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Thyroid problem? Pituatary problem? Adrenal tumor? Heart problem? Please help

Hello, I was wondering if you could review my symptoms and tell me whether I might have a heart/vascular problem, and if not, which direction might I go in? I am 28, white male, 5'10" 230 lbs, regular cardio exercise 3x per week/30 mins.

My symptoms: For 3-4 years now, I have had what began as a mild pressure headache (when laying down only) and swolen nasal turbinates (can't breath through nose). This persisted until about April of this year, and everything became much worse. I developed a particularly intense, constant, unchanging headache with features of frontal tension and on top of the head it feels like there is a heavy weight sitting on me. I also have attacks of severe vertigo-like spells (room spins violently when laying down, and improves when sitting up or standing) This comes and go mysteriously for 1-4 days at a time. On top on this, I feel confusion all the time, especially when visualizing moving objects, my eyes hurt and everything blurs out and I can't focus.

The heart: sometimes my heart beats intensly (forcefully) several times and the SAME pressure in my head pulsates INTENSLY concurrent to my heartbeat. Taking a deep breath will help stop this (also have been short of breath at rest, but not during exercise). I have had MRI/brain. MRA brain/neck. ABG, and PFT, chest xray, all negative.

Symptoms get worse when standing for long periods of time, I measured my BP at a grocery store and it was 172/115 when I first sat down, but then dropped off to 145/85 after 5 mins. At docs office,its been 140/80 but usually lower.

Thanks for your help
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, can you help diagnose me? was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My heart will palpitate intensly, and the same pressure feeling in my head escalates dramatically and pulsates along with each heartbeat.....also, sometimes when this happens my hearing will fade out and I'll hear the "bruit bruit bruit" sound from within my ears. Otherwise, the headache is a nauseating, dull, constant pressure in my forehead and top of my head (like a weight on my head) it is 24/7, and again the confusion is constant too...Almost like I'm in a dream like state.

I have allready seen a neurologist, two actually, a GP, and an ENT, with all the aforementioned tests being negative.

Thanks again
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My heart will palpitate intensly, and the same pressure feeling in my head escalates dramatically and pulsates along with each heartbeat.....also, sometimes when this happens my hearing will fade out and I'll hear the "bruit bruit bruit" sound from within my ears. Otherwise, the headache is a nauseating, dull, constant pressure in my forehead and top of my head (like a weight on my head) it is 24/7, and again the confusion is constant too...Almost like I'm in a dream like state.

I have allready seen a neurologist, two actually, a GP, and an ENT, with all the aforementioned tests being negative.

Thanks again
Helpful - 0
97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Procede with eval as above and focus on the 24h urine as mentioned.
Helpful - 0
97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The BP may be the most concerning - endocrine causes of elevated BP include adrenaline producing tumors (pheochromocytoma), Cushings (excessive steroid production), Hyperaldosteronism (too much salt steroid), hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, renal artery stenosis and perhaps more.  Headaches may be the result of the BP - otherwise endocrine headaches are relatively uncommon.  The pituitary is normal by imaging.  Would start with 24 hour urine collection for cortisol, metanephrines, and catecholamines.  Also check a renin and aldosterone blood level, TSH, Free T4, Calcium - if all normal image the arteries leading to the kidneys - presuming the elevated BP is reproducible.
Helpful - 0

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