Elevated Cortisol, flushing, shaking, insomnia, night sweats

[Suki4]

I am a thin, 36 year old female who had a baby 9 months ago.  In late March I spent 8 days in the hospital. I was suffering with extreme flushing, horrible shakes, insomnia and night sweats. I was also experiencing right flank pain and nausea. All my blood work came out normal, including thyroid. I had a brain MR which only showed an old arachnoid cyst that has never changed, and my abdominal CT came back normal. All the while, I felt absolutely horrible with the flushing accompanied by palpitations and spikes in my blood pressure. I was given a 24 hr urine which showed my cortisol levels at 219 (normal is 1-50). I was given sleep sedatives and cymbalta by a hospital psychiatrist who felt I was suffering from postpartum anxiety (although I never experienced that with any of my other kids). Eventually, I started to feel a little better and the symptoms ceased. I am still taking Cymbalta and feel relatively normal now, except for the extreme night sweats which I still get. I have also noticed that a great deal of thick beard hair is growing on my chin and jaw, and I have developed a lot of floaters in my eyes. I still have right flank pain. My weight has not changed.

The 24 hour urine was recently repeated and the results were normal. Nevertheless, my internist still thinks something is not right. She is not convinced that this is simply "postpartum anxiety". Any thoughts?

[val1198]

You sound like me.  I have Lyme disease, Babesia and Bartonella.  I have shakes, tremors, sweats.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Would see a general endocrinologist.
This is atypical for Cushings (in terms of being thin).  Most likely the first high level was stress, but 219 is very high.  So additional testing is indicated for the adrenal gland.