Symptoms of Pheochromocytoma?

[Spafel]

Dr. Mark,
Can you tell me what the symptoms are of Pheochromocytoma?  My endo said that if my symptoms don't improve within two weeks we'd look into my hyperthyroid symptoms more to see if something else was going on (I'm on methimazole and atenolol). I have a lot of symptoms that coincide with pheochromocytoma, however, my b/p is 80/60 on the atenolol, and the only headaches I get are the everyday headaches.  I had an abdominal CT scan about a year ago that was negative for appendicitis. I just feel like I have adrenaline surges that go through my body and they can occur when trying to sleep or just watching tv. I have a very hard time believing that this is from anxiety.  Thanks.

[Mertie]

Hi.  Re this antibodie thing.  I have been told by an endo that they never change and will always remain high and are not significant as the thyroxine does not affect them. They can keep getting higher and higher which would just mean that the body is trying harder to attack the thyroid.  I have never heard that they can get better and go back to normal.  That would then mean I suppose that the Hashimoto's would go awyay.

I have been told tht the TSH and T4 and T3 are the only ones needed to be monitored.  I have insisted on being in the lowest possibl for the TSH but I feel terrible.  My antibodies have always remianed 1600 whatever that might be.

[doodlebug1]

Hi. That is interesting. I've read that once the antibodies have done the damage to your thyroid, they would decrease. I've also read the posts of several folks in another group who stated that their antibodies decreased to normal only when they got their meds high enough (optimal enough) to do so.

[Rvrrat28]

I have a question,  I had blood work done a year ago which showed antibodies and my recent bloodwork didnt show any. Do these go away or could the results be wrong ? i was under the impression that once you have thyroid antibodies they dont go away.  anyone know ?

[NURSELPN]

I have a hard time finding when this forum will let someone post a question. Any hints?

[NURSELPN]

Spafel,
Sounds like you are experiencing the same symptoms that I did when I was hyper & they are no joke. They are terrifying. Even loud noises would iniate one of these for me. I'm trully sorry anyone else has to go through that. Please go to this web site & read this. Those symptoms are not in your head that's for sure.
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hyperthyrdgraves/a/panicpalps.htm I'm hypo now & those symptoms are gone. Thank God! Good Luck to you!
I also found a site on phenochromocytoma http://www.answers.com/Pheochromocytoma?gwp=11&ver=1.0.6.171&method=3

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Symptoms are headaches, dizziness, panic sensations, palpitations and hypertension -- of course not everyone has all these.  It't fairly easy to screen for by checking blood for metanephrines -- if that is completely normal -- it is unlikely a pheo -- if elevated then do 24h urine collection -- your endo will know what to do.