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Daily Headaches 19 year old Female

I am currently working with my doctor to find out what is going on with my body. I am a non-smoker, BMI of 20, very active and only have history of a hiatal hernia. I have family history of pituitary tumors and thyroid tumors and my mom has hyperthyroidism. My list of daily symptoms include: daily headache starting an hour or two after getting up and lasting about 8-10 hours (generally on the right and upper parts of my head, feels like a brain freeze) which has been going on since September, palpatations, rapid pulse upon slight activity, dizziness (if I get up too fast my vision becomes tunnel like), muscle pain and weakness generally in my legs, pins and needles sensation upon laying or sitting down for a few minutes as well as problems focusing my vision. The headaches do not get any better upon taking two extra strength Tylenol. A new symptom arose a few days ago and when lying in bed with a headache at night I see green spots that seem to follow what side of my head I feel the pain on.

I also have high blood pressure which usually runs about 130-160 systolic over about 90-115 diastolic and continues to do so on Amlodipine 5 mg. Currently my labs have shown slightly low potassium (3.4) and increased aldosterone and renin activity as well as elevated liver enzymes. My doctor is suspecting an adrenal or pituitary problem and has scheduled a head CT, renal artery MRA and a 48 hour Holter monitor.

My question is, could the headaches be related to my blood pressure, a possible adrenal problem or both?
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666151 tn?1311114376
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Headaches can be caused by anything and everything-- making them not very helpful as diagnostic indicators.  I am not a headache expert, although I eventually might be, as headaches seem to come up on this forum frequently.  

Headaches can certainly come from high blood pressure, particularly if the pressure rises 'acutely' (more rapidly), and particularly in a young person.  A diastolic pressure over 100 could certainly lead to headaches;  likewise a high systolic pressure may give rise to pulsatile headaches (or constant headaches as well).  

With your history, I recommend getting an endocrinologist involved.  The inter-relationships of hormone systems has become extremely complex over the years-- we have also learned more and more about the synthesis and breakdown pathways of hormones.  In your case I wonder about MEN syndromes-- MEN 1 and MEN 2 (not Dr. Suess characters!). They are syndromes of multiple tumors affecting different hormonal tissues--  this is out of my expertise, but I wonder if your weakness is coming from abnormal calcium levels from parathyroid tumors... abnormal calcium levels can also cause a variety of CNS symptoms and cardiac arrhythmias...

If your doc doesn't immediately answer a question about MEN-- multiple endocrine neoplasias--  you need to ask for a referral to a specialist who can at LEAST do that.

I'm at my knowledge limit... I wish you the best.

JJ
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
TSH was 4.33
Helpful - 0

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