POTS - any experiences ?

[Makinganewthinghappen]

I have had problems with high heart rate and feeling faint/week for years. My go has told me it is anxiety and I have been taking anti anxiety medication for 10 years. It hasn’t helped hugely but I thought there was a slight improvement. About 2 years ago I ended up in hospital because my heart rate had gone up so much during a minor infection (any kind of illness sets it all off). I saw a cardiologist who prescribed ivabradine and told me my heart was perfectly healthy (I had scans etc) but that these would slow it down and just keep taking them.

6 months later my gp insisted I didn’t need them a they are for heart problems and my heart is fine so he stopped prescribing them.

Three days ago I woke up feeling totally awful my heart was racing and I knew from the pain in my back I had a UTI.

Went to out of hours who sent me to a and e and then there was a huge thing with various drips and injections etc to slow my heart.

Same as before it turned out it was beating in perfect rhythm etc but just fast (between 130-150). So anyway the cardiologist came round and said my gp should never have taken me off the ivabradine and that they are thinking I have POTS.

I feel fine now but I’m worrying about what this means?

I have been referred for some more tests - a tilt table test? But I’m the mean time I have just been given the ivabradine again.

The cardiologist told me that POTS can be mistaken for anxiety but I have no idea how I’m supposed to know if I’m anxious or not!

Ant experiences with this would be appreciated!

I was diagnosed with POTS and was meant to have a tilt table test and cardio monitor for 24 hrs but it then Covid happened.

I suffer with irregular heart beat, anxiety/palpitations etc and have done for years. The Dr diagnosed it because my heart beats really fast when I move from seating to standing. However, I haven't had the full set of tests yet.

POTS can be diagnosed alongside Chronic Fatigue (which I've been diagnosed with) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which she said I may have but I'm doubtful. It can also happen with some autoimmune diseases.

There's an org called STARS you might find helpful:
www.heartrhythmalliance.org/stars/uk/

You have sinus tachycardia - that's a heart condition. Your Gp was a fucking idiot to take you off the medication prescribed by your cardiologist. I'd be formally complaining about that.

POTS is a type of tachy brought on by changing from lying down to sitting or sitting to standing (google it - heart has to work harder anyway to overcome gravity but keeps going).

Very minor condition usually - not sinister by itself (won't get you a covid vax early sorry ). Beta blockers or your drug will control it.

I have presumed POTS ( never got my tilt test) as part of CFS, which became problematic after a severe illness. My understanding is that my heart is perfectly healthy but the control mechanisms are a bit out of kilter. I think I’ve had it all my adult life. My heart rate is normal when laying down, but it tends to overshoot a few minutes after sitting or standing. I have particular trouble standing or sitting still and I literally can’t think on my feet ( I start to feel faint) at times. It’s not technically a heart condition but was diagnosed by my cardiologist.

I can’t add anything to this but reading with interest as your description of how you feel matches what I’ve been experiencing the last two years and struggling to get anywhere with my GP (fast pulse, feeling faint, heart rate gets faster if there is any sort of infection.... hmmm. I shouldn’t self diagnose but it all sounds very similar).