Anyone been diagnosed with POTS?

[Penguintears]

Since last Jan I've experienced lots of tachycardia. Mainly after eating and on standing. My heart rate goes from about 70 sitting down to 110+ standing up. This was confirmed by ECG. I saw a cardiologist who did a 24hr ECG and echocardiogram amd concluded that it was sinus tachycardia and gave me beta blockers.

I thought it was more likely to be POTS as I also feel faint/dizzy, am fatigued, get cold hands and feet, and the heart rate only increases when I'm upright, if I sit or lie down my heart immediately goes back to normal. The cardiologist was really dismissive of POTS but didn't really explain why he didn't think it was that.

He wanted me to reduce the beta blockers and then come off them slowly over the last year. I've tried and I just can't. When I come off them my heart regularly gets to 120. When I mentioned this to the GP he has referred me back to the cardiologist.

So I'm seeing the same cardiologist tomorrow. I am hoping he will confirm that it's POTS. Mainly for peace of mind but also because it means that long term beta blockers are the best treatment for this and I won't keep having to come off them.

I was just wondering how other people got diagnosed with POTS as this doctor seemed so dismissive of it, even though I have textbook symptoms.

Also, any lifestyle tips for managing the condition?

I used to feel wobbly and faint when I had my heaviest period days (never actually did faint though). My ferritin was 14 and periods very heavy. Since taking iron supplements and tranexamic acid it’s no longer an issue.

Hi, I know this is a few months old now but I've had POTS for years (was diagnosed at around 15 years old).

I had every test under the sun (tilt test, 24 hour monitors, 7 day monitors, treadmil tests, echocardiograms, countless ecg's...). Any way, it was finally diagnosed as POTS.

My symptoms are:

-Fast heart rate (after eating, standing too quickly, generally high if I am over tired and ALWAYS upon exercise)
-Chronic fatigue (sometimes debilitating and thrown to bed)
-Very noticeable heart palpitations

I have always been advised to:

-Take beta blockers (ivabradine or propanolol but on review annually and must follow their advice and instructions - please do not start taking ANY medication without being told to by professionals)
-Drink 2-3litres of water per day
-Increase salt intake (I have slightly low blood pressure at times)
-Rest where possible and walk slowly when on incline etc
-Get enough sleep
-Where grade 3 compression stockings
-Squeeze calf muscles and abdominal muscles OR squeeze like you are trying to pass wind upon standing from sitting to help get the blood flow going again around the upper body (in POTS blood pools in the legs and doesn't flow quick enough when standing up, hence why people get palpitations, fast heart rate, dizziness etc)

I hope this helps. It seriously can be so hard to live with but I have found by being strict about the above, it becomes much more manageable.