Adrenaline Surges Causing Weird Symptoms????

[brethor9]

Hi Guys!!

Ok so I have been going through a really rough time of it over the last several weeks. I have been having a myriad of horrible symptoms and not really sure what is bringing them on.

This disorder gets old.... fast!! :{

The newest onset is a major increase again in my adrenaline surges but with them some strange symptoms I haven't had before so I need some input as to whether anyone as experienced the same or if I am simply going crazy?

I know hormones are playing a part because I can feel the hormone change and then the adrenaline attacks start....waves and waves of adrenaline mostly at night...all night...along with this I get rapid heart rate, chest pain, arm pain, really bad brain fog, head pressure and severe fatigue and when I stand during this I lose my balance and walk like I am drunk...the newest part of this is when I am sleeping and having these surges I have weird dreams or visual flashes like a movie playing...weird random thoughts....its really hard to explain.

The thing is this only happens during these adrenaline episodes so I am almost positive it is not psychological but related side effects to the adrenaline. Also after these episodes I am extremely tired...I can barely lift my head or open my eyes...its like being drugged....I am pretty sure these are side effects of adrenaline crash.

Can anyone relate to this??? Can anyone please explain what adrenaline does to the body and is it possible that it could cause these very strange symptoms? My specialist did say I have very high levels of norepinephrine pretty much all the time so I know its gotta be wreaking havoc on my system somehow....

Oh, and on a side note I have a sinus infection and am not sure if that could be stirring things up? seems moving some days stirs everything up!!.....sigh

Thanks

Bren

[sue1234]

Bren, did your doctor explain why you have constantly high adrenaline levels? Tested you for a pheo?

I get some of those symptoms, plus some, when my blood sugar drops. Has that been tested?

[brethor9]

Hey Sue

I think I have been tested for a pheo a couple years ago but nothing recently. As for blood sugar the docs say it is normal although I used to work in a Diabetes clinic and I mentioned to one of the nurses that I was almost passing out about 1 hr after eating lunch...when she did my sugar it was quite low so she thought I could be reactive hypogylcemic??? but never had any further testing done...

Its sooo confusing! There is so much going wrong with this body and I dont even know where to start to get it fixed.... I have only seen my specialist 2x since being diagnosed in May and that was simply for testing....frustrating

Bren

Edited August 24, 2011 by corina
removed the quoting. please use the Add Reply button on the bottom of the page (right side)

[potsgirl]

Bren,

What medications are you on? Anything new added or taken away recently? I was on some medication that really made my symptoms crazy and me along with it!

[brethor9]

Hey Pots Girl!

Right now I am taking ativan 0.75mg daily and 1/4 tab florinef...the ativan I have been taking almost for a year so I dont think its that but it may be the florinef....alot of this stuff has come on since I started it in the last couple months...it just seems weird on such a small dose? Although I have noticed since I started taking it my breasts have gotten very sore and big time swelling!! So maybe its wreaking havoc on the hormones?? can florinef do that???

Bren

Edited September 2, 2011 by corina
removed unnecessary quoting

[radiohfan23]

I think you may be onto something with florinef. I had reactions also and from Dinet's description of medications it states that sympathetic activity may increase with florinef. Definitely worth looking into.

[Annaliese]

Hi Bren, this happened to me, the adrenalin flushing at night I mean. In my case, I managed to correlate the flushing with low BP. I tested the theory out by applying pressure stockings. Sure enough, the flushing greatly reduced. I also stopped taking my beta blocker at night ( checked with doc first) and after this the flushing completely disappeared. Have you checked your lying BP?

[corina]

i understand why you tried annaliese, but i like to add that compression stockings/hose shouldn't be worn in bed/during nighttime!

corina

[andersondebra]

Brent,

I know what you are going through, I too am going through the same thing right now. I have constant adrenaline surges even throughout the night. These surges can wake me up and my heart will be racing, my arm and chest hurt really bad, I get the head pressure and blurred vision and if I try to stand up and walk I too walk like a drunk. My head feels foggy and even my eyes feel as if they are swollen. I have noticed too that I usually get nightmares, which is unusual for me because I am not one to have nightmares or even remember my dreams. After it has gone I am left feeling worn out and my muscles feel as though they are trembling but to look at them you can't see anything. Then when I try to go back to sleep I will have muscle spasms throughout my body one muscle at a time.

I have checked my BP during these events, but it is usually within a normal range, maybe just slightly higher than normal for me, but my heart rate is usually off the charts at around 160 beats per minute. I have told my doc about this but he cannot explain it. Right now they have given me valium to take when this happens (because I could not handle clonidine or ativan)but I am not finding much relief there either.

