Adrenaline spikes: Med detective needed, award given

The doctors sure don't think this! I have read plenty of cases but the top doctors literally say it's impossible to have a pheo without high metanephrines.

It sounds so simple, but I’ve found that one of the things that helps the most is eating carbohydrates during the day. It doesn’t have to be much (a sandwich on whole grain bread or some pasta, but it helps me sleep through the night and seems to reset my cortisol rhythm. I think this only works when my T3 & T4 numbers are good though. I take both Synthroid and Cytomel. I also use Estrogel and progesterone cream for HRT after my ovaries were removed in 2014, so when all things are balanced, I don’t get the “adrenaline” or cortisol rushes in the early morning anymore. Carbs really do help me a lot, and it is an easy thing to try, if you are interested. Start with some pasta for dinner and see if it makes a difference for you too! Best of luck finding something that works! Thanks for posting about your experiences.

I am so sorry to read of all of your suffering. Wishing for you peace and healing. Martha

@libjen @astaingegerdm

Thanks for your replies.

@libjen -- That's wonderful that you've found ways to feel better and that carbs also help. While I'm gluten-free now, I've always had a good amount of carbs. You're right that they do seem to be a mediating factor in keeping adrenaline better controlled. What's strange is that the first time I had all of these symptoms, including adrenaline surges, esp. at night, I went on the Plant Paradox diet (with very low carb intake) for months. If anything, it seemed to help at this time (perhaps with the increase of Synthroid that was able to be metabolized correctly without mold/liver toxicity, which I likely have now). But the last time I tried to cut carbs, I had a massive increase in adrenaline. Since then I went back on more carbs, as usual, plus resistant starch close to bedtime with protein. This seems to help a bit, but isn't nearly enough, as I still wake hungry, weak, and with adrenaline that follows.

To answer @astaingegerdm, yes, I've had tests for cortisol, adrenaline, testosterone, etc., even recently. Years ago my DHEA was high, but in many recent years, all tests have been in normal range. Of course, certain ones like cortisol and adrenaline (like blood glucose) are snapshots in time, so don't show the surges unless blood is taken at the time of a significant drop or spike. When I have my labs done first thing in the morning before eating, most of these have crashed, risen, and leveled to normal by the time they're measured, unfortunately. My A1C is ~4.6 (glucose 83) and my fasting blood sugar is often around 100, so also implies crashes. I also used the Freestyle Libre 2 sensor for a week and it illustrated how I have blood sugar crashes around midnight, 3-4am, and other times during the day and night.

Again, I'm not sure if fructose intolerance is playing into all of this. Some doctors felt it might be.

Thanks again for your thoughts and help!

I am in the same fight as you..only I started out like you but.. just last April my blood pressure shot up to 208/111 and heartrate of 185 then after that I went through 3 days of the worst lower leg pain of my life that it was unbearable...and now I'm left with muscle breakdown and can barely walk. I also have an elevated urine cortisol which I've tried to get into the Mayo clinic to see an endocrinologist and have been declined. I cant find help at all and I am losing hope which I'm terrified of being in a wheelchair or worse bedridden. If your in Minnesota their guidelines are different than other states and yes what insurance you have does matter to them. But everyone is quick here in this state to put you on whatever pain pill you want without addressing the real issue. There is a Doctor in Canada..Dr. Andre LaCroix hes brilliant and gets it, look him up..I would give anything to see him, if you have the means to go there.. Do it! Minnesota Drs. Are useless.

Hi Sierra woods. I just found this group and I'm hoping that by now you found relief. Your symptoms are so much like mine. I recently started seeing a nurse practitioner who specializes in hormone balancing. In fact that's the only thing she does. Also, she only uses bioidentical hormones. There is a demonstrable difference between synthetics and bioidentical, including thyroid. I'm having some improvement in my sleep, primarily in relation to adding an iodine supplement to my regimen. I can recommend Dr Brownstein's books. They are an easy read, and cover bioidentical hormones, iodine supplementation, salt, etc. He's written several books and I bought three, used, at thriftbooks. There is also the estrogen dominance support group, which has a wealth of information. Wishing you the best.

I am very late to this but I have the same symptoms did you ever find a resolve?

Hi I am suffering the same thing. Its gotten wirse after menopause. Did you get any solution. Please let me know. My email is pariemail at yahooDotcom. I have this power surge. I feel like i have seen a tiger face to face. Tingling in feet. Butterflies in stomach. Its terrible. I am even scared to travel. Have had it for last 10 years. Please help. These days its daily affair. I am 61 years old from India

Could you share your other symptoms. Also are you post menopausal? I have a knotted feeling in the throat, butterflies in the stomach, tingling in hands and feet, palps sometimes and recently high bp with these adrenaline surges, feel low on sugar every few hours. On bp medications for last 4 months. Prior to that nil medications. 61 years old now

Did you recover? I’m going through these spikes right now, that wake me with a jolt. I have subclinical hyperthyroidism, but my Endo says I should not have these symptoms. He is so wrong.