Hi Todamax 15,
firstly let me say that I am not a doctor, but I write because the symptoms you describe strongly resemble those of classic pheocromocytoma, a disease which I suffer from and which is often misdiagnosed due to the non specific nature of the symptoms. This disease is extremely rare and I must therefore advise you that it is extremely UNLIKELY that you will be a sufferer - but as you seem keen for ideas I will describe what I can and allow you to pursue independent research or discount my thoughts as you see fit.
As I said, Pheo is a rare disease and proper, early diagnosis is important as the condition is easily treated but often missed by GP's and local MD's due to its rarity and the way it masquerades as many things, but nothing in particular. Pheochromocytoma are small tumours of the adrenal gland which as they grow influence your adrenal production and can vary the different types of adrenalin you are producing. This results in mild to profuse sweating, high blood pressure, awareness of heart, psychological and anxiety issues, visionary disturbances and in extreme forms adreanl attacks which can lead to hospitalisation (although these are very rare). If a tumour is present, it can be removed easily by surgery. Check out the following web resources for more info using the word pheochromacytoma and the following site names via a Google search
- wikipedia, Mayo Clinic and also the UK site Macmillan cancer (look under endocrine tumours)alternatively go straight to pheo.org where there is a plethora of non clinical information that is pretty accessible for the layman. Blood tests can be easily conducted for Pheo by your own MD, please note that 1-5 out of every 1000 hypretensive blood pressure patients test positive for pheo, but that it cannot be diagnosed under ordinary blood tests-they need to do specific tests for catechalomines - a group name for the collective hormones controlled via the adrenal glans, these include dopamine, metanephrine, epinephrines etc. Psychological symptoms are caused by variations from normal levels of these hormones within your body resulting in similar and unpredictable variations of the "fight or flight" response (hence a predisposition to feelings of anxiety). If you are indeed diagnosed as pheo, then please make sure that you attend a centre specialising in this disease such as the Mayo Clinic or NIH in the US, both of which are excellent with the NIH in particular forging ahead with new treatments - contact Karen Adams or Dr. Karel Pacak at the NIH. Please note that if you believe that a blood test is merited to check - then you have the right to insist this test is offered by your Doctor.I wish you the best of luck. Allen Wilson
