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What Causes Flushing In Cheeks, Cold Hands, Rapid Heart Beat, Fatigue And Constipation?
Question: I'm a 38 year old woman (mom of 6) in good shape, have always been active and athletic. For the past 4 months I've had odd symptoms. My cheeks will get flushed,my hands get cold and my heart will race for no reason. It can last for 10 minutes or several hours. I've had 3 ekgs and all were perfect. I have great blood pressure usually 110/60. Sometimes when I am doing everyday chores I'll get out of breath easily. I went to the er and had a chest X-ray and an ekg both were fine. I've also had "every blood test under the sun" my doctor said to try and figure out the shortness of breath/palpitations but all came back perfect, no problems found. I have fatigue and mild constipation too and awful sinus headaches that come and go. I am prone to sinus infections as I have a deviated septum. Also I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis with hunners ulcers 9 months ago. Its hard to exactly pinpoint what's wrong too-I just feel "off", if that makes any sense. Like something is just not right. I am starting to get very depressed as no one can find what's wrong with me. Please believe me this is not all in my head. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Since they can't find anything I find myself in a constant state of worry and have a hard time eating because I'm always so nervous. I read webmd and have diagnosed myself with every awful terminal illness you can think of. I am at my wits end and have started crying on a daily basis from all the stress. Please help :(
Brief Answer:
Pheochromocytoma can be the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Your symptoms might be caused by a rare condition caused pheochromocytoma. Its a kind of tumor (usually benign) in the adrenal glands producing adrenaline. The most common symptoms are tachycardia, sweating and headache which are present only during the attack (caused by sudden release of adrenaline from the tumor).
The blood pressure is elevated usually during the attack and can be fine after that.
The tumor can be hardly seen in the ultrasound however should be visible in abdominal CT.
And the tests which can confirm this diagnosis are metanephrines from the blood or 24-hour urinary collection for catecholamines and metanephrines.
I am pretty sure this tests have not been done yet.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Pheochromocytoma can be the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Your symptoms might be caused by a rare condition caused pheochromocytoma. Its a kind of tumor (usually benign) in the adrenal glands producing adrenaline. The most common symptoms are tachycardia, sweating and headache which are present only during the attack (caused by sudden release of adrenaline from the tumor).
The blood pressure is elevated usually during the attack and can be fine after that.
The tumor can be hardly seen in the ultrasound however should be visible in abdominal CT.
And the tests which can confirm this diagnosis are metanephrines from the blood or 24-hour urinary collection for catecholamines and metanephrines.
I am pretty sure this tests have not been done yet.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply. This certainly sounds like what I have. So I would need to go see an endocrinologist then, for those tests?
Brief Answer:
Yes, you should see endocrynologist.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, for sure endocrinologist is the best address.
Yes, you should see endocrynologist.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, for sure endocrinologist is the best address.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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