TBI and Endocrinology

[Rosebud40]

Hi.,

Does anyone know anything about ATBI can affect you hormones (endocrinology)? My constant appoint has just come through and it's with an endocrinologist, so not knowing what it was or how it link with TBI I Googled and and it turns out that a TBI can affect your hormonesaand i wonder of any of you were affected by this?

Xx

[paxo05]

Hi Rosebud.

It seems with a tbi there are no straight forward answers to what may be affected and by how much

Personally yes my hormone have been affected to the point of having to have injections every 10 weeks. This has helpled control the condition. This treatment is on going but at leat it helps to correct the issues .

Hopefully you are fine but if there is a prmproblem then they will find it and hopefully treat the condition .

Hope this helps.

Pax

[cat3]

Yes Rosebud a brain injury can affect the hypothalamus, or pituitary gland, where hormones are regulated. I saw an endocrinologist 18 months after a haemorrhage to see whether anything could be done about a new symptom (overheating).

In my case the only available treatment was HRT which wasn't suitable owing to past history of breast cancer. I can't remember much about that period except there was nothing unpleasant about the testing, and diagnosis came mainly from verbal information and blood testing.

Good luck m'dear ; hope all goes well. Cat x

[Mummily2]

My son’s growth hormone levels are lower than normal after TBI 20+ years ago . This was found by an endocrinologist about 10 years ago and as a result he has daily injections of ever since. Not sure what effect these have but the importance of continued treatment has been emphasised to him .

[Mummily2]

Just copied this from Wikipedia about effects of somatotropin ( growth hormone) deficiency -

Adults

Recognised effects

Increased 5-alpha-reductase

Reduced sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)

Reduced muscle mass and strength

Baldness in men

Reduced bone mass and osteoporosis (Decreased bone density)

Reduced energy

Impaired concentration and memory loss

Increased body fat, particularly around the waistline

Lipid abnormalities, particularly raised LDL cholesterol

Increased levels of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor

Cardiac dysfunction, including a thickened intima media

Lack of well-being

Depression and anxiety

Social isolation

Fibromyalgia syndrome

Neuromuscular dysfunction

Central adiposity

Decreased muscle mass

Insulin resistance

Accelerated atherogenesis

Prothrombotic state

Decreased sweating and thermoregulation.

[woodrz]

Rosebud - 5 years after my TBI I[m still trying to fathom out what the “new normal” is for me - everyone is different, and the injury can affect so many variables. Headway’s own guidance is pretty informative ( headway.org.uk/about-brain-.... My biggest challenge has ben finding a general practitioner who knows and cares enough to persevere with the endocrinology world. I’ve found TBI sourced endocrine issues to be something of a “niche within a niche”, and it is still a developing area - even in the 5 years I’ve seen changes in the numbers they try to manage in blood tests etc.

Apologies if that seems negative! I’m new to this forum (Referred here BY Headway) and am keen to find others tackling the same issues.

I hope you get some answers!

[Elenor3]

Hi Rosebud, sometimes after TBI endocrinologists request a ‘Glucagon Stress Test’ for pituitary gland function. There’s lots about this on line if you google it. I have struggled not so much with overheating, as not being able to cool down once hot - it sounds trivial but can be frightening when it happens. Ask the GP if it’s possible to to refer to you to an endocrinologist. Good luck

[woodrz in reply to Elenor3]

I had to have an insulin stress test - you are shot up with enough Insulin to have teh same effect as a diabetic crash, then you’re fed energy gel and bloods are taken every 15-20 mins till you get back to “normal”. I managed OK but some people react really badly to it, so you’re carefully monitored.

[Elenor3 in reply to woodrz]

Oh dear - poor you. Yes it does make some people really sick, not a very nice thing at all to have to have. Some people at the clinic told me they had no problems with it though, it must be the luck of the draw. I hope you recovered quickly.

[woodrz in reply to Elenor3]

I was lucky. The two nurses doing it with me were very nervous. Even more so when I had to go back and do a second one 6 weeks later after the lab messed the testing up!

[Elenor3 in reply to woodrz]

That’s not good, you must have been so upset to go through it all again. I hope you’re sorted now