(June 2008)

The Pituitary Foundation has received news that there has been a change in manufacturers of Hydrocortisone tablets.  Although we have received reports that there are still supplies of the 'Hydrocortone' tablets as manufactured by Merck, Sharp and Dohme, hydrocortisone tablets will now be produced by Auden McKenzie. 

Patients on hydrocortisone may have already noticed this change.  The new tablets are smaller and we have heard they may be difficult to split.  The Addison's Disease Self-Help Group have contacted Auden McKenzie and have been assured that, within the next couple of months, there will be a re-formulation of the tablets so that they will be the same size and shape as the Hydrocortone tablets.

If you have any concerns or queries, please contact The Foundation at helpline@pituitary.org.uk.

(May 2008) 

Has this website helped you? 

If so, we ask that you please consider donating to The Pituitary Foundation to help us keep this valuable resource fresh and up-to-date with news and information.  

Donating is simple and secure, to help us, just click on:

http://www.justgiving.com/pituitary/donate/

Anyone, anywhere can donate using a debit or credit card.  If you live in the UK, you can increase your donation significantly through GiftAid.

Often, this website is the first port of call for patients and family members who have just been diagnosed or are on that long, bewildering journey to diagnosis.  It is crucial that we keep this site current so our community can have the news and information they need.

Please donate!

(UPDATE:  July 2008)

Thank you to all who have come forward to help us with this media call out (and so many of you have come forward to share your stories!).

Currently, we are still trying to recruit stories for the following areas:

• Birmingham
• Cardiff
• Edinburgh
• Newcastle

Please read on to learn more about what we're doing and if you live in one of the above areas, we would be very grateful if you could tell your story. 

(Updated from April 2008)

Pituitary Awareness Week is the 21st - 27th of September. However, much of the work needs to get done now so we can explode on the scene in September!

To make the greatest impact, we need patients to tell their stories to the media.  

What we need: 

We need people to talk about their general pituitary experience. The key messages will be (but you do not have to have experienced all of these):

1) Lengthy time to diagnosis
2) Dealing with a long term condition
3) Looking 'healthy' but feeling unwell (lack of empathy)

Please know that if you volunteer to do this, you will be speaking with a consultant who will first talk with you to ascertain if your story has the highest impact. If chosen, there will be a case study drawn up and, closer to the date, your local media will be contacted to offer your story. National women's magazines will also be approached.

It is important to note: You must be willing to be interviewed by a journalist, have your name and story in the media (paper, magazine, radio) and be photographed. When considering this, think about your family, your neighbours, your employers - do people know you have a pituitary condition?  Are you happy that they will know? Also, as you will likely be in local media, people may recognise you when you are in the Spar. Lastly, remember, you will be telling at least one 'stranger' your story, and then thousands. We want you to help, but we don't want you to experience anything upsetting in the process.

Think about it - you could change other's lives...but don't put your well-being in jeopardy to do it!

If you are willing - please email helpline@pituitary.org.uk with the subject title 'Awareness Campaign Media Call Out'.  Don't forget to give us your name, telephone number and where you live.

Thank you!

(March 2008)

The Pituitary Foundation has started an online petition to raise awareness about the need for further education regarding the use of Hydrocortisone during emergency situations.  This issue is so critical The Foundation has again chosen this topic as the focus of our 2008 National Pituitary Awareness Week (21 - 27 September).

We encourage you to read our petition and show your support by signing online TODAY.  Your signature on this petition would help us to further establish the need for education about hydrocortisone. 

You do not have to be a patient to sign.

Help us to strengthen our voice to make change. 

Please go to:  www.gopetition.com/petitions/hydrocortisone-awareness

(February 2008 - UPDATE: July 2008)

At the end of this year, The Pituitary Foundation will be selling Christmas Cards to aid awareness and to raise funds for The Foundation.

We have selected some fabulous designs through a competition we held earlier this year.  Our designs are by Terry Aston, an artist and pituitary patient from County Down, Northern Ireland. 

We need to sell as many cards as we can in order to make this programme a success and to get the word 'pituitary' out into the community!

Please help by pre-ordering your cards.  Just send an e-mail with your name, address and the number of cards you will wish to purchase.  No money is necessary at this point and we will contact you when the cards are available.  You can e-mail your pre-orders to:  helpline@pituitary.org.uk or phone us on 0845 450 0376.

We want to get the word 'Pituitary' spread far and wide -

we can only do that with your support. 

Please help!

(February 2008)

The Pituitary Foundation is pleased to announce we have added two titles to our leaflet library. 

Hydrocortisone: Advice for the Pituitary Patient explains hydrocortisone and offers information on how to take it, when you need it, how to let others know and when to increase your dose as well as more advice. 

The Psychological Impact of a Pituitary Condition:  Diagnosis and Treatment explains the impact of being diagnosed with and treated for pituitary disease and provides practical strategies for coping. 

These new resources can be read online, simply go to our literature section

These leaflets are also available in printed form.  If you would like a copies, we provide all of our leaflets free-of-charge, however, we ask you to assist us with administration and postage by sending an A5 sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

The Pituitary Foundation, FAO:  Psychological Leaflet [and / or] Hydrocortisone Leaflet, PO Box 1944, Bristol, BS99 2UB