Severe Adrenaline Spikes every morning - please help

Posted by jennabc @jennabc, Mar 22, 2023

Hello! I am absolutely desperate, so I decided to write on here, hoping anyone else has had a similar experience or has answers. For years, I have been struggling with what feels like intense spikes in adrenaline every morning. I have more severe and less severe months, but the more severe ones become so debilitating that I can’t function in life, and have become passively suicidal just to escape my physical experience. I’ve been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but the weird part is that it feels so physical, it wakes me up from sleep, and no matter what I try to counter it (breathing, meditations, leaning into it, movement, medications, etc.), it persists until my body caps out on enduring the discomfort, and I fall into anxiety attacks and depression.

For some context, I have tried so many things. I have a history of EBV, HHV-6, SIBO, trauma, and PTSD. I’ve done tons of blood ozone and SOT for the first 3, and I’ve done/am still doing EMDR trauma therapy, regular therapy, ketamine infusions and lozenges, Neurofeedback, medications, I even exercise consistently, meditate, eat well, etc. I’ve been to an endocrinologist, who said tests looked good. I’ve gotten so much blood work over the years, and even my trauma therapist has said she hasn’t seen anything quite like this. She says it seems like my trauma is being processed and coming down, but that this physical experience will still spike and seem out of my control, making her concerned it’s a medical problem. I am desperate for help and answers. I don’t know how to fix this without knowing what’s wrong. Has anyone experienced or seen anything like this?
It wakes me up like clockwork at 7:30am, and even if I just lay there, I can feel it spike through my body, until it feels like my skin is burning sometimes, my stomach is dropping out, and I’m eventually squirming around in pain just hoping it goes away. I don’t know what else to do, please let me know if you’ve had or heard of anything like this, I will owe you my life.

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I've been experiencing something similar for two years now. The discomfort starts about 6 am with uncomfortable dreams that can progress to adrenaline waves. I know anxiety is a factor, since it began at the time of a serious life stressor. But even thogh I have learned to handle it during the day, I think my subconsious is still a minefield...There is also the influence of the Cortical Awakening Response, where the circadian rhythym spikes cortisol.
I'd love to find out how to make it stop. It's a crummy way to start the day...
I hope it helps to know you're not alone.
Eileen

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@jennabc
Welcome to Connect!
Your daily adrenaline spikes seem extremely uncomfortable.
You mentioned that you have been tested by an endocrinologist- did your tests include your stress hormones, such as cortisol?

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I have yet to make my first post, but commenting here to say that I have been dealing with something very similar. My primary says it’s anxiety and depression. I’ve dealt with both in the past and while that was such a difficult time in my life, I’d do it again in a heartbeat rather than deal with this agony. I’m convinced that I have the form of POTS that causes high blood pressure/too much adrenaline. Currently awaiting a cardiology appt on May 16th because of heart issues as well. I’m so tired and despite having a great support system, I feel so alone.

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Hello there
Am anther spike sufferer
Just to give you comfort I have had the same symptoms for 4 years . Doctors , naturopaths, and endocrinologists can’t help .. woken up every morning at 4 -5 am with a spike that’s starts with heat , fast heart beat and a slow adrenaline release which unravels itself flooding my body and into my head lasting about 6 hours …you feel totally wired and worn down . Been tested for tumours and have researched and tried most things beta blockers , (liquid cannabis) amitripyline
HRT and citalopram , acupuncture massage Still looking for that help
Presently I make sure that I get a good nights sleep taking magnesium and 1/2 tab of zopiclone which gives you a deep sleep .. I also try to walk 1/2 hour daily .. Good luck and continue to research for more help

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@karencolmore

Hello there
Am anther spike sufferer
Just to give you comfort I have had the same symptoms for 4 years . Doctors , naturopaths, and endocrinologists can’t help .. woken up every morning at 4 -5 am with a spike that’s starts with heat , fast heart beat and a slow adrenaline release which unravels itself flooding my body and into my head lasting about 6 hours …you feel totally wired and worn down . Been tested for tumours and have researched and tried most things beta blockers , (liquid cannabis) amitripyline
HRT and citalopram , acupuncture massage Still looking for that help
Presently I make sure that I get a good nights sleep taking magnesium and 1/2 tab of zopiclone which gives you a deep sleep .. I also try to walk 1/2 hour daily .. Good luck and continue to research for more help

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Yes, me too.
What seems like a really bad panic attack, heavy sweating heart racing wakes me from sleep early most mornings, a horrible, horrible experience.
But I have high secretion of Aldosterone ( conns disease) so put it down to that.

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@karencolmore

Hello there
Am anther spike sufferer
Just to give you comfort I have had the same symptoms for 4 years . Doctors , naturopaths, and endocrinologists can’t help .. woken up every morning at 4 -5 am with a spike that’s starts with heat , fast heart beat and a slow adrenaline release which unravels itself flooding my body and into my head lasting about 6 hours …you feel totally wired and worn down . Been tested for tumours and have researched and tried most things beta blockers , (liquid cannabis) amitripyline
HRT and citalopram , acupuncture massage Still looking for that help
Presently I make sure that I get a good nights sleep taking magnesium and 1/2 tab of zopiclone which gives you a deep sleep .. I also try to walk 1/2 hour daily .. Good luck and continue to research for more help

Jump to this post

Hey, Karen!

I have the same thing and this morning when it woke me, I immediately tried my progesterone cream on my belly and some magnesium lotion on my hands and arms. It calmed me down and reduced the cortisol right away. Tonight I’ll try using both creams before bed, hoping that will help even more. Sending you healing ❤️‍🩹 hugs and prayers to feel better!!

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I have this, but I have it continually in a 24 hour period and have had it for five years. I’m now to the point that I’m getting twinges in my heart because too much adrenaline or cortisol is affecting my heart. I don’t just wake up between five and seven AM with that spike, I wake up 10 times a night and then this happens to me all through the day. I average 18 to 28 spikes per day You think you would lose weight with all this adrenaline constantly but it’s just the opposite. I’ve been to three endocrinologist. I’ve had the cortisol levels checked at different times with captured urine, blood tests, and MRIs. Everything is fine.
It’s a medical mystery.

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@hopscotch

I have this, but I have it continually in a 24 hour period and have had it for five years. I’m now to the point that I’m getting twinges in my heart because too much adrenaline or cortisol is affecting my heart. I don’t just wake up between five and seven AM with that spike, I wake up 10 times a night and then this happens to me all through the day. I average 18 to 28 spikes per day You think you would lose weight with all this adrenaline constantly but it’s just the opposite. I’ve been to three endocrinologist. I’ve had the cortisol levels checked at different times with captured urine, blood tests, and MRIs. Everything is fine.
It’s a medical mystery.

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Constant spikes of adrenaline aren't good.
Do you have headaches and excessive sweating too?
These can be symptoms of adrenal gland problems.
Yes it's a horrible feeling,like your body is in constant fear, flight or fright mode.

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Terrible headaches and profuse sweating - yes I have that. At times horrible thirst (only in the middle of an episode yet blood sugar is right so it’s not that). They did an MRI of my adrenal glands. Normal.

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Have you been tested for pheochromocytoma?
A rare condition of the adrenals, diagnosed by ct scan with contrast,24 hour urine collection for catecholamines and blood test which needs testing immediately after sampling.

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