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.

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Suzannabanana 01/31/2011

Here are two recent studies I found that contradict each other. One found oral estrogen to work as well as Octreotide, and the other found that Tamoxifen (an anti-estrogen), cured a particularly stubborn case (entirely by accident!)

This could be BIG news, people!

Here they are:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20535640?dopt=Abstract&otool=upittlib

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21221819

In related news - I go for an MRI and meeting with the surgeons tomorrow. Wish me luck!

J0KEYJ 02/01/2011

Hi thankyou so much for sharing info...my levels have dropped suddenly...oh we are medical mysteries...to find something to help people more and kick the ass of this conditon..Biggest hugs to you alot of us seem to be having MRIs heres to you and to all of us ..

JohnD1 02/01/2011

Hmm, not sure I'd like the effects of extra oestrogen on me though...

Good luck for the MRI.

John

deleted_user 02/04/2011

Isn't this interesting to say the least. I will keep this info in case I need it.
How was your appointment?

PapillonRoseBleue 02/05/2011

I'll remind you of the disturbing meeting I had w/ a leading endo who said estrogen increasing hGH levels & is "bad" for people with acromegaly.....

deleted_user 02/08/2011

If I understood these articles, they contradict eachother...which is about par for the course when it concerns information about acromegaly!

Suzannabanana 02/10/2011

Yeah, the message seems to be that messing with estrogen does something. The first article is using the mix of estrogen and progesterone found in birth control pills. It makes sense to me, because I was having a lot fewer symptoms when I was on b/c.

deleted_user 05/07/2013

They don't contradict at all. They are actually showing similar effects. Tam is an anti-estrogen for certain receptors, whereas it acts as an estrogen in others. Men can take this drug as it acts as an estrogen without the side effects of growing boobs etc. It works as an estrogen on IGF-1. Estrogen has shown moderate reductions in IGF-1 and is used as an additive therapy in special cases of resistant disease and when ppl cant afford the other drugs. In fact, estrogen has shown fairly consistent results in reducing IGF-1 from what I have read, however does not change GH in most cases. There are a few studies reporting a rise in GH. For the most part, this reduction in IGF-1 reduces symptoms and improves glucose tolerance. If you are not responding to other treatments and cant afford peg, it might be an option (with its own set of side effects of course). Obviously ask your doctor tho as im no expert just done my fair share of reading on the topic. :)

deleted_user 05/07/2013

Is the MRI for a transsphenoidal? Good luck Ms Banana.

deleted_user 05/11/2013

Didn't cure me.

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