What is Pheochromocytoma
A pheochromocytoma (also phaeochromocytoma, English spelling) is a tumor of the medulla of the adrenal glands originating in the chromaffin cells, which secretes excessive amounts ...
Join Now
|
Waiting for diagnosis
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
Hi all! I recently had a episode that sent me to the emergency room. I had no idea what it was but I awoke from a sound sleep at 3:30 a.m. with my tongue itchy, hands red and itchy, heart racing and a feeling the rose up to my head and felt like it was going to explode. I had one other episode like this a week before but didn't go to the emergency room. I monitor my pulse that time and it was racing constantly at 100 or higher. Anyway my trip to the ER my blood pressure was 157/108 and pulse 107. I had told the nurse this had happened a week ago as well. I am on medication for general anxiety. They gave me a shot of benadryl and told me it was probably an anxiety attack. I didn't feel comfortable with that because why would I be having an anxiety attack from a deep sleep and awoken at 3:30 in the morning? So I make appointment with my family doctor thinking something is wrong with my heart. I had read that heart disease in women is sometimes misdiagnosed and anxiety is sometime the diagnosis given. I have an EKG done and it was okay but doctor brings up Pheochromocytoma. After reading up on this I truly believe this is what I've been dealing with. As a matter of fact I diagnosed myself with having anxiety and my gyn gave me a prescription over a year ago. I have been having tons of symptoms for years thinking I was just way out of shape, stressed and anxiety. I get out of breath walking across the yard and sweat excessively. I have now become obsessed with checking my bp and pulse at Wal-mart! My doctor ordered the uring collection for 24 hours X 2. I am now waiting for the results. I don't know what will be the next step but really want to have this taken care of soon if this is what I am dealing with as I am having constant pulse racing and feeling of my heart pounding out of my chest. I am really scared that if this is what I am experiencing may have been going on for years and I am in fear that I could have a heart attack anytime. I have a 10 year old son and I want to be here to see him grow up, graduate, get married, have children. He is my only child after dealing with infertily and losses. Can anyone give me any insight of what I will be going through the following days, months etc. if this is what is found? I appreciate any info, advice, support anyone can give me. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this as I know it is very long!
Posted on 08/24/09, 04:08 pm |
| 4 Replies | Add Your Reply |
| View More Posts Ignore |
Listen...do you know your body? It sounds like you do. Please continue to seek your answers & find your own diagnosis if you have to. Life is too short to have someone tell you that you woke up with a severe anxiety attack from deep sleep. Since I had a doctor tell me the very same thing...I kept searching and found that I have hashimotos disease, a heart rate of 150/beats per min. (The heart should only beat 60-99 bpm). I have had several strokes. Also pre-diabetic. And now my growth hormone in my body is almost double what it should be & will be going to John Hopkins. Oh yeah, severe, knee dropping headaches for 15 years & bouts with anxiety.
Please, I encourage you to push on whether it's with this doctor or many others like I have done. If you know that something is wrong...as hard as it is to push on & keep going for more & more tests, you owe it to your child. Doctor's are not God & do not know all the answers. You, however, know your body & know what you feel. I will pray you find the strength to push on & feel better by finding the answers! It can be a long time running, but it's worth it to feel better! 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Forgot to mention....see a cardiologist who will give you a holter monitor to wear. The heart beats way different than just the pulse test they do in the office, regardless of your ekg. Best Wishes
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Okay the 24 hr urine collection came back finding nothing. The doctor had told me upon the first visit it may not be found. I have been having so much trouble with this family doctor! He had me wear the holter monitor and took 2 weeks before I heard back from them! I called 3 times requesting results. Geez this was stressing me out even more! Anyway the monitor did catch my heart racing at 155 bpm for almost 5 minutes at 3:38 in the morning and then 147 bpm at 5:07. He has put me on metropolol and will see me in 30 days. What I am wondering is we never really ruled out Pheochromocytoma and I have read that taking a beta blocker is not good to take with this condition. I don't see why he wont just do the cat scan to see if I have the adrenal tumor rather than have to take these meds for 30 days and see if I feel better! He also said if this doesn't work I will take a echocardigram to see if there is any physical signs of a problem with my heart. I'm thinking okay what if that is the problem and I am wasting 30 days! I don't know why he wont just give me a referral for a cardiologist or an endocrinologist. I am 39 years old and I do also show signs of diabetes. My dad has it and his mom had it and I had gestational diabetes with my son. I do have severe headaches as well that I call throw up headaches. I just get really sick to my stomach and have to have total darkness and no sound! Thank you so much for the support you have given me with your comment! I appreciate it so much. My husband and my parents are very supportive and worried as well and just want to know what is wrong with me.
Thanks again pkpicado I hope all the best for you along your path of recovery!
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Roxn. I just joined the group. I would encourage you to find an endocrine doctor or atleast get your doctor to refer you... I ended up finding one on my own at Stanford University. I have been having problems with anxiety, etc. for over 15 years. I am 57 years old and have been having these episodes about every 3 or 4 years. Extreme nausea, intense anxiety (in the middle of the night also), hot sweats, major weight loss with each episode. I received a CAT scan in August and an MRI followed after they found a growth on my left adrenal gland. I wasn't happy with my docs here so I researched a doctor who specializes in adrenal tumors. He is convinced I have a pheo but what is puzzling to him is all the tests to confirm, i.e., 24 hour urine, blood tests, etc. all were within normal. Only think that was out of whack was my DHEA which was too high and has been for years. i have found another support group for pheo's where some of the people did not have the usual symptoms like high BP. mine is actually too low. I am going to have surgery sometime in November after another MRI late October. Many people have had a pheo and symptoms for ten plus years with no Heart Attack so hopefully you can relax on that a little. I know how scary it is. My best advice is do research - find a good doctor and go from there. I have had to request tests from some of my doctors and they thought I was a little nuts.- but it is my body... so take good care - deborah
|
|
|
|
||
| Add Your Reply |
