Article Summary: "I'm going to cure my girlfriend's brain"

• The Diagnosis: The author’s girlfriend has a prolactinoma, a pituitary tumor that causes hormonal imbalances, specifically elevated prolactin levels.
• The Struggle: Despite seeking help from top medical institutions, the author expresses deep frustration with the standard of care, citing ineffective medications, significant side effects, and a lack of urgency from doctors.
• The Mission: Refusing to accept a future of chronic illness or potential infertility, the author has committed to finding a "cure" himself by leveraging his background in technology and data.
• Methodology: He plans to treat the condition as a technical problem to be solved, utilizing "vibe coding" mentalities, deep research, and global collaboration to find alternative treatments or research breakthroughs.
• Personal Toll: The text chronicles the emotional journey of the couple, from the initial shock and physical symptoms to the author's transition from a helpless bystander to an obsessive advocate.

Hacker News Discussion

• Medical Clarifications: Several commenters pointed out that prolactinomas are pituitary tumors and not technically "brain tumors" (as they are outside the blood-brain barrier), suggesting the author’s terminology is slightly sensationalized.
• Agency vs. Acceptance: A major theme in the comments is the tension between "fighting" a disease and "accepting" it. Some users warned that the author's fixation on a cure might prevent him from being emotionally present with his partner during her current suffering.
• Critique of Ego: Some readers found the post "unsettling" or "narcissistic," arguing that the author centered himself as the hero of his girlfriend's tragedy and focused heavily on his own desire for children.
• Empathy for the "Unhinged" Response: Others defended the author, noting that at 25 years old, a "desperate, arrogant flailing" against a terminal or life-altering diagnosis is a common and human response to trauma and lack of control.
• Value of Patient Advocacy: Proponents of the author’s approach shared stories where aggressive self-advocacy led to rare diagnoses or life-saving treatments that the standard medical system had initially missed.
• Fertility Reality Check: Users with the same condition noted that while prolactinomas are a leading cause of infertility, they are often manageable with medication (like Cabergoline), though the author's case appears to be more resistant to treatment.