Answer isn't carcinoid syndome... so what is it?

[accangel120]

My medical issues have been spiraling out of control since mid June 2019. It started with constipation, abdominal pain, acid reflux, and nausea, but soon I also began to have facial flushing, heart palpitations, trouble breathing (along with tightening in my chest), and body aches. Since then I've been diagnosed with Hashimotos, however, my TSH levels are not high enough so the endocrinologist is refusing to put me on medication. My doctors suspected a carcinoid tumor and actually found one in my appendix, which I had removed in January. But even after the tumor was removed, all of my symptoms remained the same, so they recently conducted a gallium-68 PET scan to check for other tumors and metastases. The scan didn't show anything and now I'm back at square one. Any ideas on what all of my symptoms add up to?

[Sara_MHModerator]

Hello and welcome to the forum.  We're really sorry you've been through this and are left trying to figure this out to overcome your symptoms.  Typically if your symptoms would be due to carcinoid  syndrome , you'd have advanced carcinoid tumors.  Tumors that are advanced are the ones that cause symptoms that you describe.  That they are not showing does make you wonder if carcinoid syndrome is the reason.  Unless you have an undetected or yet to be found tumor which I would most certainly talk to your doctor about.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carcinoid-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20370666  This article discusses the syndrome in detail.  Flushing is something that can be associated with the syndrome along with the GI issues.  However, your thyroid dysfunction whether it fully meats the criteria for treatment or not could also cause flushing.  The next link is an interesting case study related to thyroid.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/endocrinology/news/a-flushing-disorder-a-case-from-the-endocrine-teaching-clinics/mac-20429375  Digestive problems can also be associated with the endocrine system and hypothyroid.  When do you next see your doctor?   Also keep in mind that more than one situation could also be occurring and impacting you.