A pituitary adenoma can cause different symptoms, depending on its size and what it’s doing to your body. Common symptoms include:

• Problems with vision, like blurry vision, double vision, or losing part of your sight
• Headaches
• Feeling very tired or weak
• Changes in your periods (for women) or sexual function (for men)
• Growing too much (in children) or unusual weight gain
• Unusual growth in the hands and feet, or face, tongue and lips
• Feeling thirsty all the time or needing to urinate a lot
• Mood changes, concentration problems, or trouble sleeping

If you notice these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

You might suspect a pituitary adenoma if you have symptoms like vision problems, headaches, or hormone changes (like feeling very tired or having irregular periods). However, only a doctor can confirm if you have one. A healthcare professional can provide a comprehensive evaluation, typically involving:

• Blood tests to check your hormone levels
• An MRI scan to look at your pituitary gland
• A vision test to see if the tumour is affecting your eyes
• A visit with a hormone specialist (endocrinologist) to understand how the tumour is affecting your body
• A discussion with a neurosurgeon to decide if surgery is needed
• Sometimes, your case may benefit from being discussed at an MDT

If you’re worried you might have a pituitary adenoma, see your GP. They can refer you to the right specialists for tests and treatment.

IMPORTANT FOR ALL PATIENTS.

If you are on any blood thinning medications such as anti-platelet, anti-coagulant or anti-inflammatory medications, they should be stopped one week prior to any surgery. Examples of these medications include plavix, co-plavix, prasugrel, ticagrelor, asasantin, aspirin, disprin, solprin, astrix, cartia, warfarin, pradaxa, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, clexane, heparin, celebrex, mobic, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, ibuprofen.

Some diabetes medications need to be stopped up to three weeks prior to surgery. Please discuss with your doctor if you are taking one of these medications.

Similarly, any herbal or natural remedies including (but not limited to) traditional Chinese herbal remedies and prescriptions, naturopathic and homeopathic treatments, and supplements (such as glucosamine, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng, turmeric and fish oil) should be stopped one week prior to any surgery.

If these medications are not stopped, then your surgery may need to be delayed and rescheduled for reasons of safety. If you are unsure about whether you need to stop any of your medications, please ask your doctor.

Depending on your general fitness and your medical co-morbidities, you may require an assessment by physician specialists and an anaesthetist to assess your safety for surgery, before a decision can be made about your suitability for surgery.

Prior to any surgery, you will need to fast. On the night prior to surgery, your last mouthful of food should be prior to 12 midnight. On the day of surgery, you can sip clear water up until 4 hours prior to your surgery. You may use this opportunity to take medications that your doctor is happy for you to take. Please check with your doctor, what you should do with your medications and write those instructions here.

A member of staff from the hospital or the surgeon’s rooms will contact you up to three days prior to your admission and discuss this with you. They will also discuss your hospital paperwork if this has not been done. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your upcoming admission.