Heart problems = adrenal tumour

[MusicalFurbaby]

So it seems they’ve finally found an answer to my ongoing heart and other problems.

For the past 21 months, I’ve recurrent episodes of heart-related symptoms: chest pain, tachycardia, palpitations, and one episode of elevated troponin (but no heart attack). These episodes have been accompanied by sky-rocketing blood pressure (which is otherwise stunningly normal), headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, involuntary shaking, tingling in hands and weakness in legs. I’ve been to hospital 8 times for these episodes, and have had many sub-acute episodes that have not warranted calling an ambulance.

They’ve run all the tests: heart monitors, blood pressure monitors, every chest and heart scan known to man, neurological tests, endoscopies, all the bloodwork. Everything has come back normal.

Earlier this year, my (fabulous) GP had a brainwave: why don’t we check your hormones? They can affect the heart! Lo and behold, several hormone tests came back elevated for adrenaline. So my endocronologist gave me a very specific hormonal blood test to do the next time I had an ‘episode’. If the number came back elevated during the episode, it might give us further clues.

Well, I recently had another episode and got the blood test done, and sure enough, the number came back through the roof.

Guess what? This is normally indicative of an adrenal tumour.

The good news is these types of tumours are almost always benign. Now they are ordering more scans for me so we can find this blessed tumour. Then we’ll decide what to do about it.

When one has heart problems, one does not normally think, ‘Oh, it must be an adrenal tumour’. But this appears to be the answer to my long-standing heart problems. I for one am mightily relieved to have a probable answer. You guys know what it’s like to get all the tests and wind up with nothing!

This is mainly a good news-cum-information post, but I’d be interested to know if others have had this too. Has anyone else on here had anything like an adrenal tumour?

[svfarmer]

Hi yes I have had a adrenal tumour , I too was I’ll for about 18 months and like you had test after test - mine affected my blood pressure which was sky high and I had no potassium - I then went for CT scan which they then found the tumour , I had what’s called Conns syndrome which apparently is very rare , mine was a benign tumour and had the whole of my adrenal gland removed by keyhole surgery - I had to stay in hospital for 3 days , the nurse took my blood pressure and it was normal after which hadn’t been normal for years - I expect you will also have your adrenal gland removed xx

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to svfarmer]

Hi svfarmer, thanks for your reply. It’s good to know I’m not the only one. I’ve had the CT scan but it came back normal. I’m gonna get more tests done though, because my specialist thinks there could still be something there. I’ll let you know what happens.

[Oshgosh]

Thinking of you x

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to Oshgosh]

Thanks Oshgosh!

[Apricot100]

This is fascinating and glad to hear you're getting to the bottom of it. X

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to Apricot100]

Me too, Apricot100!

[BonnyB]

Hi my friend had an adrenal tumour. Her only symptom was milk from her breasts. It was removed and shes on meds now and all is fine. They originally thought addisons disease x

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to BonnyB]

Thanks BonnyB, the lactation is interesting, I’ve not had that one, but it does sounds hormonal. I’m glad your friend is better now.