Could it be pheo?

[songcanary]

Hi everyone,

I am back.  Posted not long ago about panic attacks and elevated b/p while taking Buspar so I stopped it and got better.  However, it didn't last and I have had spells nearly every two weeks lately of sudden onset blood pressure spikes, tachycardia, mild headache, sweating, nausea and heart palpitations.  Just like what I thought were panic attacks.  It happens completely out of the blue.  I was blaming myself for not handling stress well but now I feel that is not the problem.  Something else is wrong.  So I searched the site for pheo and read all the posts.  I will call my pcp in the morning.  But wanted to ask if anyone has had these symptoms and been diagnosed with pheo?  I understand that hyper pots and pheo share many symptoms.  Any info appreciated!  I have been struggling for at least a year with never feeling entirely well but can never put my finger on it.  

Also, can anyone tell me how to edit my signature info.  I am no longer taking Florinef and LDN.

[MomtoGiuliana]

Hi songcanary

you can edit your signature here:

http://www.dinet.org/settings/signature/

I hope you get answers about your symptoms.  I do think panic attack like symptoms can be part of POTS.  I had these same symptoms anyway, when I was more ill with POTS than I am now.  It would truly come out of the blue.  I also thought it might be stress bc that is what my dr told me, however, I was not really that stressed.  I was mainly stressed bc I didn't feel well.  I was tested for pheo at the time as well, and probably good to rule that out.

[songcanary]

So nice to hear from you.  I saw my gp today and he thinks it is my dysautonomia acting up.  So I will make a trip to Cleveland to see my specialist there.  You make a good point about being stressed but not necessarily feeling stressed.  It will probably take a few weeks to get in but I think it is a good idea.  Thanks so much for you input, I really appreciate it!  

[Flight272]

I was tested for pheochromocytoma by my dermatologist because of my POTS symptoms in conjunction with suddenly appearing full-body flushing rashes that went on for a few years and still flare up once in a while (long story). I didn't test positive (though I was tested by means of a 24-hour urine collection during a time when I didn't have symptoms, which wasn't ideal). The symptom that didn't really match for me was high blood pressure, because my blood pressure is low to very low. Even when my heart rate is going 150, my blood pressure's still low. 

But you say you have high blood pressure spikes, which is a symptom of pheochromocytoma, but it could also occur for a number of reasons. When you have a blood pressure spike, how high does it go? Is it only high during those episodes, or is it on the high side most of the time? Did your doctor test you for other causes of high blood pressure? 

[cmreber]

When I first got really sick and they were trying to figure out what was wrong with me, I had an MRI to test for pheo because the symptoms are so similar.  Mine came back negative and after that is when I was diagnosed with Hyper POTS.  I know for me, panic attacks have always come hand in hand with my Hyper POTS, and I think it has to do with the elevated adrenal hormones, and the fact that my body will sometimes be in "fight or flight" mode when it shouldn't.  I haven't had panic attacks for quite some time, though I am currently going through a "good" period and I also started on a low dose SSRI, which might be helping.  But whenever I have a major POTS flare, my main issues are always random panic attacks.  I hope you start feeling better soon! <3

[haugr]

The hyper POTS and a pheo share symptoms so it is certainly valuable to get tested for one.