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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety, Insomnia, Panic Attacks, Heart Palpitations And Chest Pain
Question: I have what I think to be Cushings disease or syndrome. High ACTH, high cortisol. High anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, heart palpitations and chest pain, SEVERE HEADACHES AND PAIN IN MY SPINE, shaking, tremors. The majority of the symptoms occur after eating. I am slightly hypothyroid (slight elevation in TSH), but untreated at this point. CT scans and MRI's of pituitary and adrenals reveal no pituitary tumors or obvious adrenal tumors. My blood pressure is erratic, sometimes high (172/102, sometimes low 92/60.) Also, my blood sugars tend to run low and/or will drop quickly.Where can I find an endocrinologist close to Wooster, OH, who can deal with my issues? I am desperate and terrified!!!
Brief Answer:
Pheochromocytoma
Detailed Answer:
Given your symptoms, it is important to test for a rare condition called Pheochromocytoma.
It is typically a benign tumor of the adrenals which produces excessive amounts of adrenaline type of hormones. I see you have had CT scan of the adrenal glands and there were no evident tumors. However, the equivalent of pheochromocytoma outside the adrenal gland is called paraganglioma.
The best way to screen for this condition is a random blood test for Plasma Free Metanephrines
Pheochromocytoma
Detailed Answer:
Given your symptoms, it is important to test for a rare condition called Pheochromocytoma.
It is typically a benign tumor of the adrenals which produces excessive amounts of adrenaline type of hormones. I see you have had CT scan of the adrenal glands and there were no evident tumors. However, the equivalent of pheochromocytoma outside the adrenal gland is called paraganglioma.
The best way to screen for this condition is a random blood test for Plasma Free Metanephrines
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Is the pheochromocytoma also a possibility if the the ACTH is elevated as well?
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Typically not.
ACTH and high cortisol are normal stress responses too.
Pheochromocytoma presents with spells of sweating, heart racing and BP swings and sometimes headaches/chest pain/shortness of breath
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Typically not.
ACTH and high cortisol are normal stress responses too.
Pheochromocytoma presents with spells of sweating, heart racing and BP swings and sometimes headaches/chest pain/shortness of breath
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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