Ok, not sure how many know my history for the past couple years, but it has been a little rough healthwise. In the last year, especially in the last few months, it seems like my body has been going haywire. In the last month or so, I have suddenly developed high blood pressure, a rapid heartbeat, orthostatic hypotension, cold hands and feet, headaches, flushing, and a few other odd symptoms. The doctor in FL prescribed a diuretic for the blood pressure. When I got back to ABQ, my bp was still high, a week and a half ago, the doctor on base prescribed lisinopril, and ordered blood tests.
I got my blood tested Friday. Yesterday, I got an urgent call from the doctor. She said to go to the ER or call 911 right away, because my potassium levels were critically low, and basically I could drop dead at any second. She didn't need to tell me twice, but I had to wait for my teenager to get home to watch my son, who had a stomach virus and spent the night and most of the day puking.
So, I get to the ER, and they put me right in the front of the line. I had zero waiting time. I had an EKG, a blood test (potassium was even lower than it had been) and this doctor took the time to get a detailed history. He said, "I will bet the root cause of your problem is adrenal." Wow. He gave me a paper to take to my doctor today. And prescribed some MONSTER potassium supplements to take just about all day long. I nearly choke every time I swallow one. How do you swallow something almost as big as your thumb?
Last night, I got online with my friend, a longtime cardiac nurse. He likes to pretend he is Dr. House, so I gave him the whiteboard symtoms. He said, "Adrenal--probably a pheochromocytoma." I laughed and said, "That's always House's first diagnosis and its always wrong." He said, "Look it up." So, I did. I have almost EVERY single one of those symptoms, including the little neurofibromas by my eyes.
I called my doctor today, and she agreed that I should be tested. I go for another blood test tomorrow, and a follow up next week, then she is getting me a referral to an endocrinologist, who will hopefully agree and have me tested. A pheo is rare, and can be deadly if undiagnosed and untreated. It most often isn't cancer, and can be cured by surgery.
So, I admit I am PROBABLY wrong about my self diagnosis of hypopituitarism. I'm not upset, though, because I feel like I have finally found the right set of doctors to get me to where I need to be to find the cause of all this.
Name: Mindy Home: Albuquerque, NM, United States About Me: I am Senior Editor for an imprint of Champagne Books. I am married to an Air Force Officer, who is currently serving his country in Afghanistan. I have three bright and beautiful children. See my complete profile
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