End Fatigue

Pituitary Adenomas

BACKGROUND

Pituitary adenomas are small benign growths in the pituitary. They do NOT become cancer.

Key Concerns

The key concerns are if the growths become large enough to:

Push on the optic nerve

Pushing the optic nerve can cause a loss of peripheral vision. This is uncommon, but your physician will do simple visual field screening tests to monitor for this.

Cause problems with pituitary/hormonal function

The adenoma can cause significant hormone problems — and can even cause fatigue, CFS and fibromyalgia — even if your blood tests look fine (see Problems with Lab Testing).

Raise prolactin hormone levels

Elevation of this breast milk producing hormone can cause infertility and mood issues.

TREATMENT

Therapies & Advice

Monitor for vision loss

If you feel well, the adenoma simply needs to be monitored (usually by your eye doctor) to be sure it is not causing peripheral vision loss.

SHINE

If you have fatigue, insomnia or achiness (see CFS/fibromyalgia) from the adenoma, simply optimize hormone function based on symptoms (using the labs to check that they are in the normal range for safety AFTER you find the optimal hormone levels as discussed in From Fatigued to Fantastic!) and treat with the rest of the SHINE Protocol (see SHINE under the "More" tab).

Be cautious of surgery

Removing the adenoma will NOT help the symptoms and is NOT needed (unless it is endangering vision — if the adenoma expert recommends surgery, get a second opinion if you feel it is needed, and then do it).

Find a CFS/FM physician

Specialists will do a good job of evaluating your adenoma for whether it is affecting vision (they are very good at this) but may be clueless about its relation to CFS/fibromyalgia if you have fatigue, insomnia and achiness. So thank them when they say the adenoma is OK and has nothing to do with your other symptoms, follow their instructions for monitoring the adenoma, but then go to a CFS/FMS expert to get well (see the Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers).

Recommended Supplements

Vitamin B6 if elevated prolactin

If the prolactin blood test is elevated and infertility or depression becomes an issue, add vitamin B6 at 250 mg a day and consider the medication bromocriptine (which will lower the prolactin and also lower the risk of birth defects when you get pregnant).

Related Information

The SHINE Approach and Treatment Protocol

Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers (find a CFS/FMS practitioner)