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
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,
A 34 year old man who responded through the website
I can sympathise with your son and can totally understand why he did what he did, its so hard trying to keep it all together sometimes. I have been in some very low places these
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
Case Study A – A car crash and a fall
Study in Endocrine Abstracts (2007) ‘Greg’ aged 21, was hit by a car going at 50 mph. While he was in intensive care he was producing too much urine. This can be a sign that
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
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
Case Study D – Saved by hormone replacement
James Smith – account published in BMJ’s Rapid Responses After being badly beaten up in a street robbery six years ago and nearly losing an eye, I suffered severe depression and tried to kill myself