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Adrenaline-like surges all night long
Hello, I’m writing in regards to my mother. She is 64 years old and has been suffering for 5 years now. She just wants to be with her grand babies and enjoy them, but this mystery illness tears through her and leaves a shell of a human. It’s absolutely agonizing to watch.
Symptoms: She has severe adrenaline-like surges that wake her up from a sound sleep every single night that continue into the morning hours. They happen during the day too, but are more manageable at that time. When they subside she’s so exhausted all she can do is sleep. She also has gastroenterologist distress with a lot of indigestion that makes it hard for her to eat much.
Medical history: She has suffered with autoimmune conditions most of her life, starting with her body completely destroying her thyroid at age 18. She also has some sort of flare up each month that gives her an ache all over flu type feeling. That has subsided since these new symptoms have come on. She has had her gallbladder removed, and a complete hysterectomy with ovary removal. She has the start of diabetes, but controls it with diet and keeps her A1C low.
Tests: She has been tested for everything under the sun. Paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma, thyroid replacement levels (all the T’s), scoped her stomach (has very red stomach lining), toxic metals, mold, POTS, mast cell activation. She had normal levels on everything. She’s had a full MRI with contrast that turned up nothing.
This is my attempt to help in any way I can, although I feel absolutely useless. Please, if you have experienced this and found a solution, reach out to me. Thank you so much for reading.
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@amarie441 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I certainly hope we can help you and your mom. We’re not able to diagnose your mom , but we can try to direct you to the right resources. You say that your mom has been sick for about 5 years with stomach problems, has ‘adrenaline surges’ at night, and a history of autoimmune disease.
Here’s an idea of some things you can do:
1. Start a journal. Enter your mom’s medications, medical history, list of doctors, and questions you/Mom may have. Take this journal to all doctor visits
2. Call your primary doctor for an appointment to discuss the adrenaline surges
Make an appointment with the doctor who looked at your mom’s stomach. He’s probably a gastroenterologist.
Make an appointment with her rheumatologist to discuss her history of autoimmune disease.
Go with your Mom to all doctor visits. You will be her strength and second set of ears!
This should be enough to get you going! I’ll also check to see if we have other members who can help.
Will you stay in contact with me and let me know how you’re doing?
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2 ReactionsHi there,
I was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency, ACTH deficiency, at Mayo endocrinology. I do not make enough cortisol under stress, and I do not make enough at night. Normally cortisol levels fall lower at night. However, if they fall too low, the body goes into adrenal crisis, and adrenalin surges. I have to take extra cortisol at night, in order to NOT have the adrenalin surges. The extra cortisol calms things down, and I sleep better. I also have autoimmune diseases, gastroparesis, etc. It is difficult to test for ACTH deficiency; the morning cortisol levels DO NOT show the disease, nor do many other tests. It is a very difficult, risky and a test only offered at a few places, nationwide. Many doctors don't even understand it, and do not want to test for it. Good luck. I hope you find a solution.
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