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Post by daymiou on Nov 20, 2008 11:04:13 GMT -5
I was reading the hypopituitarism entry on Wikipedia and saw that hypopits have a 50-150% higher mortality rate than the normal population. I also read this increases the younger one is diagnosed with it. My TSH was high and got higher over the course of a year, my FSH was in range but toward the lower end, my LH was pretty normal, not low, my sex hormones are at the low end of normal, dheas is low, cortisol low, ACTH 18. My doc thinks my pituitary is underfunctioning, so I'm hypopit. I don't know when or if I'll be able to get an MRI.
I guess my question is, even being on hormone replacement, can I expect my quality of life to be lower and my lifespan to be shorter than "normal" people? What do hypopit women do when going through menopause? Will sex hormone replacement increase my risk for certain types of cancers?
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Post by Chris Jackson on Nov 21, 2008 15:17:25 GMT -5
Everyone is different. I've read that hypopits average life expectancy is in the 60s if properly treated. Now days more and more adult hypopits are being treated with HGH. This and better knowledge of treatements could raise the life expectancy some. Those who were diagnosed as kids could have a different life expectancy than those who are diagnosed in adulthood. Quality of life before death in the last few years of hypopits I don't know.
Sex hormone therapy, especially for women, must be carefully done. I think this is the biggest problem they face. You can have 10 docs look at the same woman and her tests and you might get 10 different ways of starting treatment. I've seen many woman end up on to much estrogen or progesterone or both. If properly done, I believe the risk is low. All cancers are based in hormones by the way.
Chris
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Post by daymiou on Nov 21, 2008 16:32:16 GMT -5
I guess that only gives me 40 years to accept my untimely and most likely painful and humiliating demise. Great. Well, this weekend's going to be kind of a downer.
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Post by Lethal Lee on Nov 21, 2008 22:22:32 GMT -5
I guess that only gives me 40 years to accept my untimely and most likely painful and humiliating demise. Great. Well, this weekend's going to be kind of a downer. Hi There, I dont think the stats are right. How can they be as Hypopit is so underdiagnosed!!!!! Furthermore when DX most dont get adequate treatment anyway. I meaan look at the poor people with Addisons and the miserable amount of meds they are supposed to get by on. I'm sure with adequate treatment both quality of life & life expectancy is very good indeed. In fact I reckon it will be better for us that all those who supposedly DONT have it!!!! I know for myself I am now painfree and that is absolutely amazing. If I had to continue with the pain I used to have quite frankly I would have thrown myself under a bus!!! I would rather live to 60's pain free than 80's in constant acute pain. In fact the latter is not living its purgatory. But as I say I firmly beleive that I will have a pain free & better quality life PLUS a longer life expectancy anyway. I look at my DX as a GOOD thing. It has also enabled me to learn so much & findout my Family has the problems too. I will be improving their quality of life & life expectancy too.
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Post by crystallyn on Nov 21, 2008 22:23:44 GMT -5
What? 60's, that's young? Why? I'm almost 40 and it has taken me this long to figure out why I've suffered for so long. If our HRT and thyroid levels are good and we take care of ourselves then why would we die in our 60's? Why couldn't we have a life expectancy the same as everyone else. Most of the women in my family live to be close to 100 years.
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Post by Chris Jackson on Nov 23, 2008 1:26:56 GMT -5
I was only talking about diagnosed and properly treated hypopits. Those not treated properly, as a group would likely have lower life span. I've not seen real studies on this.
Chris
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Post by justaustin on Nov 23, 2008 7:56:56 GMT -5
To illustrate a point that Chris made. I've been reading Phil's post on his forum. He needs to have cardiac stenting done. He posted that the Cardiologist feels that his cardiac issues are directly related to his hypo-pituitary/ low growth hormone.
Laurie
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Post by Fay on Nov 23, 2008 23:01:52 GMT -5
It's odd to see this topic, as I have just recently been thinking about this. I'm a bit scared. When first starting synthroid & hydrocort I felt great. Those days are gone. I can't seem to get my energy back up & digestion is poor. I don't have lab results available, but most recent cortisol level, (without taking hydrocort 2 days prior to lab work) was 1.4 ---I was told the good range is 2 to 4. Which is not even similar to the numbers I see people talk about here. I'm seriously considering taking hydrocort twice a day to see if things change. Won't be seeing the Doc again for 2 months. I now take 10 mg/day. Anyone with an opinion?? I am so sorry, just realized I'm not supposed to change the topic. Not very computer literate & would take some time to go back & do this right.
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