Acromegaly Support Group
Acromegaly (from Greek akros "high" and megas "large" - extremities enlargement) is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH). Acromegaly most commonly affects middle-aged adults and can result in serious illness and premature death. Join the group to discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
Hi All:
I have been following your discussions for about a month now and want to first thank everyone for sharing their trials and tribulations - my surgery is scheduled for February 12th (wanted to wait for the birth of grandchild #8 due any day now) and with the support of this forum I have gone from anxiety ridden to feeling a sense of peace.
I know now that I have had acro for over 20 years - for our 20th wedding anniversary my husband gave me a size 7 ring (I was a size 5) and I only wore that ring for about a year. Today, 22 years later, I was measured as a size 10. Shoe size went from an 8 to 101/2. About 10 years ago I asked my family physician why my hands and feet were getting so big. He said that sometimes happens as people age and put on weight - that's also when I started being treated for hypothyroidism. Three years ago I was told I had a slightly enlarged heart when I thought i was having a heart attack (but it was probably an anxiety attack as my husband was going through chemo for non-Hodgkins and suffered a gallbladder attack - another crazy chapter in our lives). Then I noticed my lower lip looking like it had a botox treatment and my top front teeth started moving to the point that by this past March the gap was so big I went to dentist to see about getting new crowns put in. Then I noticed my nose started to spread wider. Like all of you, I kept thinking I was crazy - sometimes my head felt like it was being compressed or a faint lightning bolt was passing through. But mostly everything lasts just a short time and then goes away. So I would put it out of my mind. I have arthritis in my left knee, occasional hip joint pain, tingling and numbness in my fingers, night sweats (not menopausal) and just had about 20 skin tags removed from my neck. My best feature however is my beautiful, thick curly hair (I have always had baby fine pin straight hair) which I thought changed due to coloring the grays away! Ha! was I ever fooled!!
Anyway, this past October my grandbaby came down with a fever and then broke out with a rash. I told my daughter it was roseola/baby measels. Daughter looked it up on Mayo Clinic website and happened to see an article on enlarged hands and feet. She then tells me she thinks i have this disease called acromegaly. I read article then call endo who sends me for blood test. IGH - 1 is 981. Next MRI - 1.4centimeter macro. So here I am - a new member of this elite club waiting to find out what life has in store for me next.
Has anyone had annoying itching without any meds- my shins, fingers and armpits drive me crazy - is this also from acro?
You are all in my prayers and I will keep you posted on my journey. I know how much your posts helped me.
God bless!
I have been following your discussions for about a month now and want to first thank everyone for sharing their trials and tribulations - my surgery is scheduled for February 12th (wanted to wait for the birth of grandchild #8 due any day now) and with the support of this forum I have gone from anxiety ridden to feeling a sense of peace.
I know now that I have had acro for over 20 years - for our 20th wedding anniversary my husband gave me a size 7 ring (I was a size 5) and I only wore that ring for about a year. Today, 22 years later, I was measured as a size 10. Shoe size went from an 8 to 101/2. About 10 years ago I asked my family physician why my hands and feet were getting so big. He said that sometimes happens as people age and put on weight - that's also when I started being treated for hypothyroidism. Three years ago I was told I had a slightly enlarged heart when I thought i was having a heart attack (but it was probably an anxiety attack as my husband was going through chemo for non-Hodgkins and suffered a gallbladder attack - another crazy chapter in our lives). Then I noticed my lower lip looking like it had a botox treatment and my top front teeth started moving to the point that by this past March the gap was so big I went to dentist to see about getting new crowns put in. Then I noticed my nose started to spread wider. Like all of you, I kept thinking I was crazy - sometimes my head felt like it was being compressed or a faint lightning bolt was passing through. But mostly everything lasts just a short time and then goes away. So I would put it out of my mind. I have arthritis in my left knee, occasional hip joint pain, tingling and numbness in my fingers, night sweats (not menopausal) and just had about 20 skin tags removed from my neck. My best feature however is my beautiful, thick curly hair (I have always had baby fine pin straight hair) which I thought changed due to coloring the grays away! Ha! was I ever fooled!!
Anyway, this past October my grandbaby came down with a fever and then broke out with a rash. I told my daughter it was roseola/baby measels. Daughter looked it up on Mayo Clinic website and happened to see an article on enlarged hands and feet. She then tells me she thinks i have this disease called acromegaly. I read article then call endo who sends me for blood test. IGH - 1 is 981. Next MRI - 1.4centimeter macro. So here I am - a new member of this elite club waiting to find out what life has in store for me next.
Has anyone had annoying itching without any meds- my shins, fingers and armpits drive me crazy - is this also from acro?
You are all in my prayers and I will keep you posted on my journey. I know how much your posts helped me.
God bless!
I do at times even with meds get intense itching. It usually at times when my disease is not totally controlled. I suspect it is because our hormones are out of balance. My thoughts are with you for a successful surgery. And congrats on baby #8
Rose
Hugs
U
How large was your tumor??