Prolactinoma Support Group

I will be honest. I had the surgery and was in the hospital for 3 days. That is the industry standard as I understand it. My surgeon told me that some will d/c sooner but that a really good neurosurgeon will want to monitor the person longer than a day. I was not back to work for 4 weeks. I was weak and very tired. But, my hormones would not regulate. After trials and switching endos, I am happy to report that I am fine now. But, I just found this out last week. I had the surgery in December. Overall thought, I am glad I had the surgery. I would not recommend it without trying the meds thought. I could not tolerate Bromocriptine and the tumor was found to be bleeding. It was the right decision at the time. Yet, it is tough decision and not a first choice in my opinion. Good luck

I had the surgery as well. You won't go back to work for 4 weeks at least, not 3 1/2 days!!! Maybe stay in the hospital for three days. I stayed in for almost five days as I had a spinal fluid leak then a spout of diabetes insipidous as a temporary result of the surgery.

I had the surgery in December, too. My tumor has not returned. I have had the surgery twice, and the first was hell. Bad surgeon!! Research your surgeon.

Good luck if you do have the surgery. The odds of it returning are high. For me it was only a 40% chance my second surgery would be successful.

However, I would do it again because pills did not work and it was doubling in size within a couple months. Surgery is a last resort. Extremely dangerous, but totally worth it if it works!

:)

We have had people, on this forum, that had the Pituitary destroyed as a result of the surgery. In greater than half the cases, the tumor grows back. In 40% of the cases, with the tumor removed, the hyperprolactinemia remains. For me, if the tumor is stable and the prolactin can be regulated with meds; I am going to leave it alone. The Neurosurgeon I consulted says that, occasionally, the tumors just burn out.

Your friend recovered incredibly fast. I had to have the surgery too because my tumor continued to grow with the meds and was approaching my optic nerve. Two neuro's and an neuro-opthamoligist told me to have the procedure. I was somewhat relieved for the surgery decision to be out of my hands because I was always thinking about this huge decision looming over my head. I didn't feel that great with the meds but the idea of neurosurgery was very scary so when the doctors basically said it was something I needed to do, I was ready for it. I was in the hospital for 4 days. I was not back to work for 4 weeks but the standard recovery is 6 weeks. I was surprised at how tired and weak I was for a few weeks. I had my surgery in November and started to really feel great by spring. Looking back, it was the best thing that I could have done for myself. My surgeon told me that there was a 10% chance that it could come back and that I needed MRIs for the next 5 years. So far, so good. I am free of medication and lots of doctor appointments. I would definitely do it again. Good luck.