PoTS syndrome.....help?!

[absentmindeddooooodles]

I have just been diagnosed with POTS syndrome. I have been going to the doctors for 4 years now about these symptoms and been admitted to hospital 4 times....and they have just diagnosed me.
Just wondering if anyone else has any experience of this? How to you cope and manage the symptoms day to day?
Am really suffering with this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[fuzzpig]

Hello, I have POTS, it was diagnosed at the same time as CFS/ME.

I am still struggling with this as I have not seen a specialist for it. But a few things that help:

Increasing salt intake (was very low salt before)

Increasing water intake (this and salt intake will increase blood volume)

Take a long time getting out of bed, if I do it too fast I get dizzy. In particular I now drink water before I get up.

Avoid situations that involve a lot of standing. Eg at work I now have a chair for certain tasks where my colleagues have to stand.

Watch out for hyperventilating - this often happens if I stand up too fast and particularly if I go up stairs. I have to hold my breath for a while and then really concentrating on breathing slowly.

Apparently it helps to raise the head end of the bed. I am planning on getting some cot raisers to do this.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Wow thankyou. Ive been reading up tonight and going to see a consultant tomorrow so hopefully will know a bit more about it then.

I also find that if I get out of bed too fast im dizzy for a long time. Will definatley put those tips into action.

Do you find that you have alot of anxiety with it? I have the most hideous fear of sickness, so that does not help. But ss soon as I get the fsmiliar hot or fuzzy feeling my heartrate goes into overdrive and I do tend to hyper ventilate. I find it so hard as I have to run around after my lovely tornado of a 2 year old, and any type of excersise has me floored.

Its that horrid pressure in the head ears and eyes that gets me. Everytime I go up or down a hill in the csr it feels like my head will implode. I have no idea how to combat it but my god its getting me down.

I know that you are having to deal with a hell of alot more than me, im really sorry to hear that, so please dont think im just winging. Just having a diagnosis is a little scary at first when its all a bit unknown.

[IShallWearMidnight]

DD2 has this, currently her worst symptom is fatigue (she's 15 and fell asleep at 8pm tonight ).
Lots of salt, lots of water, constantly fidget, pump your feet up and down, jiggle about when standing, plan your bending down (timing, position - is it safe if I faint).
Brain fog is horrid - write notes, lists, and be kind to yourself about forgetting everything
Do you faint? Or just feel dizzy? Squat down if you feel faint, or lie on your back with your legs in the air (your body is letting blood pool in your feet and legs rather than it circulating, which is why the heart races, to get the blood moving, if you can get the blood away from the extremities, things are easier)
Exercise -dd is supposed to do 30 minutes of " hot and sweaty" upright exercise every day (doesn't happen always, but it's the target).
We're currently experimenting with a low GI diet, probably going to do more low carb, which seems to help a bit (tho possibly it's just cutting out the rubbish )
Look at STARS and POTS UK (on phone so links are tricky) for more info (STARS has a patient day on 20th October with one of the top US experts on PoTS speaking), also google dysautonomia which is what it's called in the states.
There is medication which can help, fludrocortisone increases blood volume, Midodrine tightens up the veins, betablockers regulate the heart rate, Ivabradine does similar without affecting blood pressure. People are on different combinations and doseages as everyone is different , dd takes fludrocortisone and is experimenting with amounts and timings of Midodrine, betablockers worked brilliantly, but her hair was falling out, so we ditched those
Are you seeing a specialist? There are more specialists for adults around, and thankfully a couple of paediatricians are appearing.

[IShallWearMidnight]

Sorry for the length of that, I was brain dumping a bit!

[gaggiagirl]

Hi, I have a similar condition and the posters on this thread have been on a thread I started a few weeks ago and gave me some great advice as they have to you.
I just wanted to drop in and offer my support.
I've had a bad few days in what feels like permanent pre syncope, its horrid. I'm holding your hand through it .

