LAS VEGAS, NV – Tanya Angus was a perfectly healthy 20 year old woman, when she noticed that her clothes were beginning to not fit.
At the time she was 5′ 11″ and 115 pounds. But ten years later, she now stands at 6′ 6″ and 480 pounds, and continues to grow. After multiple misdiagnoses, Angus was finally told she is suffering from acromegaly, often associated with gigantism.
Acromegaly is a syndrome in which the pituitary gland produces excessive amounts of human growth hormone. There are a number of causes that can create this problem, but unfortunately for Angus, she has the most common and most difficult to treat.
A brain tumor has wrapped itself around her pituitary gland, causing the overproduction of hormone. Doctors have performed multiple surgeries to remove the tumor but it repeatedly grows back.
In 1999, when Angus began growing out of her shoes and suffering from headaches, she went to a few local doctors to get checked out. Unfortunately, they all dismissed her complaints as minor issues. It was not until Angus moved back to Las Vegas that her sister immediately recognized something was wrong and got her properly diagnosed.
Now, Angus may suffer permanently due to how long she was afflicted before being treated. Doctors have yet to find a treatment that can help her. She decided to come forward and speak to the media so that others may learn from her predicament and get treated early.
Acromegaly affects 2 out of 1,000,000 per year. Some other well known acromegaly sufferers include actor Paul Benedict and self-help expert Tony Robbins.
The most recognizable victim may be pro-wrestler Andre the Giant. One of the WWF’s most famous wrestlers, Andre was billed anywhere from 6′ 10″ to 7′ 4″ tall and 500-565 pounds. He went on to famously play a gentle giant in the film The Princess Bride After refusing to be treated for his condition, he died at the early age of 46 due to cardiac complications.
Tanya I will pray for you, never lose faith never lose hope never lose heart. if you need a friend i am here if you need somebody to talk to you can call on me.
Rusty – I hope you can help me get this out there as I've never done this before. I saw Tonya's story and could certainly relate. My Mother was diagnosed with acromegaly about 25 years ago. She was very fortunate to have an extremely talented and dedicated surgeon, and I would like to get his information to Tonya in the hope that she will contact him – it would be well worth it I believe. His name is Dr. Joseph Maroon, and he is with UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA. His phone number is 412-630-7640. I think if anyone may be able to help, it would be him. My prayers and best wishes for successful treatment are with Tonya.
I think Tayna is still a very beautifull woman, I hope this helps her get the help she needs
You are such an amazing person I saw the clip of you on the Today show. I will keep you in my prayers..
tanya,
today i watched the video about you and your disorder,i am truly sad that you are going through this and i want to comment on what you said about how you think you look ugly now and that is not what i saw while you explained it to us all,i see that there is still a very beautiful lady still,you may have changed on the outside,but on the inside ,i still see a beautiful lady,god bless you Tanya.
Hi Tanya, I agree with "Rusty's" comment…..You are a beautiful person both inside and out! Don't lose sight of that, and the fact that there are more people than you are aware of who care about you. I am a nursing student who would love to be there for you should you ever want to make a friend in California, or ever just want to talk or anything at all
Take Care!!
xtaticgirl@yahoo.com (Adele)
Tanya,
I left you a message on another site. Please have faith and be kind to yourself and love yourself for who you are today.
I love horses too and own two of them. If you are ever in West Palm Beach you can come and see them.
Christine
You are abrave and wonderful lady. Never think you or ugly you are beautiful inside.
I will pray for you and also will be there for you as a friend.
Some of us out here feel that you are more than the body you wear. Everyone has flaws or imperfections, some bigger than others. We saw a beautiful person in you. You have to learn to see that person, too. I can tell that you still care very much about your appearance, but learn to love the inner you and then you can wear the body God gave you with pride and use your life to help someone else. When you start feeling really sorry for yourself, go visit a sick child in the hospital or a nursing home. Spread the love and it will come back to you. I pray that God will use you to lift others up and, as a result, you will feel love and loved. Some of us have already fallen in love with your bravery! Good luck
Tanya,
I saw you on Today's Health this morning. I too have Acromegaly so I can sympathize with what you are going through. I am a single mom with three children and was diagnosed on my 37th birthday two years ago. I would love nothing more than to meet you and talk with you. I have never met anyone with Acromegaly in person. I have several online friends but somehow I think it would be different to actually meet someone. If you ever want to talk or vent, I am here for you 24/7. Lord knows there are times when I want to talk to someone who truely understands what I am going through.You can email me and I will send you my contact information. Hope to hear from you. God Bless You. Keep the Faith Tanya.
