Hello all, new to this site. I am a 45 yo white female, my mother was almost 35 when I was born and she smoked throughout her pregnancy. My brother had mumps and german measles, which my mother exposed me to, but I never got.
I had a tonsilectomy in 1971. Anyway, I developed mono during the recupperation. Then I developed a large parotid tumor which was sort of ganglion as the tumor itself rested against my thyroid. I was always kinda hyper as a kid, but I could never keep up in gym, playing ball or running. I would always get really dizzy and get a stitch in my side.
As a teen, I got in with the wrong crowd. Did the whole recreational drug thing. But never got addicted to anything. And it seemed everything I took did just the opposite to me as it did everyone else (amphetamines made me sleep, etc.).
I had at least one miscarriage that I'm sure of, possibly two. It was hard to tell when I was preg. as I had my periods into my pregnancies.
Oh, and periods were the most horrendous things I had. I bled so much that I would pass out. Huge clots, etc. I would bleed three days, stop for two and go for three more. Cramps were into my thighs (later dx'd w/endometreosis.
My first baby was born in 1982. She was 8 lb 3.5. I had toxemia. Had my period until 3 mo. preg. We moved to Virginia. My second child was born in 1984. Had periods until 5th month. She was actually about 1 month premature, as back then they did not do routine ultrasounds. Apparently, I had a tumor in my uterus that was as large as she was, she was just at 5lbs. They told me the tumor would go away on its own.
3rd (8lbs 5) & 4th (7lb 14) childen I had no problems other than my contractions were so light, they couldn't pick them up on the monitor. My last child the placenta would not detach so I had to have a D&C after. I had a tubal in 1988.
In June 1993 they decided I should have the parotid tumor removed---here is when all the trouble began. In Dec 1993 I had a uterine hysterectomy (severe prolapse and lots of fibroids and severe endometreosis). Then I started gaining weight over 80 lbs in 6 months. I was always right around 145 and I ballooned. I also had idiopathic anemia so they did a bone marrow biopsy they suspected thallesemia (wrong -- I'm of Scottish descent).
Then we had to move due to my husband's job. Came to sunny, hot, Florida! After many stupid, ignorant, rude doctors, I found one who told me "you have a brain tumor, but if you are going to have a brain tumor, this is the one to have" (ok that was not comforting). I had a pituitary microadenoma which gave me cyclic Cushing's Disease, it first pronounced as a prolactinoma and then changed into an ACTH producing one. In 6/2000 the tumor was removed. The surgeon said of all his cases he had never had one like it. The tumor was wrapped in a cyst so when he tried to cut it out, of course the cyst ruptured. I also had a CSF leak and diabetes insipidus. I was in ICU for 5 days. I had lots of clots that had to be removed through my nose w/o benefit of anethesia (that was fun). I was hopeful, but this did not cure the Cushings. Went to another endo. He said the tumor was still there but so small they couldn't excise it, they could radiate it, but they would be shooting blindly. So my other option was a bilateral adrenalectomy. This was done 1/2005. I was 242lbs the morning of the surgery.
I have to take daily doses of Cortef (hydrocortisone) and Florinef (aldosterone).
I've been dizzy pretty much as long as I can remember, but it got real bad after the pit and adrenal surgeries--to the point of blacking out while driving (thank God I carpooled at the time). I eventually lost my job due to my disability. After many, many doctors, a neurologist said the dizziness can either be from your brain, heart, or ears. Brain was ok so were the ears -- so lets check the heart. Had a stress test -- i failed -- they said oh my you are about 75% blocked (huh?). We are going to do a heart cath (angiogram) if you are blocked he'll fix it then (huh?). Ok thought I was going to die, dr said there is nothing wrong with me b/4 he even did procedure, but we have to do it anyway just to make sure ($$$ right). Negatory. Clean as a pistol. But I do have high left ventricle diastolic exit pressure.
Finally, I had a tilt table test done -- Yeah!! I flunked. My bp went down, down, down, heart rate tried to maintain but couldn't so it started going down too. Black out time. Finally found a doc to fix me. The dizziness was caused by dysautonomia (orthostatic hypotension).
But now the kidneys are going (chronic interstitial kidney disease); found another brain tumor -- this one is on the 5th crainal nerve as it goes through my skull right in between the carotid and jugular and then continues down the hypoglossal canal (possible schwanomma); have some type of lump in my left upper arm and under the elbow and below my right knee; I thought they were lymph nodes, but they are horizontal; may also have a C1 paraspinal tumor, that is undetermined. Have a T10 intervetebral hemangioma; degenerative disc disease; L4,L5,S1; L5,S1 is dessicated; have scoliosis; hypothyroidism (been told hashimotos but I don't think I've been tested for it); pretty sure I have some form of Ehler-Danlos b/c I've been a Gumby all my life. I'm in pain just about everywhere (and its not fibromyalgia). Been tested for lupus about 6 times. I can see on my films some other nice little white spots in my noggin and in my stomach.
I just worry about all these tumors -- neurofibromatosis? -- I only have one outside little spot that everyone says "hmm, looks like a cyst"
VHL?
I had a PET scan 10/24; see my oncologist 10/30. Will see what happens then. I know I need some genetic testing, but don't know who, what, where, how, etc.
Thanks for listening -- Any direction and guidance would be greatly appreciated.



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