Two Years Ago, Everything Went Out of Focus
Two years ago today, I went to the eye doctor because reading had become strangely difficult. Letters no longer stayed where they should, and words drifted as I followed a line of text. At the time, I expected a simple explanation, most likely a new prescription for my glasses.
I was 36 years old. This was not the kind of appointment where you expect life-changing news.
That expectation disappeared quickly.
The examination showed that my eyesight itself worked normally. Further imaging revealed a tumor roughly the size of a golf ball, sitting on the pituitary gland and pressing against the optic nerve. That pressure explained the visual problems and the debilitating headaches that had sent me to the doctor in the first place.
After that discovery, events moved faster than I could fully process them. Doctors ordered MRI scans, confirmed the diagnosis, and scheduled surgery within a short period of time. Surgeons removed part of the tumor, but the pituitary gland did not survive the operation and never recovered.
Today, I depend on daily hormone replacement therapy. A small portion of the tumor still wraps around the carotid artery, which means acromegaly remains part of my life. For that reason, this date has never felt like just another day on the calendar.
What Acromegaly Really Means
A pituitary tumor usually triggers acromegaly by pushing the body to produce too much growth hormone. Because this process unfolds slowly, people often overlook the condition for years.
Early changes rarely raise alarms. Hands slowly become broader, shoes start to fit differently, and the jaw can shift without drawing attention. Over time, fatigue settles in and refuses to lift. Muscles lose strength, joints start to ache, and concentration becomes unreliable. Emotional changes often follow alongside the physical ones.
Together, these symptoms affect the entire body. Bones change, organs grow, metabolism shifts, and mental health suffers. Doctors often diagnose acromegaly only after permanent damage has already taken place.
Although medicine classifies acromegaly as rare, clinicians still miss it far too often. Early detection protects quality of life, while late detection removes options.
Building as a Way to Stay Grounded
After surgery, I returned to building.
I had designed circuits for years, but this time the process felt different. Ideas no longer felt complete when they stayed theoretical. I needed to finish them and turn them into objects that existed beyond a notebook or a screen.
That change in focus gradually shaped the foundation of RhPf. I did not follow a business plan or chase a defined outcome. Instead, one build led naturally to the next, and each finished piece gave me something solid to hold onto while everything else still felt unstable.
During that period, one circuit slowly evolved into what later became the Tri-Hormonic Phalanx.
The Tri-Hormonic Phalanx
The Tri-Hormonic Phalanx divides the signal into three independent frequency bands covering low, mid, and high ranges. Each band runs through its own gain stage and its own volume control, which lets saturation happen exactly where the player wants it.
As a result, the pedal never forces a fixed tonal shape onto the sound. The response changes directly with how the player sets it and how they play through it.
I named the controls IGF-1, GH, and ACTH after the hormones my body no longer produces on its own. I did not choose the names for symbolism or effect. The experience behind the pedal made that choice feel natural.
Without that chapter of my life, this design would not exist.
For Someone at the Beginning of This Story
Somewhere right now, someone stands at the beginning of a similar path. They are not thinking about tumors or rare conditions. They simply notice that something feels wrong. Their hands look different, their bite feels unfamiliar, their energy never fully returns, or reading suddenly feels harder than it should.
I once stood in that same place without recognizing what it meant.
When something does not feel right, asking questions matters. Pushing for answers matters. Requesting imaging when symptoms persist can change the course of what follows. No one should dismiss ongoing concerns as stress, aging, or imagination.
Early action can protect things that later cannot be recovered.
Marking the Day
Today marks two years since that first appointment. To acknowledge the date, we are offering the Tri-Hormonic Phalanx at a reduced price for the next 24 hours. Rare diseases are rare by definition, but people living with them are not. Awareness often starts with simply paying attention.