweigh the risk.  I would definitely stress to the docs how miserable you are and ask them to do something to help you with this pain!  Good luck and I hope you find some relief.

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

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• Newton81

  January 2013

  I have one too. They did surgery in 2001 and resected it but left some of it behind worried they would cause damage to the pituitary and I would need hormones. They were quite surprised I got pregnant. Before my surgery I remember the horrible headaches. Sadly there is little that you can do since it is the tumor pressing on the surrounds and cause the aches.

   Take it easy, rest. I did have a lot of headaches earlier in this pregnancy and started going to the chiropractor, also ice to decrease the inflammation on the back of my neck, lavender essential oils on my temples and massage. 

  Mom of a 3 year old girl, two stars in the sky and one growing peanut due April 2013.

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• cheesecakerunner member

  January 2013

  wendalsue:

  I have one myself!  It's never gotten big enough to cause headaches or optical problems, but my prolactin is always really high.  I discovered it because I started lactating and hadn't breastfed in 10 years!  I never ovulated or had periods when my prolactin was high, which kept me from getting pregnant for years.  I was put on the drug Cabergoline several months and stopped lactating, ovulated, and then got pregnant.  That pregnancy was lost early, around 4 weeks.  I was told that I could take the Cabergoline while trying to get pregnant, but then had to stop once I became pregnant because it is not safe for the baby.  So I went back on it, and then got pregnant with this LO.  As soon as I was sure that I had ovulated, I discontinuted the meds.  My prolactin levels have come back up, but I'm told that they are not harmful to the baby.  Fortunately for me, the worst thing that could happen is that I may lactate, but that hasn't happened yet...surprisingly.  Like I said earlier, my "tumor" isn't big enough to cause any other problems so I don't have to deal with what you're going through.  I did have migraines before I was pregnant, but they were unrelated to the tumor.  Those have gone away since I've been out of the 1st tri.  I'm sorry you're dealing with that.  I don't have advice for dealing with the headaches.  My doctors told me to go ahead and take Imitrex and/or Vicodin for migraines if I got them...but to use it very very sparingly.  I know not everyone agrees on the safety of drugs like that, but when headaches are very severe...the benefits of the meds outweigh the risk.  I would definitely stress to the docs how miserable you are and ask them to do something to help you with this pain!  Good luck and I hope you find some relief.

   This is pretty similar to my story. Tiny tumor, no current issues but I wanted to say good luck with all this. As if pregnancy wasn't uncomfortable enough sometimes. 

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• nessahm member

  January 2013

  cheesecakerunner:

  wendalsue:

  I have one myself!  It's never gotten big enough to cause headaches or optical problems, but my prolactin is always really high.  I discovered it because I started lactating and hadn't breastfed in 10 years!  I never ovulated or had periods when my prolactin was high, which kept me from getting pregnant for years.  I was put on the drug Cabergoline several months and stopped lactating, ovulated, and then got pregnant.  That pregnancy was lost early, around 4 weeks.  I was told that I could take the Cabergoline while trying to get pregnant, but then had to stop once I became pregnant because it is not safe for the baby.  So I went back on it, and then got pregnant with this LO.  As soon as I was sure that I had ovulated, I discontinuted the meds.  My prolactin levels have come back up, but I'm told that they are not harmful to the baby.  Fortunately for me, the worst thing that could happen is that I may lactate, but that hasn't happened yet...surprisingly.  Like I said earlier, my "tumor" isn't big enough to cause any other problems so I don't have to deal with what you're going through.  I did have migraines before I was pregnant, but they were unrelated to the tumor.  Those have gone away since I've been out of the 1st tri.  I'm sorry you're dealing with that.  I don't have advice for dealing with the headaches.  My doctors told me to go ahead and take Imitrex and/or Vicodin for migraines if I got them...but to use it very very sparingly.  I know not everyone agrees on the safety of drugs like that, but when headaches are very severe...the benefits of the meds outweigh the risk.  I would definitely stress to the docs how miserable you are and ask them to do something to help you with this pain!  Good luck and I hope you find some relief.

   This is pretty similar to my story. Tiny tumor, no current issues but I wanted to say good luck with all this. As if pregnancy wasn't uncomfortable enough sometimes. 

  I have a pituitary adenoma as well. Similar to above, tiny. I find it a little comforting to know I'm not the only one. Whenever I tell people I have one, they look at me as if I just had told them I have the worst possible illness in the world. But, I guess the word tumor always sounds so scary. I actually see an endocrinoligist (sp?) and she monitors that as well as my hypothyroid issue (hashimotos). I guess my whole endocrine system is a lemon but luckily all I've had to do thus far is take a couple of tiny pills. Keeping my fingers crossed it always stays that way.

  I have no suggestions on how to relieve the headaches but I just wanted to say that I truly hope you feel better asap. I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. As if pregnancy wasn't already hard enough. If you can take sick leave, I would totally do it. Get your rest now before baby comes because it will be hard to do so after.

  

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• Larchila member

  January 2013

  Thanks ladies for all of the great support and tips. I really thought I might be alone on this one, but its comforting knowing that I am not alone. This is why I love it here!

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