Trinity Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 - On Metoprolol, Cromolyn Sodium oral for possible Mast Cell, on Mestinon for possible Vagus nerve neuropathy. Taking Gabapentin for fibromyalgia and anxiety. Topamax for migraine. Neuro wants interval training but exertion exacerbates symptoms and leads to bad days with episodes. - Still having random Sinus tach episodes with peak bpm 165 and blood pressure soaring to 200+over 100+, tach sustains at 145 for approx 30 mins and tach resting HR 90 supine - Resting heart rate usually 55-60 with blood pressure 120/70. Resting bp has crept up steadily. Used to be 105/60. -Developing some incontinence -Urine tests show no elevated hormones post episode for pheochromocytoma. Catecholamines and cortisol have tested normal in the past year. Anyone else experiencing similar breakthrough tachycardia, and how did you address? Was it hormone/endocrine? Should I pursue imagine of my adrenal glands? Is it worth the radiation of a CT? Other ideas / tests worth pursuing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haugr Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 Was your catecholamines tested while standing? Does anxiety while supine ever cause you to be symptomatic? Have you noticed abnormal paleness? Any Abnormally frequent urination? Does your rise in bp correspond to when you started any meds? Tingly hands and feet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinity Posted August 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 This was almost one year ago before the "violent tach" episodes started -10 min supine 0 min supine +10 min standingNorepinephrine 99 141 254 Epinephrine <15 <15 18 Dopamine <30 <30 <30 Vital Signs-10 min Supine 0 min Supine +10 min Standing BP 115/66 122/70 131/80 P 57 55 65 Morning cortisol was way low.. We have done urine collection post episode for pheochromocytoma and numbers are normal/low. I used to be pale but now on most occasions I am as flushed as Santa Claus. I feel I urinate constantly, that is -- I feel I generate waves of full bladders and that leads to the bouts of incontinence. I can't keep up. I do believe that all of this has gotten worse when I started the Mestinon and Cromolyn. My hands, feet, and face tingle like crazy and are the sounding horns for me to check my heart rate monitors. They tingle both on bradycardia and on tachycardia. I've noticed I will be brady the day before a tachycardia episode. They tingled initially when I started Topamax last year for migraine but I took bicarbonate as needed and have since adjusted. This is a new kind of tingling and is more frequent. My gut dysmotility has improved tremendously with the drugs, as has sleep and brain fog. But this tach is something else. The goal was to get digestion and nutrition underway so I could exercise now I am terrified to walk around the block. I can't even shower without a sustained rise in heart rate. I used to be a typical POTS person, now it's like the rubber band snaps at the slightest stress. I typically have been a very low blood pressure person so these high blood pressure incidents are scary and uncharacteristic. So are the headaches that accompany them. I had another episode this morning. I woke, took Cromolyn, showered to ready for a Dr. appointment, dressed, noticed my heart rate was 80 and climbing. Tried to rest and eat, 90, climbing, 100, climbing, SNAP! off to 150 I go. It resolved fairly quickly but I was shaken the rest of the morning. It's now 3pm and my resting heart rate is still dancing between 65 and 95. Yesterday my resting heart rate danced as low as 40 but sat mostly at 65. Has anyone else experienced this....all the signs of adrenal problems, yet low to normal blood and urine tests? How aggressively did you pursue imaging? Can someone give me a success story where an endocrinologist persisted with aggressive testing/imaging and found the culprit? I have a twofold cancer risk already with celiac disease, all my mother's side has already passed from gastric cancers. So I am not eager to start bombarding my abdominal area with unnecessary radiation if MRIs are available. I see radiation as a currency I need to spend wisely with CT scans in my lifetime. I may still need some of my head and neck area with this POTS business. Your experiences and insights, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinity Posted August 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 And yes to answer your question, I guess you could say "anxiety while supine" does make it worse, absolutely. Rushing to get ready to head out the door, making mental checklists "Don't forget your meds or your gluten free food or you can't eat for the next six hours" -- Celiacs live in a constant state of anxiety to that end ... So using this morning as an example, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KiminOrlando Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Hi Trinity. Just curious, your adrenal tests, were they done at 8 am or afternoon? The reason I ask is that mine were tested in the afternoon and showed that I was 'normal'. I had one doctor that insisted on an 8 am SHARP (!) test and after I muttered some very unkind things about her, I dragged my tail to the lab and had my blood drawn. The test came back and showed that I basically have Addison's disease in the morning, but my adrenals kick in later in the day so, I don't really have Addison's. They haven't done anything about it because you can't give meds for it or you end up with too much cortisol. That results in Cushing's. All it really did was explain why I couldn't function in the mornings. I've done some research on that phenomenon and it seems to indicate that it isn't uncommon with EDS. I don't know if you have anything else that might point to EDS or even if your low cortisol was in the a.m. I just thought I'd throw that out for you to consider. It might not apply. They did do imaging of my adrenals to make sure there were no other issues that could be causing this result. They still can't commit to EDS for me. Hope you find answers. Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haugr Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 So sorry Trinity. I pursued imaging after my metanephrines indicated that I didn't have a pheo. It didn't turn up anything though. Mine was similar to yours, minus the facial flushing, although my ears would flush when i was very symptimatic. Turned out to be a RAAS dysfunction that I am able to treat with losartan and clonidine and increased fluids and sodium. I'm not sure if it's the same thing that you have, but I documented the details about it here: http://hyperpots.blogspot.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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