
Nevada, United States (The Weekly Vice) - Doctors say Tanya Angus, a 30-year-old Nevada woman suffering from Acromeglia (or Gigantism), is the only woman alive whose growth cannot be stopped, even with medication.
When Tanya was 18, her figure was proportionate and she stood just 5’8”. Shortly after, she realized that she was still growing, and very rapidly. Tanya says she did everything she could to try and make herself feel more attractive, but she just couldn’t understand why she continued to get bigger. Her voice changed, and her feminine figure began to disappear.
Tanya, at age 20, was refused help by her doctor, who thought she was only seeking attention and antidepressants. She lost her womanly figure and her voice got deeper, until one day her boyfriend’s mother asked her if she’d gotten a sex change.
Tanya had an MRI scan done, which revealed a grapefuit-sized tumor in her brain that was causing her body to overproduce growth hormone. Eventually, the family found a doctor willing to operate, and most of the tumor was removed. Tanya was given a “cocktail” of medication to try and combat her tremendous growth.
Tanya originally had 12 times the amount of growth hormone in her body than that of the average person. Doctors barely managed to reduce that to 4x, but by then, Tanya was 6’3” and a size 20.
"It was horrible," said Tanya. "'My whole life had to change, and I couldn't do anything for myself any more. The hardest thing is that people kept thinking I was man, and calling me sir, which really annoys me. I try to dress in feminine clothes and wear make-up to look nice, but it's really hard when you're my size."
Two years later, Tanya’s hormone levels rose again, and the tumor had grown to the size of an orange. She tried surgery a second time, and got a whole new array of prescriptions.
In 2007, Tanya had a stroke, and had to learn to walk and talk again. Her parents have spent their life savings trying to find a solution.
"I'm doing this story because I want people to understand why I'm this way," she says. "It's not my fault I ended up like this."
Tanya is now 6’6” and roughly 475 pounds and doctors say she's STILL growing.
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
Since I started writing at The Weekly Vice, most of my pieces have been quick and easy to write, but this story was different. My heart goes out to Tanya and her family, I wish I could do more.
Melinda Tryst
The Weekly Vice
www.theweeklyvice.com
Join The Discussion. Click Comment Link Below And Fire AwayReady For More Seriously Messed Up News? Join Us On Facebook!
8 comments:
This is really really sad.If you could find if theres a way to donate to this womans family online I'd be happy to donate.
mary
It's hard to believe that's the same woman in the pics.
Let me stop and count my blessings... There by the grace of God goes I.
can you publish a link for a donation>
thanks
This is a tragic way for a young woman to spend her life.
Society being the way it is I can understand her need to speak out as I'm sure most of us would have judged her as simply being an obese pig without knowing the facts.
yeah this is sad especially because this girl really seems like if she could she would excercise or do whatever it takes to get to whatever weight she wants to be at while other people with no medical condition sit around getting fat not doing nothing about it
It's wonderful to read the caring and compassionate comments I've seen on the Internet (the ignorant, insensitive ones I ignore). Tanya is in the hospital. You can read more and keep updated at her new official website (which is still under construction): http://www.TanyaAngus.com And because of the sincerity of this articles author (Melinda, I'm going to link the site to this) as well as the follow-up replies, we're setting up a way for donations. Thank you for caring, the family is greatly touched!
Good news of a sort. They found a way to make the young lady stop growing
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,593867,00.html?test=latestnews
Eastside, that article about a cure for Tanya is sadly, untrue. Please come to Tanya's website and Blog for accurate information. http://www.TanyaAngus.com
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Rumor Mill says, "A CURE FOUND FOR GIANT WOMAN"...
This is the new rumor (I've seen circulating like wildfire in the past 24 hours) being posted by news media from the U.K., India, Thailand, Australia, America and Canada.
Ellen sent me an email yesterday asking if it was true. Karen (Tanya's Mom) and I read in wonder..."where do these people come up with these rumors and why don't they verify first?" I suppose the answer is sensationalism? Oh well, so much for responsible reporting.
As much as we'd all like to believe the current rumor that a 'cure has been found for Tanya', it's in fact untrue. We don't know who started this rumor, but there has NOT been a cure found for Tanya Angus.
Additionally, the treatment success of lowering Tanya's growth hormone in Dec. 09 (Aired in the TLC documentary, "Help-I'm Turning Into A Giant") was short lived.
Learn More, Learn The Truth at: http://www.TanyaAngus.com
Posted by Tina for Tanya at 6/03/2010 04:18:00 PM
Post a Comment
****Please Read Before Posting****
The fastest way to post is to type your comment, click "NAME", enter any screen name you wish, and then click "PUBLISH".
Anonymous posts are discouraged, because it makes a conversation difficult to follow. No one can tell who's talking to who. Be somebody. Pick a name - any name. This way your fellow bloggers know who you are when you return to comment again. Thank you!