What happens if your hypothalamus is damaged

It's hard on my own. It's hard to remember what I looked up the night before. I live in Phoenix, AZ. It is getting hot now and my brain is having a very difficult time in this heat after my TBI. The dizziness is increasing in frequency and severity. The information shared in this blog is very helpful. In after repeated ER visits it was discovered that I have a pituitary adenoma.

But the last 14 months I have been so nauseous and in such horrible abdominal pain that the doctors think that the hypothalamus is not sending messages to the pituitary correctly.

I live in Austin Texas and I do have some very good specials here. They have helped me gain entrance to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota by the middle of February I have worked diligently putting together a good history and all of my medical records will be sent to them ahead of schedule.

If I learn something intelligent I will put it in this blog. There are parts of this blog that I intend to copy and put in my records. I had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as they could in Apparently it is growing back and that may be the problem.

I will call my specialist in Austin. And Apparently there is no cure in the world for that malady. That is the conclusion of my Austin doctors. So is this how you die because no one could figure out the entire hormone system? Maybe I will end up being famous for no good reason whatsoever. I read your comment and I was curious as to what type of tumor you have?

Also, how long after the first tumor resection did it start to grow? My daughter had a brain tumor that originate in the hypothalamus.

March she had to undergo emergency surgery as the tumor grew a giant cyst of spinal fluid causing it to bleed within. As of now, all physicians have said is that its possible for the tumor to grow again due to hormones. Once she is past puberty the chances of it growing back is lower. With that being said, if you can control the hormones, wouldn't you be able to control the growth of the tumor?

With that in mind, I have searched for seconds opinions outside the U. No one here seems to be interested in understanding the hormone system and finding a way to prevent this mass from growing, only in giving patients chemotherapy or undergoing surgeries.

I did find a doctor who recommended a medication to stabilize hormones. As of now, my daughter had four MRI and they have come back stable. What can potentially be left of the tumor has not changed.

I'm hoping it stays the same and doesn't changed. As of now, the neuro-oncology treating her mentioned he hasn't seen a case where the rumor doesn't grow again. I'm wondering if it's just too soon and there may be change coming. Also, he mentioned there is medication available to help stabilized hypothalamus.

My daughter's hypothalamus was damaged during surgery and ever since March she has gained 80 lbs and is presenting may of the symptoms most on her are mentioning. Like many of you, I couldn't put in words the frustration every time I try to explain to the doctors all the changes I see in her and they look at me as if I was crazy or possibly over reacting.

I will give you guys an update if there are any changes once we try medication for hypothalamus and see any improvement. Im very well aware that once the hypothalamus is damage there's no way of repairing it, but there has to be a way to manage it.

Do you have any update on how your Mayo trip went. I live in Minnesota. Had TBI and suspect hypothalamus. I have damaged my hypothalamus after taking amphetamines and I am racing continuously internally do you know if anyone can help me with beta blockers or can reset a hypothalamus.

My God. This is me. I stumbled upon your article when looking up hypothalmic disorders. Sounded made up. Never looked into it They don't actually treat this here.

Just manage the symptoms ie: drugs until your a walking zombie. In had a major car accident. At the time was a Respiratory Therapist working 16 hour shifts and going to Nursing school full time. Never a lazy girl. My life is now an utter mess. Thanks for this. Thought i was alone. Keep me informed Please. Keep the light on. I'm tempted to write a lengthy comment on the similarities and differences between your article, its comments, and my personal experience. However, as a TBI, probable CTE person I prefer to tell you my reaction: like someone wandering through the desert for decades who has just arrived at a huge oasis.

I look forward to reading more of your blogs and thank you - more than you can possibly imagine - for showing me this path forward exists. Wow, great blog. I had a stroke 11 yrs ago.

Anything hormone related went bonkers, then the seizures. I have almost the same symptoms as you. I came across an article about the hypothalamus and stroke. Mine is definitely broken but I thought it can't be healed. I feel same about docs. Screw them. If you have better info than me please share.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am also a traumatic brain injury survivor. Reading your blog was like reading my personal experience. I have a damaged hypothalamus, and it causes me to leave people's homes because their heat is too hot for me to tolerate. Sometimes, I get emotional because little repetitive sounds sometimes sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I have seen doctors at a major university's research hospital and they do not seem to understand the magnitude of the problems faced by a person with a TBI.

Hypothalamic obesity is characterized by an uninhibited eating disorder that often results in morbid obesity and can be associated with other obesity complications like diabetes, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, mood disorder etc. Disorders of the posterior pituitary can result in diabetes insipidus and disorders pertaining to oxytocin deficiency like inability to lactate, vaginal dryness, decreased libido etc.

Some Rights Reserved. Date last modified: February 14, Disorders of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland O f the endocrine glands, the hypothalamus and pituitary glands are of major importance since they act as the coordinating centers of the endocrine system.

The hypothalamus helps keep the body's internal functions in balance. It helps regulate: Appetite and weight Body temperature Childbirth Emotions, behavior, memory Growth Production of breast milk Salt and water balance Sex drive Sleep-wake cycle and the body clock Another important function of the hypothalamus is to control the pituitary gland.

The pituitary, in turn, controls the: Adrenal glands Ovaries Testes Thyroid gland There are many causes of hypothalamic dysfunction. The most common are: Surgery Brain injury Brain tumors Radiation treatment to the brain Other causes include: Nutrition problems, such as eating disorders anorexia , extreme weight loss Blood vessel problems in the brain, such as aneurysm , pituitary apoplexy , subarachnoid hemorrhage Genetic disorders, such as Prader-Willi syndrome , familial diabetes insipidus , Kallmann syndrome Infections and swelling inflammation due to certain immune system diseases.

Tumor symptoms may include headache or loss of vision. Exams and Tests. The health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask about your symptoms. Blood or urine tests may be ordered to determine levels of hormones such as: Cortisol Estrogen Growth hormone Pituitary hormones Prolactin Testosterone Thyroid Sodium Blood and urine osmolality Other possible tests include: Hormone injections followed by timed blood samples MRI or CT scans of the brain Visual field eye exam if there is a tumor.

Treatment depends on the cause of the hypothalamic dysfunction: For tumors, surgery or radiation may be needed. For hormonal deficiencies, missing hormones need to be replaced by taking medicine.

This is effective for pituitary problems and for salt and water balance. Medicines are usually not effective for changes in temperature or sleep regulation. Research has also demonstrated that diets high in saturated fats might have an inflammatory effect on the body. This can make the immune system overactive, increasing the chances of it targeting healthy body cells, increasing inflammation in the gut, and altering the natural working of the body.

Diets high in polyunsaturated fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, can help to reverse this inflammation. These fats might be a safe alternative to other types of oils and fats. Foods with high omega-3 content include fish, walnuts, flax seeds, and leafy vegetables.

A working hypothalamus is one of the most important parts of the body, and it usually goes unnoticed until it stops working properly. Following these dietary tips can help to keep the hypothalamus happy and working well.

A new study finds that greater gray matter volume in two regions of the brain is linked to greater ability to exercise self-control in food choices. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. It gathers information from all over the body and coordinates activity. We explore…. The human brain is a hugely complex organ, made of different areas that handle different functions.

The cerebellum is the part that handles many…. What does the hypothalamus do? Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Function Hormones of the hypothalamus Disorders Diet tips for hypothalamus health The hypothalamus is a small but important area in the center of the brain. Share on Pinterest The hypothalamus is a small but essential part of the brain.