Hello. I did a story on Tanya in May which is out this week in a women's magazine in the UK. We are now preparing a television documentary on Tanya and are looking to interview other diagnosed patients of Acromegaly. You can email us at photo@ifiphoto.com We can also put you in touch with Tanya. Thank you.
Hi Sheryl,
I just heard of Tanya's story, and like you, I can relate. I have had acromegaly for 15 years. I am 35 now. I think it would be neat to meet others that suffer with this also. Did you ever contact Tanya Angus? I live in Whittier, CA. (Los Angeles County) and think it would be great to meet and see what kind of treatments and doctors have worked for you. Michelle
hi sheryl how are you? i have been looking for a way to contact tanya also, because i was very moved by her story and felt compelled to tell her about an energy healing practice called BodyTalk. now i find you and must tell you as well.
i am not a practitioner of this or any form of energy healing, but for some reason, ever since seeing her on TLC last night, i have had this persistent feeling that bodytalk can help people with agromegaly tremendously. check out bodytalksystem.com for information on how it works and practitioners near you.
stay strong,
vivian
Tanya,
I have never had an emotional reaction as I did today when I saw you on the Today Show. You are so brave and so beautiful. But most of all, you are an inspiration to so many people who fight affliction every day. Those of us who complain about the most mundane of things can take a lesson from your courage and hope. Keep the faith and if you look at all the posts here, you'll know that you are loved for who you are. If you ever need a friend you can call on me.
All my love,
Kathy
I had the exact same thought I wish i could get hold of her just to thank her for the insight and just she is amazing
Hi Tanya
I hope you can get this message. I don't know if virginia Vetrano can help you are not, or
someone she knows, her email vvvetrano@rionet.cc. I hope she can help you. Tell her about you and the Medication you taken. take care toni
For Tanya and above Sheryl, keep the faith and know many people care about you both. Here is what I wrote the Today show. I've had the opposite problem for about 12 years now and wanted to pass on to Tanya that there is a wonderful and brilliant doctor in LA who specializes in pituitary diseases and could possibly help her. You too, Sheryl; feel free to contact me by email and I will give you both my phone contact info. Besides being the most brilliant doctor I know he is also kind and caring which is sorely missing in the medical world as Tanya likely knows.
Dr. Ted Friedman has a website written in layman's terms.
http://www.goodhormonehealth.com If after looking at his site; she would like more info or just talk, please have her email me and I will give her my contact numbers . I understand the misery that these misunderstood pituitary diseases can cause. Dr. Friedman will keep testing until he is 110% certain of his dx. . He has a taste for medicine that is not often or ever seen. My prayers to you both.
Thank you,
Susan R.
hejsusan@garlic.com
Hi Tanya, Thanks for being brave and going on the Today show I know there are other people out there with your condition and don't have your strength. I live with joint pain and take pain medication to go out or lie around and I felt your pain, I too felt your pain emotionally and the courage it took to just go out. But I know if you don't go out then the pain has won and we don't need that. Its harder now that monsoon season is here in Phoenix. Email me any time would love to talk with you.
Hi Tanya:
I saw your story on the Today show yesterday, and it was one of the most incredible stories that I had ever seen. I haven't been able to get the story out of my head. I watched the video on todayshow.com several times since yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking out it. In the story, you said that you look ugly, well I saw the complete opposite of that, and I totally disagree with you. When I saw the story, I saw a very attractive woman who is in a very difficult situation. You are very brave for coming out and telling your story. I think that you are a beautiful person on the inside despite what you are going through. That's something to think about. I think I have just made a new friend. I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your life, and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and if you want to talk to me, e-mail me anytime, I would love to hear from you.
