Martin Cornally shares his experience of the rare pituitary disease called acromegaly. Hear firsthand how a pituitary tumour led to excessive production of growth hormone, causing severe physical changes, including osteoarthritis. Despite undergoing two surgeries, Martin continues to fight this chronic and life-long condition, shedding light on the crucial need for early diagnosis and increased awareness among medical professionals.

Explore the differences between acromegaly and gigantism, conditions that, though related, manifest at different stages of life. We discuss this rare disease's emotional, physical, and financial impacts, highlighting the importance of recognising subtle symptoms early on. Martin's symptoms include severe headaches, significant weight gain, and enlarged organs, which underlines the challenging journey of living with acromegaly and the importance of timely, accurate diagnoses.

In this episode, we also delve into the broader challenges of invisible disabilities, and co-host Scott shares how he has coped with having multiple brain aneurysms.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• World Alliance of Pituitary Organisations
• The Pituitary Foundation Ireland
• The Pituitary Foundation UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Scott Casson-Rennie, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

Our guest is Rachel Bilski from the charity PTSD UK. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is typically associated with veterans. However, it isn't only veterans who can develop it – And Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, CPTSD, is less well known and, therefore, can take longer to diagnose.

Rachel's lived experiences of CPTSD contribute to her work as a lecturer and supervisor for the Minded Institute for Yoga Therapy Training Institute. We put your questions to Rachel during this conversation and learned about the differences and nuances between PTSD and CPTSD.

We look into the complexities of emotional flashbacks and the varied manifestations of symptoms that can profoundly impact daily life.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• PTSD UK
• Paul's blog (RE "brave")
• Rachel Bilski's blog (emotional flashbacks)
• Down to Earth Yoga Therapy

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Paul Shriever, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster, Peta Hooke, interviews Althea, talking about ADHD and Autism.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them.

It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

Connect with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower here: Website, Facebook, Instagram.