Feeling Odd, DMPS and Robins

I have been feeling out of it these past few days.  I cannot put my finger on it, but something is not quite right.  It's like low cortisol symptoms but taking more doesn't do anything.  Blah!    It also feels like low blood sugar, but that does not seem right either. 

I'm getting this weird achy pain in the front of my head.  Typically a mild headache mean low cortisol for me and I take an extra 2.5 or 5mg and I'm all better.  Not this time around.   Was it the extra 40mg I took that has my body messed up now?  Was it just the surgery itself because I could have been exposed to some mercury?  I have no idea.  Or maybe it's because my sleep schedule is sooooo messed up!  Perhaps this is more likely the case because I'm trying to switch my schedule around, so I am not taking my HC at the same time each day.

Well whatever it is, I hope it begins to pass.

In other news, I think I'll be getting DMPS from this local doctor.  I had to basically beg him.  Interestingly I had him take my BP while sitting and standing to let him to see what happens.  My bp was like 145/90 sitting and as soon as I stood up he said my heart rate went insane but my BP didn't change at all.  I was just glad he got to see it in action in his own office.  I was sweating soo much and was feeling completely insane during that appointment.  My norepinephrine goes through the roof when I'm engaged in deep conversation, which would raise the BP quite a lot.  It can be unpleasant and I'll profusely sweat with pit stains and everything.  That's so attractive!

Completely unrelated--I noticed some American robins are back in the area scrounging for food in the yard.  I guess spring must be closer than I expected which is scary for me.   The warm air is going to kill me this year.

Too Much Norepinephrine!

I got another call from Cleveland Clinic today. It was the nurse and she said she wanted to get clarification of my catecholamine results since she was not sure how to read them to me.

Supine norepinephrine was 125. She said this was within normal range.
Standing norepinephrine (10 minutes into tilt-test) was 613. That was out of range.

That's like an increase by 5X's. The nurse said that is way way too high. Normal is doubling, so around 250. The doctor says that is likely why my heart rates are soo incredibly high when I am standing, yet what doesn't make sense is why does my BP not go up? Norepinephrine increases blood pressure.

I asked her about the epinephrine and she said the doctor had nothing to say about it. So I have to keep waiting for the report in the mail until I can actually SEE the results. Who knows how long that will be...3 weeks and counting...

Beta-Blockers, Norepinephrine and POTS

The EP I saw for POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) gave me a prescription for Metoprolol ER 25mg tabs. I haven't been taking them because I was a little afraid to. Well one day I just about had it and decided to try it.

It took about 30-45 minutes for it to kick in, but when it did I felt so much calmer. My heart chilled out and I could actually function. I was good for the next few days and didn't bother taking the beta-blocker.

There was another day where I took it and once again, it not only makes my heart feel better, but I feel much more relaxed overall.

Today I knew almost as soon as I woke up, it was going to be a bad "POTS" day. I took the beta blocker and once again, I feel sooooo much calmer. My husband asked me if I feel any different when I take it and I told him ABSOLUTELY. It not only calms my heart way down, but I just have a better generalized feeling about life. It's odd! Then he told me that beta-blockers block norepinephrine, which may be what is causing BOTH my POTS and the anxiety. HOLY COW! Maybe he is right.

My first google search leads me to a musician website where people take beta-blockers before performances, solo recitals, concerts etc. I've always been unable to handle stress NO MATTER WHAT dose of HC I've been on. When I used to play 1st and 2nd trumpet in the high school ensemble and jazz ensemble, I was always a wreck before performances especially when I had solos or a very difficult part to play! I still suffer from a lot of the symptoms most would call "low cortisol" symptoms, such as being startled easily, nausea, loss of appetite, tremors and a general "on the edge" feeling anytime I need to do something out of my comfort zone.

Maybe I have very high plasma levels of norepinephrine running through my body causing both this anxiety and the tachycardia upon standing. Hyperadrenergic one of the known causes of POTS, so this isn't too far off.

I'll need to do a bit more research into this, but I think it's rather interesting! Another thing I've noticed while on the beta-blocker is that I do not feel faint when I stand up even though my blood pressure has been dreadfully low lately. I have no idea why, but it is a rather interesting observation.

Maybe, just maybe there is hope?