When your body makes too much growth hormone over years, it doesn't just make you taller—it changes your face, hands, and organs. This condition is called acromegaly, a rare hormonal disorder caused by a benign pituitary tumor that overproduces growth hormone. Also known as growth hormone excess, it often goes unnoticed until changes in shoe size, jawline, or joint pain force a visit to the doctor. Most people don’t realize acromegaly isn’t just about appearance. Left untreated, it raises your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and even early death.
The goal of acromegaly management, a long-term strategy to normalize growth hormone levels and prevent complications isn’t to cure the tumor—it’s to control it. The first line? somatostatin analogs, injectable drugs like octreotide and lanreotide that block the tumor from releasing excess hormone. They work for most people, but not all. If those don’t cut it, pegvisomant, a daily injection that blocks growth hormone from acting on tissues steps in. It doesn’t shrink the tumor, but it stops the damage. And when the tumor is clearly visible on an MRI and hasn’t responded to meds, surgery becomes the best shot at long-term control.
What you won’t find in most guides is how messy this gets in real life. One person might need three different drugs over five years. Another might have their tumor removed but still need monthly shots to keep levels stable. Blood tests aren’t just routine—they’re life-saving. IGF-1 levels tell you if the treatment is working. Joint pain? That’s not aging. Headaches and vision changes? That’s the tumor pressing on nerves. And yes, your diabetes meds might need adjusting because acromegaly fights insulin.
This collection of posts doesn’t just list drugs. It shows you what actually happens after diagnosis: how people manage side effects, why some treatments fail, and how to talk to your doctor when things aren’t working. You’ll find real insights on medication choices, what to watch for between appointments, and how to spot when it’s time to switch gears. No fluff. No theory. Just what works for people living with this daily.
Learn why self‑care is vital for acromegaly patients and get practical daily tips-nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, and monitoring-to improve health and quality of life.
Health and Wellness