My daughter who has acromegaly, diagnosed 2 yrs ago has suffereed from hayfever sinus problems,since she was very young.

Also since being diagnosed no sinus problems.

John,

Interesting idea! I used to use decongestants a fair bit, I too was diagnosed with hypertension, and now I don't bother with decongestants either.

It's perfectly reasonable for acromegaly to have changes that could be seen by have a positive effect. Increased muscle mass, increased lean body mass and strengthened bones is something that athletes are willing to gamble their health on my mimicking the effects of acromegaly by the illegal (and hideously risky) practice of injection of human growth hormone.

I'm not sure if there is a link with sinuses, but heh, we both have a very similar experience to this. I think we can be at danger of accounting all sorts of things (physical, mental and social) to the condition of acromegaly (wishful thinking perhaps), but that is only understandable.

One "benefit" I found was almost the complete impossibility of a hangover - despite trying very hard to get one (as an experiment of course). I'm DELIGHTED to report I had my first hangover in many many years on Saturday - coincident with starting treatment with a Somatostatin Analogue (Sandostatin LAR) a couple of weeks back. Why am I delighted - it shows that the drug is working. I never thought I'd be happy to get a hangover, but I was absolutely thrilled. :)

Another "benefit" I have found is an increase in muscle mass - very handy for bringing in the weekly shopping. I can pretty much carry three full carrier bags in each hand.

Another "benefit" is having really teeth and strong jet black hair. My barber and dentist both commented on them. (Unfortunately though, my teeth now suffer from an underbite.)

A less tangible "benefit" is better realising the value of life in my affliction. The realisation of the need to meet other peoples needs first knowing that ones own will just follow in due course.

Of course I'd trade all of this to be well - it's pathetic that I should perhaps look at the silver lining of this cloud, but for me I find it a healthy outlook, and it's one that works for me and my wife.

Many decongestants by the way can bring on hypertension. I think the one you mention is one of them.

Trys
www.acromegaly.wordpress.com

I have had very few sinus problem other than the common cold and 1 or 2 bouts of the flu in my life....YAY!! One more thing to be thankful for

I just wondered, and if I remember, I may ask a doctor. It was odd that I was plagued with sinusitis on and off for years then it stopped as soon as my blood pressure rose (which I know know was caused at least in part by acromegaly).

As for increasing muscle mass, well I missed out on that one, didn't I... having persuaded myself to go to the gym, I read all sorts of advice that as a hypertensive I should avoid weights etc and to concentrate on cardiovascular fitness. So I stuck to the treadmill and exercise bike. I got good legs though :-)

John

I had recurrent sinusitis and infections for many years. Tried 2 sinus surgeries to roto-rooter out all the "scar tissue from allergic reactions" Have been better since the pit surgery, since it cut down on the soft tissue swelling and overgrowing "scar tissue". Still had some infections periodically. Hypertension has never been a problem, but then again, I have been on inderal and aldactone for years for mitral valve prolapse, and some use that to treat hypertension.

Hi John:

I'm very happy that your sinusitis has cleared up. I wish i could say the same, unfortunately the acromegaly and the sinus surgery has not helped my sinusitis. When I am congested, I take a decongestant and/or do a sinus rinse. Sudafed works well for me.

I don't have hypertension, I actually have low blood pressure, so this is the opposite of people who use decongestants.

Take care, Mish

Getting drunk is a good way to check if acromegaly medicine is working? Acromegaly makes you strong enough to carry home the shopping? (Well, all those bottles of booze must be heavy). Acromegaly gives you beautiful teeth and lovely strong hair?

And to top it all, acromegaly is a fantastic cure for sinusitis?

Wow, keep this up, and people will be lining up to get this wonderful disease.

Lets see...my sinuses are a disaster. I dont know if they have to do with acromegaly but they've been acting weird lately. For the first 2 weeks after surgery...awful. But then I could breathe out of BOTH nostrils for the first time in years. Then a month or so ago they've been acting terrible and I can only breathe from one side. I think I have funded my ENT's vacation home.

Also, what is this about acromegaly and hair? I do not have alot going for me because I am so sick and all that garbage but I had awesome hair. Shiny and so thick that I have to buy special hair clips for it. But then after surgery it started falling out. Anyone think this is due to the loss of growth hormones or maybe just the stress of surgery?

Hi

some people that are on lanreotide and octreotide have had hair falling out, I cant remember if you are on any drugs, but that can do it.Takecare

Re: hair. My hair was molting or something because my thyroid... (but I've also heard same thing related to octreotide) They leveled out the thyroid meds, I think its better now.
Re: sinuses. I had a deviated septum, my ent said after the surgery, "Well, while I was in there thought I'd fix somethings up... you should be happy!" :) Love that guy. Yeah, I had sinus trouble for years. It's a lot better now I think, but I have to admit I just had a sinus infection a couple weeks ago. So... I don't know. (inconclusive evidence?)

Hi John,
Very interesting, and was on my mind too.
Soon after my hands expanded [some 29 years ago] I developed hayfever that carried on till some 12 years ago and ... just stopped!!! Now to top it up about 12 years ago I started suffering with an over flow of tears and went to see specialist and found that my tear ducts are too narrow... around when the Acro started going crazy 7 years ago my eyes stopped dripping and always well, then some 6 months after the opp and the RT was over with... here we are again i am with streaming eyes for a few months. And here is another BUT, as it stopped again as the GH is high again. Lets see when I start with the Lanreotide what will happen. I also believe that the high blood presser as allot to do with the Acro.

Superstahr, I think it is the reduction in hGH & the stress of the surgery & I'm experiencing the same thing re: hair loss.

Sinuses: Mine are by far WORSE since the operation. I was using a saline rinse with 3 broad spectrum antibiotics as a preventative measure and then more often as a cure prior to the surgery and my GP doesn't want to use it now because he thinks my brain is still too fragile postop. I have been fighting sinusitis almost constantly since the surgery. It was confirmed by CT scan in August and by the February MRIs. I finally feel like the sinuses have calmed down some, but all the pus that drained from them into my lungs have infected my lungs. It has been one thing after another. A person gets sick of being sick after a while.

I have read that acromegaly enlarges the sinuses and maybe that was what gave some of you relief. For me, it didn't do the job. One of the many surgeries I am currently putting off at least until summer (and hoping I don't regret as our contract is not ratified and our insurance is likely to be dropped) is to go in and clean out the sinuses again and enlarge the openings again. Including the resection, that would make 3 sinus surgeries for me.

So that would make a resounding NO, acromegaly has NOT cured sinus problems for me.

In fact, I believe that the AcroMonster created some of them, because in the first surgery there was, guess what, EXCESS BONE, removed from the turbinades, a deviated septum corrected, holes drilled through the ethmoid sinuses and the openings enlarged to the maxillary sinuses.

Hmm, what may have caused there to be EXCESS BONE growth, I wonder??????