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Thankyou so much for that!
I only got my diagnosis today, bit have had the headaches, anxiety amd blood pressure problems feoma young age. Since I had my ds 22.6 years ago it has become much much worse.
The main things I suffer with are the visual disturrbamces linked to dizziness, feeling faint and low blood pressure. I thought I may have some kind of anxiety disorder but docs say this can be an effect of the pots.
Theres no specialist around here, but one of the xonsultants feom the hospital are coming tomorrow to go through things a bit more.
The thing that worried me was the fact that it can get worse. They used the word degenerative which got alarm bells ringing.
We have not discussed medication as of yet...this will happen tomorrow, although they have started to suggest a combination of anti depressants ( to help with the anxiety it is bringing on, not depression)
Beta blockers and something else that I cannot for the life of ke remwmber the name of.
Fatigue is manifesting itself in not actual tierdness, but just very low energy and nit being able to do any excersise.
Id never evwn heard of this before today. I just feel lile stamping my foot and having a bit of a paddy about the fact that im feeling so crappy.
I really feel for your dd having to go through it at such a young age. Hopefully the medications will work for her. X

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Gaggia thankyou. Handholding is much appreciated right now. Especially over the fact rhat I may have to give up pasta and wine....noooooooo :(

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I have PoTS too. Diagnosed after a tilt table test. Before diagnosis I'd reached the point of not being able to stand still for more than a few minutes.

I'm on ivabradine now. It's brilliant. I still get break though episodes but nowhere near as many. Also lots of salt and water. No caffeine. I can't have some medications as they make me very tachycardic. I am so much better though.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'd absolutely ask them if you are a candidate for ivabradine.

The other meds that can help are beta blockers (I can't take them cos of raynauds) and the SSRI anti depressants which help (something to do with regulating the autonomic nervous system I think)

Have you seen PoTs UK?

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Fab thankyou kitten. Ill ask them about it tomorrow. Would love tonfeel a little bit normal again instead of constantly having to lie down. Taking my ds to the park would be a whole new experience for us both!!
Ill habe a look at tjat link now. So mich new information in one day. Ive been reading for hours and its really helping.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Sorry to hear youve had a hard time with it too. Bloody miserable.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

It really was miserable but getting on to the right regime changed my life. I hope you can find the right regime for you.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Oh, and once I got settled I found I could drink again, just don't get dehydrated.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Best news ive had all day now I sound like an alcoholic I promise im not just like one good glass of red :) and thankyou again.

[likestoski]

I was also diagnosed with this today. I am waiting for a tilt table test to confirm but the consultant was sure this is what I have. They advised me to increase my fluid and salt intake. So is that an extra bottle of red wine and a packet of peanuts then??? Seriously, I have been reading as much as I can about it and will start to change my diet. It's a bit overwhelming at the moment tbh.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

It really ia isnt it. Theres so much to think about. They dont have the equipment for a tilt table test here right now so I will have to travel quite a bit for itm seeing the consultant today anyway so will get a bit more info.
Wine and salami was my plan :)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Other good salty things are marmite and that Marigold Swiss Bouillon as a hot drink.

People look at me and when I eat out and they see the amount of salt I put on my food but I do notice if I let my salt intake drift down too far.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Thanks kitten I shall be getting some of that in then!

Got my appointment at 3 so will see what meds etc I can be offered :/

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

Hope you get on ok. I was diagnosed earlier this year at age 47, following a tilt table test. I started in puberty, and mine seems worse now I'm in the good old menopause. I've upped my salt and fluids and been given Midrodine which seems to help me. My triggers are standing for any length of time, tiredness, hormonal changes and eating large meals!
Please let us know how your appointment goes x

[Cantsleep]

My dd1 has this and she really struggles with it.

Her consultant suggested drinking more fluids, more salt in diet and doing leg exercises before standing but it has not worked and she is very, very unhappy about it. Pretty much every day is a struggle. She also has other health problems, has dislocated her shoulder twice this week and is becoming increasingly unhappy and frustrated that she always feels so ill.

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

Is she hypermobile too? Pots and hypermobility are linked.

[Cantsleep]

Yes, her other conditions are eds hyper mobility type, scoliosis and pectus excavatum (a chest problem). She's miserable and getting more fed up day by day. She's 11.

Sorry, don't want to hijack thread. Op I hope you get some help and the correct medication.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Which can then, with other symptoms too lead to a diagnosis of ehlers-danlos.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

X-post!!

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Cantsleep....your poor dd. That sounds miserable!!

Just to pick up on a point there....im useless I know but what exacrly is hypermobility?