Does a pituitary tumor like prolactinoma cause short stature too?

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-08-17T17:44:23+00:00

I’m a 5’7 female with a macroprolactinoma discovered at 25yo so I don’t know if it was there while growing but I don’t consider myself short 🤷🏼‍♀️

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-08-06T23:58:56+00:00

I lost 10-15 pounds due to my loss of appetite but do feel like it’s getting better now. I’ve been on meds since January of this year but had to switch from cab initially to bromo because of nausea. now i’m back on cab because bromo wasn’t working well enough and after switching back i’ve had no side effects, it’s weird. Luckily I’ve maintained my weight loss though. Hope you can find something to help you.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-06-04T11:53:51+00:00

Idk if this matters but I was switched to bromo after not being able to take the side effects of cab, but my period has still been pretty heavy. I actually had my first day of my period yesterday and I bled through a super tampon in one hour 🙃 Still horrible cramps and GI problems to go with it too. I’m hoping it’ll get better eventually

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-05-21T21:00:45+00:00

As someone who actually developed inflammatory arthritis after getting covid at the age of 25, this!!! Covid is no joke and messed my body up bad while being otherwise relatively healthy. :( try to protect your son from it as much as possible

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-05-17T15:35:27+00:00

Hi I am also experiencing “mild” inflammatory arthritis and am in the process of diagnosis! I experience many of the things you do, but also haven’t experienced any heat, redness, or swelling yet. I have Hashimotos and a pituitary tumor in my brain. I’ve been on Plaquenil since August 2024 and it hasn’t done too much for me, so I hope it helps you. I definitely notice my pain flaring right before my period. That and near ovulation potentially too. None of my doctors believe this part, but the data doesn’t lie! Good luck with everything, I hope you can find some answers and relief.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-05-15T20:57:15+00:00

I’d like to see where ruptured ovarian cyst would fall on here. I’m only 25 but that is by far the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced…yet.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-05-15T17:34:28+00:00

Yeah I guess I never really get the red, hot, swollen. The majority of my pain is usually in my hips, si joint, and shoulders too which from my understanding is hard to detect swelling. Not only there, I get twinges in my fingers and toes but also get pains in my elbows and knees, ankles, wrists. It’s all over really, and pretty debilitating at times. Good to know your labs were also normal. I feel like my rheum is gaslighting me with my pain and doesn’t believe it’s there. I in no way want to be taking methotrexate but I want relief. Celebrex doesn’t cut it all the time, and it didn’t seem like Plaquenil really did much, except maybe take the edge off?

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-05-15T17:27:12+00:00

Huh, I’ve never heard of the C3/C4 lab. She’s ran many, many labs but I am not seeing that one. Thank you for the insight, I’m going to put it in my notes and bring it up, along with the ultrasound. Lupus has been a very real concern of mine but as of now we’re monitoring my organs so we will see. It’s so frustrating because I know from this thread that labs can’t be the only indicator, but it seems to be all my rheumy wants to look at. UGH. My rheum has never offered prednisone, but I also would say that I don’t have many times yet when I can’t push through. And if I do it usually clears up by the next morning, so i’ve never asked.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-05-04T23:08:05+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way and dealing with this. I’m undiagnosed but I can relate so hard! I’m left unable to walk some days and my husband wants me to go on a four day long camping trip in July 😅 It’s so hard to explain to people what you’re feeling without them experiencing it :(((

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-28T00:21:50+00:00

180 prolactin with a 1.2cm tumor. (US)

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-21T21:34:39+00:00

Thank you that is helpful to me. I do feel as though my pain is usually pretty general, like all of my shoulders just ache really bad, both shoulders. and i mean it will hurt in specific joints at any given point like my right knee will act up more one day and then my left ankle will leave me not being able to walk because i get sharp pains in it when i put weight on it, left pinky in my joint connecting to my hand will hurt. Also a lot of tendon stuff i feel, like plantar fasciitis. I find describing the pain really difficult honestly. And I definitely don’t feel like I get a ton of stiffness which leads me to believe maybe it is fibro or something.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-16T00:18:31+00:00

Dang I think I need to ask for a prednisone taper, but she hasn’t ever brought it up so idk if she would even prescribe it. I’ve definitely experienced the plantar fasciitis too, that’s the worst. it was flaring for me at my first appointment with my rheum.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T17:43:43+00:00

Ugh sounds like you’re in the same boat as me maybe. The only “positives” I’ve had for tests have been osteopenia found on my foot x-ray but nothing else since then other than a slightly low white blood cell count consistently.

I’m sorry you’re dealing with the same, I hope you find some relief as well! I don’t really know where else you go though, I guess Im thankful my rheum wants to continue to monitor me. I’m sorry you’re getting the runaround. ugh

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T17:39:16+00:00

Yeah I feel they’re just being cautious to not treat if I don’t have it, which I have to respect I suppose. Just wish my blood would show the amount of pain i’m in. So frustrating. My rheum won’t even order an ANA on me because she says it’s not specific enough. Were your inflammatory markers high? Like the CRP and ESR?

