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Hi Jennifer,
Jenn, you are an inspiration and a blessing to those of us who are
GHD. I promised you I would send you my journey so far….
My name is
CAROL and I am 51 years old. I had a Rathke’s Pouch tumor removed 10
years ago. The operation was successful, but the follow up treatment has
been the greatest challenge of my life so far. I was overdosed on
steroids for seven years. The first endocrinologist put me on Cortate
and the second on Hydrocortisone. Cushing syndrome was the result.
My GP was
talking about the necessity for a liver transplant. I had a fatty liver
since I had put on an enormous amount of weight. I was constantly hungry
and tired. No diet or exercise program can counteract the effects of
steroid overdose. I went to many health professionals and tried every
thing I could think of without success. My health progressively
deteriorated and I felt helpless to turn it around. What I needed was a
miracle.
My condition
is called Panhypopituitarism. I have virtually no hormones since I have
no pituitary gland. When my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
I gave up teaching Preschool so I could care for her. My mum was my
priority, and I didn’t have the energy to look after 25 four-year-olds
as well.
One day my
mother asked me to pray for her. Then she said to me, “Goodbye. I’ll see
you again.” The next morning I was out walking and I asked God to take
her home because she had suffered enough. A few hours later she died
peacefully by my side.
Now I was
living alone and caring for myself became increasingly difficult. Trying
to exercise, I broke some bones in my foot and also broke a rib. Life
was a struggle. Looking in the mirror I saw a person I hardly
recognized. My self-esteem was rock bottom. Unless I was to find someone
who could help me, I sensed I wouldn’t live much longer (I was 44 at the
time).
In
desperation, I asked God to show me what to do. An invitation came from
the Leukemia Foundation to hear a lecture given by endocrinologist, Dr.
Winnifred Lee. At the end of the lecture, I approached her. She told me
she “spotted me in the audience,” and asked if I was “a cancer patient
on massive doses of steroids”. Though I was a total stranger, she took
an interest in me and without her medical care; I am convinced I would
not be alive today.
She
prescribed Prednisolone (a different steroid) and reduced the dose very
slowly. My weight dropped from 62 to 53KG and my liver function, as well
as my other blood test results came out normal. My problem was I still
had little energy. Everything I had tried to boost my energy levels
proved ineffective.
I finally
decided Human Growth Hormone might be worth a try because the research
on the internet looked promising. In
Australia, the government seems to be of the opinion there is no
scientific evidence Growth Hormone is beneficial for adults. Undeterred,
I got a referral to the endocrine clinic at the PA Hospital, Brisbane.
Dr Ross Cuneo is a world expert on GH in adults. I had to do an insulin
resistance test which proved I had virtually no GH in my body. I am now
permitted to take GH by private script only. The cost for
my budget is astronomical!!
The good
news is now I have lots more energy. I hired a personal trainer and
joined a gym. After two years training, I no longer have osteoporosis. I
do heavy weight lifting, boxing, rowing, running, circuit training and
any other weight bearing exercise I can. I also do Body Balance
(Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga combined) for core conditioning and to keep my
body flexible.
GH
strengthens the muscle around the heart and helps prevent muscle-mass
wastage as well as osteoporosis. Steroids thin the skin, but GH thickens
the skin etc. etc. The benefits are many, including my narrow waistline
that I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
After 6
months on GH, I became allergic to it. I found an Allergist and went
through a desensitizing treatment program, the same that they use for
diabetics allergic to insulin. It worked!! The endocrinologists at the
Hospital were surprised. Perhaps I made medical history??
What I have
learned is this: when your health goes seriously wrong, YOU have to
take responsibility for the outcome.. Because of God’s grace and the help and
support of so many others, I enjoy the life I do today. For that I am
forever grateful. People living in
Australia
today pay a high price for Growth Hormone. Not taking it, for me at
least, comes at a much higher price.
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