Pituitary/hypothalamus

I am 37 years old.  I have daily headaches in my forhead, drusen of the optical nerve, IBS, chronic fatigue, and numerous other symptoms, including a large unintentional weight gain several years ago.  A recent hormon test reveled that I have a decreased IGF-1 growth hormone level.  I was sent for an MRI of my Pituitary gland, and the radiology report stated that I have a "flattened appearing pituitary gland at the base of the sella" and an "incomplete infundibulum" (pituitary stalk).  My endocronoligist has run all kinds of blood and urine tests, but still no answers.  I would appreciate any information that might be of assistance?  Thank you.

[karenjane]

Don't you love how everyone just jumps up and answers all at once?  

I googled hypopituitarism and got this:  

The pituitary gland is a small structure that is located just below the brain. It is attached by a stalk to the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls its function.

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In hypopituitarism, there is an absence of one or more pituitary hormones. Lack of the hormone leads to loss of function in the gland or organ that it controls. For example, loss of thyroid stimulating hormone leads to loss of function in the thyroid gland.

Hypopituitarism may be caused by tumors of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, head trauma, brain tumor, radiation, brain surgery, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage (from a burst aneurysm), or infections of the brain and the tissues that support the brain. Occasionally, hypopituitarism is due to uncommon immune system or metabolic diseases, such as sarcoidosis, histiocytosis X, and hemochromatosis.

Hypopituitarism is also a rare complication following pregnancy, a condition called Sheehan's syndrome. The cause of this type of hypopituitarism is unknown.
Symptoms

    * Fatigue
    * Weakness
    * Sensitivity to cold
    * Decreased appetite
    * Weight loss
    * Abdominal pain
    * Low blood pressure
    * Headache
    * Visual disturbances
    * Short stature (less than 5 feet) if onset is during a growth period
    * Loss of armpit or pubic hair
    * In women: cessation of menstrual periods, infertility, lack of sex drive, or failure to lactate
    * In men: decreased sexual interest, loss of body or facial hair
    * In children: slowed growth and sexual development

Note: Symptoms may develop slowly and may vary greatly, depending upon the severity of the disorder, the number of deficient hormones, and their target organs.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

    * Weight gain (unintentional)
    * Joint stiffness
    * Hoarseness or changing voice
    * Hair loss
    * Facial swelling

Signs and tests

Diagnosis of hypopituitarism must confirm low hormone levels due to an abnormality of the pituitary gland. The diagnosis must also rule out disease of the organ affected by this hormone.

    * Cranial CT scan, revealing a tumor or abnormal mass in the pituitary gland
    * Cranial MRI, revealing a tumor or abnormal mass in the pituitary or hypothalamus
    * Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), decreased or normal
    * Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), decreased or normal
    * Serum testosterone level, decreased
    * Serum estradiol (estrogen), decreased
    * Serum cortisol, decreased
    * Serum ACTH, decreased
    * T4 (thyroid hormone), decreased
    * Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), decreased or normal
    * Serum thyroid stimulating hormone response to thyroid-releasing hormone, decreased
    * Serum growth hormone (GH), decreased
    * Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), decreased

Does this help, or have you read all this already?  

best of luck.