I don’t know if a stellate ganglion block might be worth looking into, I didn’t realise it can be used to help with overdrive, @dbeck177 was asking about it in this discussion:
It sometimes helps, though from what I have read the biggest impact is experienced by people whose sympathetic overactivation is fairly new. It is approved, I believe, for PTSD and has been very successful in that regard. For other conditions, like dysautonomia or POTS, there are mixed reviews. And it sometimes takes quite a number of sessions to make a difference. It is a tough one because it holds promise, but that promise is not really a promise!
Hi @jyoti. Just make sure that they ordered free T4. They probably have given your symptoms.
Free T4 levels are a more sensitive blood test for diagnosing hyperthyroidism.
My daughters have hEDS, POTS, CCI, IJV, IIH, MCAS ect. We have found that surgery can significantly raise the probability of MCAS flares. This also drives the sympathetic nervous system into high gear. I hope you find help. Sympathetic overdrive is very miserable! Do you have a good MCAS practitioner on board. Just food for thought…
@Emerald Yes, free T4 ordered several times over the course of the last few months. My thyroid seems to be one small (but important) part of me that is still robust.
@Rosa Your daughter and I have so much in common! Every diagnosis, at least. MCAS is, you are right, another potential driver to consider. I wish I had a good MCAS practitioner. I am in several queues and waiting till mid-February for an appointment with someone who may be knowledgeable enough to help on that front. Thanks for mentioning MCAS.
I am over four years post surgery. A couple of months after, I developed shortness of breath that has yet to resolve. It got better for a while with taking trazodone. Then last. January, like an idiot, I had a hydrodissection of my vagus nerve, and the breathing problem came back with a vengeance. I don’t know if something is irritating it or what, or who to see at this point. The symptoms look a lot like MCAS, but standard MCAS meds don’t seem to help.
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@Bopper – I am so sorry the breathing issues are so prevalent. That is a terrible feeling. Shen you say the symptoms look a lot like MCAS, can you be more specific? Are you talking about lung stuff? I struggle with MCAS because my MCAS symptoms don’t look like classic MCAS. I am interested in what you mean, because mine almost always have to do with dysautonomia. And…you were NOT an idiot. We all are walking around, mostly in the dark here, trying to help ourselves. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we do not. But we have to try.
I totally agree w/ @jyoti’s You ARE NOT an idiot comment. We try to make the best decisions we can about what might help resolve symptoms that feel debilitating or are holding us back from being able to live fully. Sometimes the surgery/treatment that seems the most logical ends up back firing. I’m so sorry that happened to you. I wish I could suggest a next step to help resolve your breathing challenge but sadly I can’t. I will pray for you to find the cause & that it can be dealt with. ![]()
I’m sorry that the treatment didn’t help you @Bopper , it does sound a promising treatment with usually minimal complications, so you’re definitely not an idiot and it sounds like is should’ve been definitely worth a try!
I love @jyoti 's comment ‘We all are walking around, mostly in the dark here, trying to help ourselves.’ , and that sums up alot of what we’re doing…
I hope that the breathing issue does settle soon.
One of our members @BrooklynGirl had a long journey with vagus nerves post surgery, including breathing issues but this did eventually improve:
Bilateral - one out, one remaining - still causing problems? - Support - Living with Eagle
Medication for post surgery nerve pain - General - Living with Eagle