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Suggest Treatment Acid Relux And Headaches
Question: Hi, I'm a 31 year old male who has been suffering from sever acid reflux most of my adult life. Lately (for 2 months)I've been experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort. I get sharp shooting abdominal pains, heart palpitations where my hearthe will race and then calm down. I have a weird feeling of being off balance and sensations that I'm still moving even when I'm not. I recently had an abdominal ultrasound and my primary told me that it looked normal. My blood pressure has been high at the Dr office but not at home, maybe white coat syndrome? I'm always fatigued and my eyes burn and itch a lot. I also have dark circles under my eyes now with a purple tint to it. I feel like im riddled with something serious going on and they can't seem to find anything.I was recently diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse but my cardiologist said from a scale of 1 to 10 that it's a 1 and negligible. I eat well and am a pretty active person. I've lost about 10 pounds since last October even though my diet hasn't changed. I was tested for celiac which was negative and my thyroid was tested and showed normal. My potassium has been a little low in the past, at 3.0 and my magnesium has been a little low but my last labs showed that they were normal. I started to drink a lot of coconut water and eat bananas regularly for the potassium and I've been taking 200-400MG of magnesium oxide lately. I just don't know what's wrong with me, I'd like to feel normal again. Also, my fecal has had an odd odor from time to time and I've been experiencing weird shooting pains around my thyroid area and have been getting headaches. I felt totally normal a few months ago, so this is very confusing. I have lots of lab test results upon request. Thank you so much for your time as I know it is of great value.
Brief Answer:
Need an endocrine evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern. In one line, i would say, you may need an endocrinology evaluation to look at causes of few of your symptoms. Your acid reflux and palpitations as well a low potassium could be connected. We need to rule out a rare hormonal conditions and may need to do investigations focused on that.
You may need to meet an endocrinologist to assess your symptoms and they will need to examine you to look for clues of rare multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes ( MEN-1 syndrome). I must say that this is rather rare disease and that is exactly why an endo need to see you in person and examine you before ordering expensive and ophisticated tests.
Some of your symptoms could be due to pure anxiety. However, i would like to investigate you to rule out the above said rare syndromes before labelling it as anxiety. I would be interested to know if you ever had a blood tests for "Gastrin" or Metanephrines ??
Regards
Binu
Need an endocrine evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern. In one line, i would say, you may need an endocrinology evaluation to look at causes of few of your symptoms. Your acid reflux and palpitations as well a low potassium could be connected. We need to rule out a rare hormonal conditions and may need to do investigations focused on that.
You may need to meet an endocrinologist to assess your symptoms and they will need to examine you to look for clues of rare multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes ( MEN-1 syndrome). I must say that this is rather rare disease and that is exactly why an endo need to see you in person and examine you before ordering expensive and ophisticated tests.
Some of your symptoms could be due to pure anxiety. However, i would like to investigate you to rule out the above said rare syndromes before labelling it as anxiety. I would be interested to know if you ever had a blood tests for "Gastrin" or Metanephrines ??
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, thanks so much for your rapid reply. I've never had my gastrin or metanephrines checked that I'm aware of. How would they be labeled on a lab panel?
If I have MEN-1 syndrome, what are my chances for survival and what are the treatments?
I have to get a referral from my primary to see an endocrinologist so I can be checked out. I'm aware that some of this may be due to anxiety, but only more pronounced by my anxiety if that makes sense? I've been dealing with anxiety since I was 17 years old and this is totally different. My joints often hurt and I never feel well anymore. Just a few months ago, other than feeling tired, I felt totally fine. I do have and have been suffering from from tinnitus since I was 16. I also have a full pressure feeling in my ears since maybe 17 or 18 years old. I'm not a hypochondriac, I'm just really aware of my body and how I feel. I know you must think I'm a basket case, but I'm completely sane, I promise. Hahaha
Regards, XXXX
If I have MEN-1 syndrome, what are my chances for survival and what are the treatments?
I have to get a referral from my primary to see an endocrinologist so I can be checked out. I'm aware that some of this may be due to anxiety, but only more pronounced by my anxiety if that makes sense? I've been dealing with anxiety since I was 17 years old and this is totally different. My joints often hurt and I never feel well anymore. Just a few months ago, other than feeling tired, I felt totally fine. I do have and have been suffering from from tinnitus since I was 16. I also have a full pressure feeling in my ears since maybe 17 or 18 years old. I'm not a hypochondriac, I'm just really aware of my body and how I feel. I know you must think I'm a basket case, but I'm completely sane, I promise. Hahaha
Regards, XXXX
Brief Answer:
MEN-1 syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thank you for the reply. No I do not consider you to be a hypochondriac. I felt there are connections in your symptoms. Your low potassium need to be investigated as well rather than treating it symptomatically.
MEN-1 is treatable and often curable and you may need surgery + medicines for that. Important thing is to get it tested.
Regards
Binu
MEN-1 syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thank you for the reply. No I do not consider you to be a hypochondriac. I felt there are connections in your symptoms. Your low potassium need to be investigated as well rather than treating it symptomatically.
MEN-1 is treatable and often curable and you may need surgery + medicines for that. Important thing is to get it tested.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I'll make note of it and ask my primary for a referral when I follow up with him in 3 weeks. One thing I forgot to mention is, my cortisol level was 25.7 when I received my last lab results. Could this be due to being under a lot of stress?
Also, I had to stop taking omeprazole because it was causing my heart to skip beats. Is there something comparable that I can take to coat my stomach that doesn't interfere with the absorption of magnesium?
Also, I had to stop taking omeprazole because it was causing my heart to skip beats. Is there something comparable that I can take to coat my stomach that doesn't interfere with the absorption of magnesium?
Brief Answer:
Stress and Cortisol
Detailed Answer:
Well, that make sense. Long term Omeprazole or drugs of that sort, can cause malabsorption of magnesium. This leads to low potassium as well.
You could try Ranitidine. However, this is not as effective like Omeprazole. But worth a try. You will have to stop all these , should your PCP decides to do a Gastrin level.
I presume the cortisol level is expressed in microgram/dl. Was it an 8 AM cortisol value? It is on the higher side , but not really high. Yes, Stress would push the cortisol levels up.
Regards'
Binu
Stress and Cortisol
Detailed Answer:
Well, that make sense. Long term Omeprazole or drugs of that sort, can cause malabsorption of magnesium. This leads to low potassium as well.
You could try Ranitidine. However, this is not as effective like Omeprazole. But worth a try. You will have to stop all these , should your PCP decides to do a Gastrin level.
I presume the cortisol level is expressed in microgram/dl. Was it an 8 AM cortisol value? It is on the higher side , but not really high. Yes, Stress would push the cortisol levels up.
Regards'
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Cortisol and Zantac
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for confirming that. Yes, 8 AM cortisol is said to be low when it is less than 5 and considered high when more than 30. However, to diagnose cortisol excess, 8 AM spot cortisol has no big value. We would have to do a suppression test. In your case, 25 is on the higher end of normal and could be related to stress.
ZANTAC is best effective in 300 mg daily dose. Either as 150mg twice daily or 300 mg once daily
Cortisol and Zantac
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for confirming that. Yes, 8 AM cortisol is said to be low when it is less than 5 and considered high when more than 30. However, to diagnose cortisol excess, 8 AM spot cortisol has no big value. We would have to do a suppression test. In your case, 25 is on the higher end of normal and could be related to stress.
ZANTAC is best effective in 300 mg daily dose. Either as 150mg twice daily or 300 mg once daily
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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