possible hormonal disturbances: bp issues, oligomenorrhea, fatigue, round face

Hi,

I don't know if this is the right forum but i can't anything in the more general field of endocrinology.

I was diagnosed with very high bp and tremor at the age of 19--bmi was about 21.5. Was given the full battery of tests (pheochromocytoma, cushings, conn's, thyroid, adrenal hyperplasia) but docs couldn't figure out why. They finally treated it as essential htn and essential tremor but said we'll keep an open mind. I was on 3 bp meds to control my bp and docs used propranolol to control both tremor and htn.

About 2 years ago, I was also diagnosed with epilepsy. I am now on Epival. Started noticing bp coming down about a year ago, about the same time as the Epival, and I was eating like mad too. Can't tell for sure if these were caused by Epival, but that was the only thing that changed. Docs dec. my bp drugs (Valsartan 160mg-->80mg; Amlodipine 10mg-->5mg). After a year, bp is at 110/70 and docs think we can start reducing more.

For the past year, I have noticed a drastic change in my menstrual cycle. They range from my normal 30 day cycle to a 42 day cycle. My last period was on Oct 30 so now it's gone beyond 42 days.

I have also been very tired of late.

Recently, my mum commented half-jokingly I should stop eating so much (Epival makes me eat) as my face is like a moon and I'm spotting a double chin. My neck is also looking big. I have noted myself my face is getting round. My upper body doesn't look cushingnoid, but my face does!

I am concerned that I might be having some hormonal imbalance that started a long time ago but was missed. Is it possible I have a VERY slowly progressing hormonal problem that the docs missed and they're treating everything as separate conditions when they're in fact just some hormonal issue? My MRI of the abdomen and brain came out clean previously (last head: 2010; last abdomen: 2008).

Does any of this ring any bells? I don't want to undergo unnecessary tests if it's just stress or something.

Thanks very much.

[Daniel M Prevedello, MD]

Dear Snowwoman27

The goal of this forum is not to establish any diagnosis. Having said that, i have to agree that your symptoms sound like a hormonal problem as you and Rumpled commented. I would definitely work closely with an endocrinologist. Probably you need all those tests repeated.

[snowwoman27]

By the way, forgot to mention that I am now 25 and have a bmi of 22.5 or so.

[rumpled]

Round face, high blood pressure not well controlled on meds and period issues would make me think of what I had - Cushing's syndrome. I have met many people and I did not gain weight in the beginning - but my body changed and I felt horrible for years. It was a slow progressing nightmare. Cushing's has many different symptoms and not everyone has all of them, nor gets them the same way.

[snowwoman27]

Hi rumpled,
I thought it might be hormonal. Actually Im sure it's hormonal because I seem to be getting hot flashes as well.

[snowwoman27]

Hi Dr. Prevedello,
I understand about this being not a diagnostic forum. I just wanted to check if there were leads before going for a series of unecessary tests. Your input was very helpful! Thank you for your time.