Brigitte

This patient testimonial reflects only this person’s opinions about their own care. Each person’s case is unique.  You should always consult a doctor for information and advice about the diagnosis and treatment of acromegaly.

Please note that all treatments may have side effects. Ask your doctor about side effects when considering a given treatment.

Before my diagnosis I had pain in my fingers. Year by year the pain increased a little bit more, mostly at night, and by the morning I found I often could not hold a toothbrush to brush my teeth.

My face had also become so swollen that you could hardly see my eyes and my skin was like leather. When a doctor tried to take a blood sample for an examination he found it difficult to get the needle into my skin as it was so thickened.

I did not visit the doctor monthly, but on one visit I mentioned that I felt I had been sweating a lot. The doctor put this down to my age and that it was likely down to the climacterium (becoming menopausal).

Looking back I also had bigger feet and hands, but I didn’t mention this to the doctor.

I probably would not have been diagnosed with acromegaly for several more years had it not been for an MRT (magnetic resonance tomography, now more usually referred to a magnetic resonance imaging scan) scan of my cervical spine being ordered by an anaesthesiologist.

Subsequently being told I had a pituitary tumour by the radiologist was very worrying and I then saw an endocrinologist.

It was a confusing time. I did not know if I should go out and buy a new car or take a trip around the world or if I would be dead the next week. It felt like I had fallen in a black hole and I was very unhappy.

After getting more information I was calm and said to myself, ‘OK, I will fight against acromegaly.’