Love, your new friend
Jerome Brown
Brownjb81@netzero.net
hi tanya how are you doing sister! my name is dean and im from the uk, i can relate to your story because i too have acromegaly! im 40 years old and was diagnosed when i was a 25 though i proberbly had it since i was fifteen! i am unrecognizable from what i used to look like and know exactly where your coming from! im 25 stone and have all the features of acromegalic! i found a way to rid myself of the high amounts of growth hormone ,even after surgery and radiotherapy i was still producing high amounts! i know every pain you feel, how can i get in touch with you to try and help you! i dont have a cure but i still think i can bring that level down! its a little thing i did myself hope i get to chat with you girl! i hope you get back to me, and hopefully i can help get your life back, your friend and confidaunt dean
hi dean how are you? i have been looking for a way to contact tanya also, because i was very moved by her story and felt compelled to tell her about an energy healing practice called BodyTalk, so i will tell you as well… i can't explain why, i am not a practitioner, i only had a couple of sessions, but for some reason, i feel it will help you tremendously. check out bodytalksystem.com
take care
Vivian
What i saw was a beautful woman and with help should lead a normal life.My hats off to you for telling your story.email me if you want to talk savage22@lycos.com
Tanya, i was deeply affected by your story !
You say that your ugly i do not agree with that statement, because in my eyes you are one serious brave woman who are beutiful both from the outside and the inside try to accept your self for what YOU are because you look good, i really like your hair in the video so don´t think life is "over" fight it and believe in your self because i still see an beutiful woman.
If you want to talk to someone who have "lifetime" experiences in though moments you can drop me an mail at phag.swe(at)gmail.com
Thank you for the endo information and for your prayers.I do appreciate it.
What an elephant :ASD
Hey Tanya, please don't feel sad for yourself. We all think your wonderful and brave. You must never lose hope. I'm no expert in your condition but I know something about alternative medicine. I stumbled upon one amazing technique called EFT that was proven to cure many diseases. I believe it can help you to. Just google "EFT" and you'll find what you need.
Other thing that I sugest you try is MMS – Miracle Mineral Supplement. The founder is Jim Humble and he wrote a book about MMS. It's wery simple to use and proven very good for almost every kind of disease, from cancers, tumors, hepathitis A,B,C, AIDS, Chrome, malaria and so on. The list continues from disease to disease. Please, don't ignore this post because I believe it can help you. And for the record, EFT is totally free and MMS is almost free (bottle which can last up to 2 years cost only 20$).
Again, please, don't ignore this post. It can't harm you to try.
Whish you well.
tanya,
I have learnt your problem and I am shocked, but you should believe that you will have your health ,because there are worse problems than yours.I will keep you n my prayers, too.:)
Tanya, i saw your story on daily mail and was more touched. i know people might be seeing you as abnormal, and strange. But i want you to know that God loves you.He will heal you at His own time. I want to let you know that i care for you and is ready to stay with you, i am a man, of 30 yrs old.
ugonnaohakwe@yahoo.com
williams
hi tanya
this is PJ from India…I just want to let you know that my father is a doctor and he can cure you…he is a reflexogist and is practicing for more than 20 years now…u must hv tried many doctors by now but believe me my father can cure you….please i'm unable to find any of your contact details from the internet….so if you read this then pls reply me at pj_dgreat@yahoo.com…the sooner we start the treatment the better it is….
Hi Tanya,
I have acromegaly too. I was 16 when I started showing symptoms, and now 3 surgeries later, and still no cure, I am also still growing. I am now 35. Your doctors tell you that you are the only one that the medicine is not working for, but that is not true because I take octreotide 10 times daily (injectables) and Somavert (once daily, injectable) and have yet to see my growth hormone in a normal range(or even close). I would love to talk with you, but I don't know how to contact you. I hope you get this and we can talk
I am truely saddened by your condition, You are in my prayers.!!! God Bless.!!!!!