Personal Stories

Here are some stories from people who had a head injury which caused later pituitary deficiencies, including the two most frequent problems – hypogonadism (which can cause erectile dysfunction / impotence, loss of libido, loss of periods, infertility) and growth hormone deficiency, which can interfere with growth in children, and can cause muscle loss and depression in adults.

James Smith

Broadcasted on Radio Solent 20 March 2012Excerpt from Radio Solent programme aired 20 March 2012, telling James Smith’s story Dominic Blake: That’s right Julian, I’m afraid it’s the stuff of nightmares, James was a successful

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Eddie Barker

(See BMJ rapid responses) I had three head injuries between 1972 and 2003: an accident when I was driving a truck in 1972, a violent assault in 1985 when I had a basal skull fracture,

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Kenneth

I was attacked by a gang in N Z a couple of years ago. I sustained brain damage to three areas of the brain, including the frontal lobe. I have been doing some research work

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Rashid

I fell down from a one story building and rolled down another story on cement steps at age 7. I am 55 years old now and have a normal growth but since childhood had sexual

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Robin

I had a head injury at the age of 7, like your son. I can relate to a lot of the problems that he had. I only became aware myself that something was wrong two

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Ashley

Your son’s story mirrors my own life. I apparently had a head injury in 1972, aged 8 or 9 about which I was not told until approx 1993. I think this probably explains why I

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Hayley

Her mum’s friend writes: Hayley has been a champion ice skater since the time she was a young child (she is almost 18 yrs old). About three years ago, Hayley had a very bad fall

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Linda

Linda had a head injury and suffered pituitary problems later in life. She gives her moving story here. Her head injury may not have caused her hormone problems: so far there is no research supporting

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Michele

Michele had a head injury and suffered pituitary problems later in life. She gives her moving story here. Her head injury may not have caused her hormone problems: so far there is no research supporting

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Bev

Bev had a head injury and suffered pituitary problems later in life. She gives her moving story here. Her head injury may not have caused her hormone problems: so far there is no research supporting

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Jon

I have a Pituitary Neoplasia and I had a head injury at the age of four. My cousin picked me up, flung me over her shoulder, and lost her grip on my legs. I slid,

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Byron

By his motherA case of hypopituitarism caused not by head injury but by neurosurgery At 8 years old Byron had two episodes of neurosurgery 6 months apart. The first was pretty straightforward but the second

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Alice

With thanks to Pituitary Life July 2011I was first diagnosed with cranial diabetes insipidus (CDI) in 1997; my symptoms began a year prior to my diagnosis. I have a pituitary tumour, which has caused the

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Jill Mizen

See BMJ Rapid Responses http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f894/rr/643479 Jill did not have a head injury, but her experience of having a normal result for the short synacthen test and then being told she had chronic fatigue syndrome has

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Katie Hughes

Excerpt from ‘Mother of a Suicide’ by Joanna Lane The very worst thing was the not knowing. There were things that I did know: that I wasn’t well; that I was experiencing fluctuating, seemingly unconnected

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Robert Francis Hunter

Dated 5 January 2021 I had a good up-bringing but my dad developed a mental health problem and lost his job when I was very young. It was a shame as he was a Technician

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Kenneth Starr

I was born in 1943 and grew up in Northern Ireland. In my youth I enjoyed playing hockey and tennis. I played these too at teacher training college in Manchester and later at senior level

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Case Study B – Playing soccer

Study in Journal of Athletic Training (2007) “Gary” was a promising junior soccer player who was the youngest in his team and spent his weekends travelling to inter-school matches. But between ages 14 to 16

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Case Study C – Falling off a bed

Study in Endocrine 2007 “Vera”, aged 26 went to the doctors complaining of severe weight gain, swollen ankles, weakness, mild headache and high blood pressure, and was given a thorough hormone check. She’d had a

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