I am on bromocriptine, but i also deal with depression and anger. it is affecting my family so badly right now, i am so scared i am scarring my kids for life! i am also looking into surgery options. i am convinced that these are actual symptoms of the tumor and not just side effects of the meds. why else would so many people with such different stories, different size tumors, different medications all have these same symptoms. some might say that the depression is a result of having a tumor diagnosis. well, i've known of mine for 10 years now and I have been medicated and stable. now, all of a sudden, things are changing and i'm going crazy? don't think so. think my tumor is becoming resistant to the bromo or it is putting pressure on the glad causing hypopituitarianism. No longer just affecting prolactin levels, but decreasing other hormone production and/or secretion. Sorry to ramble, check out my response to iris on her one week post surgery comment.

I have been battling a prolactinoma since 2004. I do believe the tumor and the meds severely effect my abilities to function normally. I'm on so many other meds just to try and maintain a "balance" in my moods. It is the most frustrating thing I have ever had to deal with. I had surgery in 2006 to remove my tumor and was fine 100% back to normal. Two years later my levels started increasing and have been since. I'm thankful my now husband and I got together durning my tumor's break so he could see how much this thing effects my mental health. I don't feel like myself at all. ALL of my doctors tell me it's not related and the drugs or the tumor don't have these effects. My response to them is well how do you know have you ever had a prolactinoma... not everything in medical books is clear cut black and white. There are so many things doctors don't know about our bodies and what they do... especially when a foreign tumor is introduced.

I work hard with my family care doc to create a drug cocktail to balance me out and not make me a totally horrid person to be around. I would suggest the same. It helps... you have to adjust sometimes but it's better than nothing.

Yes, they ARE related, friend.

This forum, in this website, is testament to that fact. There is a whole new field of Endocrinology called "Psychoneuroendocrinology".

Look it up on your favorite search engine. You'll find a handful of Practitioners and Specialists...dotted about the country.

As a side note, I would talk to my Endocrinologist(s) about the depression and I got a blank stare. The Endo I am with now just looks at my Thyroid numbers...then scratches out a thyroid medication...I guess because that's what he understands.

Your autoimmune system reacts to that tumor, by the way. Other homeostatic mechanisms react as well and you can have temperature regulation problems...as an example.

Hi Crystals83,
Sorry you're not feeling well. My Endo did say that my fatigue is directly related to the tumor. It seems as though everyone on the site has exhaustion/tiredness issues.. However, I've discussed many other symptoms with my dr & at times I get a blank stare. Because of my internal head shaking at night & other things, I am also seeing a Neurologist in November. Please let us know what you learn at your appointment. And Tigertales is right... I have temperature regulation issues... my head & then body overheat. There's a lot they don't know. I'm just so grateful that we're all talking about these things & sharing our experiences. Best wishes on the 12th!!