Currently I only take 5 types of medication daily, which are described below with my daily dosages. Quality of life is good. Ok, so I won't be breaking any 100 metres records, but hey...!
Cortisone (10mg - morning; 10mg evening)
I've been taking this since I was 11, under various brand names (cortisone acetate, hydrocortone...) but always in tablet form. This replaces the hormone produced by the adrenal glands. I believe it affects the immune system and how the body reacts under stress. The dosage should be doubled when under severe stress or during periods of illness.
Thyroxine (150 mcg)
Another drug I've taken since I was 11, again with different brand names over the years but always in a small tablet form. This replaces the hormone produced by the Thyroid gland, which is produced when stimulated by TSH from the pituitary gland. This hormone controls the body's metabolism - not enough leaves you tired, with cold hands and feet, with a low appetite but also with weight gain. Too much increases appetite and weight loss and an increase in body temperature.
Desmopressin (ADH/Vasopressin) (2 'puffs' daily)
Available in a nasal spray form, this replaces the hormone Vasopressin. This hormone is produced by the hypothalamus and is stored in the pituitary gland to be secreted when needed. Without this hormone, water in the blood passes straight through the kidneys, to the bladder and is passed as urine. The patient would eventually dehydrate. This hormone reabsorbs water flowing through the kidneys back into the body. You can tell when the hormone is running out - frequent passing of urine accompanied by a strong thirst. Because the hormone is taken as a nasal spray it is administered very quickly and any symptoms of a lack of this hormone quickly disappear.
Testesterone
This is the main male sex hormone. Since the beginning of 2004, I have been taking this in the form of a gel applied to the skin daily (brand name 'testogel'). This seems very effective, and has the benefits of giving me a steady dose of the hormone each day without the need for an injection. I've tried 'Andropatch' before, a patch stuck to the skin and replaced every day, but I found this irritating and it didn't give a high enough dose of the hormone. For most of my life I took the hormone as an injection ('Sustanon') - usually once every fortnight. This worked very well, but the injection had to be given by a nurse (the liquid to inject is very thick) and because it is given only once a fortnight, hormone levels fluctuate throughout that period.
Growth Hormone (0.3mg)
I'm one of the fortunate ones to be receiving this treatment. I take it every night, using a pen like device to inject a small amount of the hormone. It is quick and easy to take, and is (more or less) pain free.I took part in a 12 month trial a couple of years ago and have been taking it ever since. At first it caused the front of my shins to ache, so the dose was reduced slightly. The effects of the hormone have been great - more muscle, less fat, stronger arteries and slightly more 'get up and go' than before - enough to kick start me into gardening and learning the guitar! (no I don't do requests before you ask!) gentle, giant, pituitary, thyroid, thyroxine, gland, endocrine, system, gigantism, giantism, acromegaly, hormone, hormones, growth, hypothalamus, tumour, pitpat, hrt, brain, tumor, radiotherapy, cortisone, testesterone, testes, testicles, problem, disorder, ddavp, desmopressin, adrenal, steroids, puberty, prolactinoma, felindre, velindre, cardiff, hospital, wales, acth, lh, fsh, gonad, androgen, adenoma, anabolic, fertility, scanlon, adenoma, Dostinex, sting, andy, summers, stewart, copeland, follicle, stimulating, leutenising