Well, I wish I could give you some advice but unfortunately I am in your shoes and looking for the same answers, I just thought that I would let you know that you are not alone.

God Bless

Debra

[Annaliese]

Hi Corina. I wasn't advocating the use of pressure stockings at night. I used them as an experiment to try to gain some insight into the cause of my nighttime flushing. Through this process I solved the issue (ie I dropped my beta blocker dose) which meant I went from not being able to sleep to having completely restful sleep.

[brethor9]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback! I havent had any real resolution to my symptoms yet. Specialist has started me on Mestinon and a new beta blocker Metoprolol....I will let you know how I make out in the next while

Bren

[kayjay]

I think I know exactly what you are talking about. I have them less and less often now.... but they are horrible. Beta blockers block adrenaline so over time I think that helped. I take Klonopin, Nadolol and Cymbalta. Hang in there. I will never forget how this feels and hope I never do again!

[louloutinks]

Hi Bren, hope you are well? I had a lot of bother going on this end surrounding my child and it all got too much for me. Will pm you re that.

I am not sure if it similar but I was woken up in the night a couple of months or so ago with really bad tachy and I did not feel with it all. The tachy went on for some time then stopped after a while. Felt trembly with it. I thought I must have had a nightmare as it actually felt like eg when you have to slam your car brakes on to avoid a car - like adrenalin kicking in but without the panic. The next night it happened again, same thing happened, and felt not good with it. Took quite a while for tachy to stop. Did not like it at all and was dreading the next nights sleep but it hasn't happened during the night again since. The other day I had a pulse of 180 on waking and that is as far as it has gone lately.

Hope your new meds work for you and all is well at home

[brethor9]

Hang in there Tinks!!! You can get through it.....you are strong!! I also have been having a bad 1st week of school with my little guy....lord the meltdowns!! PM me when you can and we can chat..

Take Care...big hugs!

Bren

[Friedbrain]

I experience this. And had it multiple times last night, which is why I'm back on the computer researching today!

I have a blood pressure monitor, so I've tried a few times to check it right after these events (but it's hard because it's dark, I don't want to move much so I don't compromise the result, and I'm often confused and shaky), but it's always taken me a few minutes to set it up. Still, last night's result that I obtained was consistent with before, which is that my blood pressure is low (85/59), my pulse pressure is very low, and my heartrate is very high. According to wikipedia, a low pulse pressure can be indicative of shock (or congestive heart failure).

My working hypothesis is that my body is sensing a dangerous nocturnal state (low blood flow? Lack of oxygen from sleep apnea?), and *shocks* it with adrenaline, which wakes me up due to the resulting physiological response. A few times, I have actually even been aware of myself gasping as I awoke; along with the heart racing. Sometimes, it has also been accompanied by increasing nausea, head pressure, a heat flash, and then all-over body shaking. Because these often occur(ed) prior to my period, similar to my seizure history, I suspect they are related, but I don't know what's causing them.

I get afraid of falling back asleep because I'm afraid I won't wake up one of these times. Still, even though they were happening last night, I couldn't keep my eyes open after one, so I'd fall asleep only to wake up again....

Two things that *sometimes* helped....sleeping elevated (so doubling up on pillows), since being horizontal seems to make things worse for me; and as someone here had mentioned a long time ago, doing something physical like lifting arm weights and getting my heart rate up naturally before getting back in bed. I don't know the reason this works-maybe works off some adrenaline, maybe increases my heartrate/bp/oxygen intake or increases arousal enough that my body doesn't shut down so much while I'm sleeping.....? I really don't know!!!!

I see my neuro on Tuesday and want to ask him. Still, since these sleep episodes are random, I don't think a sleep study would be worthwhile.

[brethor9]

Hi Fried!

Just wanted to let you know I feel for you because I am suffering with these episodes off and on too!!! They are not fun especially when they can last all night!! I have had many scans to rule out all the scary things so I am pretty confident its not live threatening....but it sure feels that way at the time. I find sometimes what helps me most during these episodes is laying on my stomach...it sounds weird but for some reason it slows my heart rate down....maybe the compression? Like you I also sleep upright but have found since taking 200 grams of magnesium at night and 0.25mg of ativan it is cutting down on these adrenaline episodes.

I was diagnosed with very high levels of norepinephrine so I am sure as is my specialist that these episodes are related to that. When I was at my most severe I was actually experiencing autonomic storms....they are beyond terrifying!!

My specialist is trying find a proper beta blocker because they help block the adrenaline...I am starting a new one today...will let you know how it goes..Have you been tested for catecholamine levels? (norepinephrine/epinephrine) that may give you some answers

Hang in there and know you are not alone!!

Bren