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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Possible pheochromocytoma????
Answered by
Lama Chahine, MD - Neurology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Possible pheochromocytoma????
by boosky137, Jul 05, 2009 10:34AM
Hello, here are my symtoms, ringing in my ears, slight headache, tingling in my lower arms and cold hands, dizzy when stanging up, nausea, flushing and sweating, itching and extreme weakness and fatigue
gets worse when constipated, with exercise and in the morning
gets better in the afternoon
CT of brain normal.
Meds: 200 mg Lamictal at night, when ringing in ears is bad and tingling in my arms is bad in the morning I take an additional 100 mg and gets better.
50 mg of Metoprolol at night for HTN
20 mg of Aciphex at night for GERD
What do you think?? It has been much worse for the last week, but is starting to get better
Thanks!!
gets worse when constipated, with exercise and in the morning
gets better in the afternoon
CT of brain normal.
Meds: 200 mg Lamictal at night, when ringing in ears is bad and tingling in my arms is bad in the morning I take an additional 100 mg and gets better.
50 mg of Metoprolol at night for HTN
20 mg of Aciphex at night for GERD
What do you think?? It has been much worse for the last week, but is starting to get better
Thanks!!
Doctor's Answer
by Lama Chahine, MD, Jul 09, 2009 05:55PM
, Jul 09, 2009 05:55PM
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
It sounds like you have several symptoms that are difficult to tie together into one diagnosis. Ringing in the ears (medically known as tinnitus) can have many causes including prior exposure to loud noises, hearing loss, and other ear-related (non-neurologic problems). Tinnitus can also occur with benign brain tumors called schwanomas which frequent occur in a specific brain area (also known as acoustic schwanommas). If by dizziness you mean room-spinning, this would also occur with these types of tumors and a brain MRI may be indicated to exclude this (depending on your exact symptoms). If by dizziness you mean light-headedness, there are several potential causes, but often this is due simply to dehydration, low blood pressure, etc.
Fatigue and generalized weakness have many causes. A sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea needs to be excluded, particularly if you are over weight or snore, as this can cause daytime sleepiness. Thyroid problems, anemia, and depression are other causes of fatigue and weakness.
I recommend continued follow-up with your physician for your symptoms, with evaluation by an ENT if your ear ringing persists.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
It sounds like you have several symptoms that are difficult to tie together into one diagnosis. Ringing in the ears (medically known as tinnitus) can have many causes including prior exposure to loud noises, hearing loss, and other ear-related (non-neurologic problems). Tinnitus can also occur with benign brain tumors called schwanomas which frequent occur in a specific brain area (also known as acoustic schwanommas). If by dizziness you mean room-spinning, this would also occur with these types of tumors and a brain MRI may be indicated to exclude this (depending on your exact symptoms). If by dizziness you mean light-headedness, there are several potential causes, but often this is due simply to dehydration, low blood pressure, etc.
Fatigue and generalized weakness have many causes. A sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea needs to be excluded, particularly if you are over weight or snore, as this can cause daytime sleepiness. Thyroid problems, anemia, and depression are other causes of fatigue and weakness.
I recommend continued follow-up with your physician for your symptoms, with evaluation by an ENT if your ear ringing persists.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
