DAMIAN Boyle of Broadgate, Preston, cycles 100 miles a week and this year he rode from John O'Groats to Lands End in 14 days.

But he hasn't always been so energetic - at school he was the slowest in his class, and always finished last on sports day.

His story is one of triumph over tragedy - he was diagnosed at an early age with a rare condition, hypopituitarism, which meant his pituitary gland in his brain wasn't producing enough of certain hormones, including a vital growth agent.

Early diagnosis meant Damian could be treated while he was still young with a balance of the chemicals he was lacking.

In that way his growth wasn't stunted - without treatment he would never have grown beyond 4ft 6ins tall - these days, aged 27, he towers above at nearly 6ft.

Damian explained what hypopituitarism meant to him: "I was always tired, weak and easily upset. I just couldn't cope with the pressures of everyday life.

"I had terrible stomach pain whenever I felt under stress, which included most of my time at school. Unfortunately I had no experience of normal life with which to compare so I thought my problems were just part of growing up."

Damian was diagnosed with hypopituitarism when he was nine and he underwent many tests over several years at Pendlebury Children's Hospital.

He was given a growth hormone but not the cortisone or thyroxine he needed to speed up his metabolism and give him more energy. Doctors feared these would interfere with his growth, so he had to wait until he was tall enough before his other problems could be dealt with.

"I eventually received the cortisone and thyroxine I needed and testosterone in later years.," he said: "Since starting my current treatment life has become almost normal.

"I won't pretend that life is perfect. It's a hard balancing act to get the hormone levels right and getting it wrong can cause real problems. Inadequate cortisone levels have at times left me slow and lethargic.

"However most of the balance is right. I have no problems and can lead a normal healthy life."

Although it is rare for people to have a dysfunctional pituitary gland, Damian is not alone.

Now he and fellow sufferer Sylvia Bradley from Blackpool are setting up a support group which meets for the first time next Monday (November 10) at the Deepdale Centre, Deepdale Road, Preston from 6pm.

For more information about related illnesses, write to The Pituitary Foundation at 17, The Courtyard, Woodlands, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS12 4NQ. And anyone wanting to attend the support group can call Damian on (01772) 252032.

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