I am taking on a challenge of dizzying heights this year as (touch wood) I am finally well enough to give something back to The Pituitary Foundation. The foundation are a little known charity and work tirelessly to help patients like me guiding them through their journey. Pituitary conditions are rare and not easily diagnosed... I mean who even knew they had a Pituitary Gland... certainly not me until mine started misbehaving and I found myself chronically unwell in hospital in 2015. After Drs initially thinking I had Mumps, Parotid Cancer and then Lymphoma...countless tests, biopsies (including neuro surgery) and MRI’s found otherwise and I was found to have Lymphocytic Hypophysis resulting in Pan Hypopitutarism... Basically this pea size gland had malfunctioned creating all manor of problems not least putting me at risk of a life threatening Addison Crisis which I am thankful to have survived many times in part due to the knowledge and advice given by The Pituitary Foundation and invaluable nurse helpline. Many Pituitary conditions are a ‘silent illness’ and as such patients can look normal when inside chaos is occurring which can be very emotional and difficult to manage both physically and psychologically as you can be fine one day and in hospital the next attached to a drip being pumped full of saline and steroids and don’t even get me started on the complex world of diabetes insipidus ( this is not diabetes as most know it but water diabetes and most days I could drink a lake... LITERALLY) Pat & Sammy at the Foundation provide incredible advice and support when you need it and tirelessly campaign along with the rest of the team. As the conditions are so rare even being in hospital can feel scary and it is therefore so important to raise awareness for The Pituitary Foundation and all the different Pituitary conditions.
Please please help support as any donation will be gratefully received. I will no doubt call upon the foundation for help and advice throughout my life and therefore I am passionate about ensuring they have the funds to continue their amazing work
I am completely overwhelmed by everyone’s support throughout my journey to date and my friends and family who are taking on this challenge with me are absolute super stars as most are afraid of heights!!!
If you’d like to read more about my journey then please follow my blog!
https://sbm44.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/a-pea-size-problem-where-to-start/
Thank you all in advance
Love
Sarah xx