2005- The beginning of my health issues

2005 – Picture taken in February. Symptoms continuing to worsen.

The following is a list of my symptoms (which are classic symptoms of Acromegaly) that I was dealing with and had no idea that the culprit was a pituitary tumor.

*I had surgery for carpal tunnel on my left hand first because I still needed my predominent hand as my son was not walking at that time. The numbness and burning were so severe that it kept me up most nights. Washing my hair was a nightmare.

*I had surgery to remove a cyst that was growing underneath my lower lip.

*I had facial swelling like my nose, my eye lids and my lower lip.

*I had many skin tags on my chest and stomach.

*I had terrible pain in my jaw. It cracked alot.

*I had difficulty speaking because my tongue was very thick and had difficulty pronouncing certain words. I would share with my husband that I did not know were to place my tongue in my mouth. It was always in the way (such a strange feeling).

*I was extremely tired and felt horrible.

*My eyesight was blurry and I was constantly cleaning my glasses thinking they were dirty.

*I had insomnia and my husband complained of my snoring.

*I was constantly sweating.

*But my most terrifying feeling was that I did not feel like myself. I could not find the right words to express this to my closest family and friends. It was only when we discovered I had Acromegaly that everyting made sense. I visited many physicians and other health professionals with the above mentioned symptoms before I was diagnosed with Acromegaly [for which was the cause for all my ailments].

Here is a list of Health Professionals I visited before my diagnosis: Dermatologists (acne and skin tags), Massage Therapist & Surgeon (carpal tunnel), Chiropractor (carpal tunnel), Dentist (soreness/pain in my mouth), Ear/Nose/Mouth specialist (cyst), Walk-In clinics (thinking I had severe allergies) and my family doctor, which I visited very often sometimes twice a month for a good 2 years (feeling terrible, insomnia, constantly sick with lung infections).