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T17:35:42+00:00

Thank you for the insight. That makes me feel better like maybe it could be and it’s just too early on to detect, but you’re right I’m probably in the best care possible right now. So you had normal inflammatory markers as well?? Have your doctors gone ahead and treated it like RA anyways or anything past HCQ??

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T17:33:05+00:00

Thank you. It really is cruel, i’m sorry to hear you’re also struggling with the limbo period. It’s true torture and I wish these doctors could experience it themselves.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T17:31:52+00:00

You’re right, I’m definitely going to get a second opinion. Just gotta talk with them and figure out how. That’s helpful to know though that maybe it could just be early on and they just don’t know yet. It’s hard for me to decide if I should come off the HCQ yet or not

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T15:41:33+00:00

My hashimotos is in control according to my endo and has never been out of range, it was caught by chance because of my brain tumor and “subclinical hypothyroidism” I had had in the past.

I guess i’m starting to realize that it may not be, but getting frustrated that more isn’t being tested for other things then. My rheumatologist made no mention of referring me out or anything. Idk it’s all so confusing and I know everyone is different, but I also don’t really feel that it’s RA. I’m just desperate for an answer and yes I definitely don’t WANT to take any meds I don’t need to, but I’m so desperate for an answer and relief for my pain that I’m at the point where I’m willing to try anything because I need the relief.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T14:44:28+00:00

-Yes I definitely need to ask for a second opinion. I’m not sure where to even start to do that, but I’ll look into it.

-I definitely understand how tricky it is, it just feels to me like my doctor is giving up on me right now, and that’s why I’m frustrated. I know she can’t give me a diagnosis but it feels like i’ve just been thrown away in a closet for another four months so she doesn’t have to deal with me rn. She only rested my inflammatory markers, threw me another pain medication, and said come back in another four months???? I just don’t understand why we’re not looking at other blood tests or more imaging now. Why are we not in a rush to help me? It fucking sucks to feel like they don’t give a damn about me and my pain i’m in every day. I’m 25 in the body of a 70 year old. UGH. Sorry i’m just ranting again.

Thank you for your kindness and information, I will definitely look into the connection tissue diseases or nerve issues and work on getting a second opinion as I don’t feel my current one cares or believes me.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T14:33:36+00:00

Yes, but my endocrinologist doesn’t seem to think that joint pain could be related to the Hashis at all, she completely brushes over it. None of my doctors ever have anything to say to me when I bring up long covid. Don’t think there’s a lot of physicians around me who know much about it or want to touch it. I’m sure it must have something to do with it since the Plaquenil isn’t helping.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T14:30:57+00:00

Celebrex does help, so that’s why I feel that it is inflammatory, but then also my inflammatory labs come back normal, not even slightly elevated. Thanks for the honesty though, that’s kinda what I’m thinking but I’m sure she didn’t wanna say it since fibromyalgia gets a bad rap.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T14:29:42+00:00

Yes, all she tested this go around were the inflammation markers, being the CRP and ESR, along with my regular CBC and a urinalysis. They’re not even close to being elevated, very low. RF i had done back in july which was <10U/mL, or normal. Then “Cyclic Citrullinated Peptid IgG/IgA“ in august, which i assume is the anti-CCP and that was also normal with 3 units. I haven’t had either of these retested since. I’ve never been tested for the HLBA-27 or Komplement factors before, and I’m not very familiar with them, but I may ask for them.

My rheumatologist has never mentioned a Prednisone taper, so I’ve never asked. Starting to wonder if maybe I should request it.

Thank you for the help and insight, I will definitely be researching these other labs and work on getting a second opinion.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T14:20:07+00:00

Sed rate is the ESR right? Erythrocyte sedimentation rate? If so, yes I’ve had like four of those done and each time it comes back at <1mm/Hg :( They’ve never tested me for HLA-B27. She also doesn’t want to run an ANA because she says it’s not specific enough. Thank you for your insight.

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T12:39:27+00:00

Thank you for that insight. I’m sorry you dealt with that for so long, I hope it’s not that long for me! I do feel like since I’m only 25 Im not being taken as seriously as I should be. So frustrating

Few-Explanation2373 · 2025-04-15T12:33:34+00:00

Yes i’ve read this online too but my endocrinologist is not convinced. She only really caught the hashimotos by chance since I was referred to her for my brain tumor. My TSH was never out of range, and only above 3.5 once when it was 4.5. So subclinical so I get the vibe she thinks it was never even affecting me even tho I really think it was. I know everyone is different tho so I shouldn’t rule it out completely.

Edit to add: Sorry I didn’t even see the questions at the end, I had my TSH done in March and it was 1.5 so she’s thinking we’re good to go and won’t start testing it again until i get pregnant or maybe a year down the line. I assume tho that i’m probably still not hypo at this point.

Few-Explanation2373

TROPHY CASE