Work and School

Employment
Having a long-term conditions may impact your ability to work, however employers should be able to provide relative adjustments to support you.
School and College
Living with a pituitary condition can sometimes be challenging with regard to going to school, homework, exams and going on outings.

Medical

Advice for Hospital Stays
You may have to have some short stays in hospital, so we provide some useful tips on how to prepare and what to take with you.
Infertility
Some pituitary conditions can cause problems with fertility and conceiving.
Male Hormones and Fertility
If the pituitary gland does not product enough or any gonadotrophin hormones, this can affect fertility in men.
Prescription Charges
Free NHS prescriptions are available to people who have a number of medical conditions, including some pituitary conditions.

Health and Wellbeing

Coping Emotionally
Being faced with a pituitary condition, with possible life-long implications can be puzzling. We provide support to help you navigate this.
Relationships and Communication
With the onset of a long-term condition, relationships can change because of the demands the condition imposes on you and your family.
Relationships, Sex and Fertility
Living with a pituitary condition does not have to be a problem when it comes to relationships.
Relaxation
Relaxation and recovery is an important aspect of living with a chronic condition, and you may find that you need to do this more than others. We provide some tips to help you relax.
Sport and Physical Activity
There are many benefits to exercising, including improvement to physical and mental health.
Weight Control and Nutrition
Weight can be a common issue for people with pituitary conditions, causing distress and frustration, even though you may be eating a healthy diet.

Clothing and accessories

Identification emblems
In the event of a medical emergency or an accident, identification emblems can provide essential information about hidden medical conditions.
Large Size Clothing
Some pituitary conditions, such as Acromegaly, can lead to body changes and some patients struggle to find clothing and shoes to fit.
Useful Products
When living with a pituitary condition there may be some items that are useful to you. This page outlines some of these.

Finance and planning

Benefits and Rights
Anyone on low income or living with a disability may be entitled to benefits to support their living costs.
Planning for the Future
Planning for the future is always important, but when you have an underlying illness its especially important to be prepared.

Caring for someone with a pituitary condition

Caring for a child with a Pituitary condition
If your child has a pituitary condition, you need to know how to live with giving them additional care day to day. Here is some information and resources to help.
Caring for an adult with a Pituitary condition
Some adults may need additional support from someone they live with. We can provide support for people caring for others with a pituitary condition.

Travelling

Driving Restrictions
Many people with pituitary conditions may have no driving restrictions, however the DVLA should be notified of any condition you have over 3 months that could impact your ability to drive.
Travel Information
When travelling with a long term health condition there are some additional ways that you need to prepare.
Travel Insurance
When travelling abroad you should always ensure that you have travel insurance, this protects you if you need medical treatment abroad.

Patient Stories

Steven’ story: A Cushing’s diagnosis after unexplained weight gain
Steven shares his experience with Cushing's after having unexplained weight gain.
Amy’s story: The first person with Type 1 Diabetes and AVP-Deficiency to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro
Hiking to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro has been a dream of mine for many years and on Sunday 25th February 2024, at 7:15am, my dream became a reality. This makes me the first person with Type 1 Diabetes and AVP-Deficiency to stand at the summit, but hopefully not the last! I was diagnosed with […]
Aurora and Jenna’s Story
Aurora's journey started at just 6-years-old
Ann-Marie’s Story: Prolactinoma and Fertility
September marks 16 years since I had my operation to remove my Prolactinoma, and I thought now would be a good time to share my story. In 2007, having been trying for a baby for over a year, I was sent to have tests for infertility. Everything came back fine with the exception of my […]
Howard’s Story: Spotlight On Prolactinoma
Howard Pearce has been a member and volunteer with The Pituitary Foundation for some time, particularly as one of our telephone buddies. He has been a part of The Foundation since his diagnosis of prolactinoma at the age of 49. Now 76, Howard shares the importance of supporting others with pituitary conditions. “I think the […]
Amy’s story – A 10 hour operation
Amy shares her story of losing sight in her eye due to a pituitary tumour, her 10 hour long surgery and looks to the future.
Isobel’s Story: Hamish the Helper Dog
I was diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency in 2014 after repeatedly ending up in A&E with what appeared to be an unusual asthma attack and by complete chance after a 2-week asthma ward admission, a consultant ran a Synacthen test and diagnosed me with Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency. Because the treatment for asthma attacks is the use […]
Ian’s story: Recovering from Apoplexy
I suffered a pituitary apoplexy. This sudden bleed into the pituitary gland fundamentally changed my way of being.
Lorna’s Story: Pituitary Awareness Month
I was diagnosed with a Prolactinoma 7 years ago. I lactated for years before diagnosis, going to doctors several times asking ‘why were they lactating?’  I had a breast screening and the doctors concluded it was just one of those things… Years later I wanted to have another child and I just could not get […]
My Dad, Douglas’s Story: Dad and Desmopressin!
Dad was diagnosed with a tumour on his pituitary gland, following a severe headache which we initially thought may be a bad migraine.
Teagan’s Story: Prolactinoma and University
Teagan was diagnosed with Prolactinoma in October 2021, at just 19. She was alone in her university room, 250 miles away from home. Teagan is a student at the University of Exeter. She noticed her migraines getting more and more painful. She originally put it down to majority of her studies being online due to […]
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