What causes Norepinephrine to keep going up?

My Endocrinologist ran another Plasma Norepinephrine test and my level was 1129. Previously it had been 1042. Can stress cause this? My Endo is saying that stress is responsible for it being extremely high. My cortisol level was normal at 6.8

[rumpled]

Yes - you may have a pheo, short for a pheochromocytomas - and if your doc does not know that, geez, find another doctor!!!

Your doc should do more tests, and you need treatment as a pheo can be life threatening and no, it can not be stress.

Stress will raise levels temporarily - but when they are raised abnormally - get it investigated.

[LivingInHope]

Norepinephrine is responsible for making sure your blood pressure doesn't go too low.  My own level was more moderately elevated in the past, but it is not believed I have a pheo but I believe it is owing to my postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, as I think (not dr. verified) I had the hyperadrenergic form.  Stress, if the doctor means anxiety stress, would surely effect your EPINEPHRINE level- how is that one?

With the extremely high levels of norepinephrine  (especially if it is twice or more the normal level), please ask your doctor to order what is considered to be the most sensitive test for detecting pheochromocytoma, the fasting blood test called plasma free metanephrines.  You should avoid tylenol for so many hours before this test, as that drug can interfere with assaying your result.

[iris986]

Epinephrine levels are normal.

Plasma free metanephrines were done. Norepinephrine was high.

Catecholamines are still high.

CT of adrenals were done and they are normal.

[LivingInHope]

You mean normetanephrines were high (that is the inactive metabolite of norepinephrine measured with plasma free metanephrines)?    

Since they did not find it in the adrenals, they should look elsewhere.  I read online where 90 percent are found in the adrenal glands, but they can also be found in the abdomen, chest, and neck.  So, they shouldn't just give up!