Pituitary problems?

[Anniewoz1]

I had my 3rd appointment with Endo today.

(I don’t have print out of results )

Although he’s increased levo by 50 mg to 125 my free thyroxine is still quite low, I’m now booked for an MRI scan on Friday as he thinks it’s pituitary related

I’m hoping someone has knowledge of this ?

Quite scary as he mentioned pituitary tumours

Any advice / information please

[jimh111]

You will need to get a copy of the results for meaningful comments. A low fT4 when on 125 mcg levothyroxine is unlikely to be pituitary related, more likely your dose is too low or you are not absorbing it well. Is he a fully qualified endocrinologist or a trainee? Does seem strange he is suspecting pituitary although of course we don't have all the details.

[Anniewoz1 in reply to jimh111]

He’s a professor Jim, so I’d hope he knew his stuff !

I’ve requested results, with all he was saying, I came away without them.

[Jazzw]

I’ve just looked at your history - you had a partial thyroidectomy. So... honestly, well... I’m not saying it couldn’t possibly be your pituitary. But it does seem a lot more likely that the remaining portion of your thyroid can’t keep up. Quite what’s got the Endo thinking “pituitary” is hard to say - unless he’s your typical diabetes specialist type of Endo who doesn’t understand why TSH can be suppressed yet FT4 not very high in range. Which we see very commonly here.

[Anniewoz1 in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks for your reply Jazz

I’ll post results once I have them

[BadHare]

Look up The Pituitary Foundation, which has some excellent resources.

I have a pituitary micro adenoma which was diagnosed 5 years ago, though I had symptoms which were never picked up for over 40 years. Having an MRI is a tad uncomfortable, mostly because they inject dye in the arm halfway through, but it's by no means anything to worry about. If you do have a macroadenoma, you'd have more debilitating symptoms than being hypo, so don't worry too much!

[Anniewoz1 in reply to BadHare]

Good morning Badhare

Thanks for your reassuring post and for pointing me in the direction of the pituitary foundation

[BadHare in reply to Anniewoz1]

You're welcome, Anniewoz1 !

I ended up here after reading Pituitary Foundation articles with a checklist to show your endocrinologist (they took no notice, of course!) & realising my tumour was causing hypo symptoms, so you're in the right place should that be an issue for you, too!

Good luck with your scan!

[Hidden]

Hi Annie, as you know I know all about pituitary issues! Sadly even if the Endo was a professor they don't always know & understand pituitary/adrenal issues. Give me a shout if I can help. Pauline x

[Anniewoz1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Pauline x

[Hidden in reply to Anniewoz1]

Hi Annie did the Pi MRI show anything up?

[Anniewoz1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Pauline

The mri showed no pituitary problems, thankfully

I’m trying to get him to look into possible adrenal problems, when I asked his reply was “ you came to me with thyroid issues and that’s what I’m looking into “

I could’ve thumped him !

[Hidden in reply to Anniewoz1]

Umm......!!!

[Polly91 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Pauline

Could you let me know what are the main pituitary issues/ symptoms?

Thanks so much

[Hidden in reply to Polly91]

Oh goodness there are so many as the pituitary is the master gland so it secretes lots of hormones. Have a look at the Pituitary Foundation website as there is lots of information on there.

[Angel_of_the_North]

That's what I had. Except after scan I didn't actually have a tumour apparently, just all the symptoms. Sounds scary but it isn't (usually) a cancer type tumour, just something pressing on the gland and making it either produce the wrong hormones or not enough. However, the test is usually done long before you ever gt diagnosed because TSH doesn't rise so you have low TSH and low thyroid hormones at once.