food bourne illness

[Guest veryblue]

Hey guys,

Pardon this post for being so graphic but I have to get this idea out to you all. I am really trying to search for what caused this to happen with me and the only thing I can think of seems to be quite a stretch so I thought I would run it by you guys (the experts). On December 20, 2003 I went out to dinner with my boyfriend. We ate hambugers and mine was kinda pink inside but I didnt really think much of it and ate it...this was around 6pm. Around 1 or 2 am I was sitting up talking on the phone when I felt the urge to...you know...go #2. It was alful and I kept having to go several times during the hour...I even clogged up the toilet. The next morning I felt fine, but ever since that day I had to go #2 more often and and they were very loose...not the norm for me. I would get an urge outta nowhere and have to go...maybe 2 or 3 times a day usually in the morning. Then on Jan 15, 2004 I had my rapid heart rate begin...but it was strange...I felt like I couldnt finsih my pizza (odd for me I eat all the time) then I had the urge...but this time I got rapid HR along with it. During the three weeks, where I had loose stools, I felt fine, played tons of sports and got very very drunk a few times, with no problems...I felt fine other than my #2...also I was eatin more food than usual but wouldnt gain an ounce...not loosing weight just not gaining any, which I found to be weird but I have always had a great metabolism and just chalked it up to that. Do you think some kind of virus in the meat caused POTS or whatever it is I have. I guess when I sit and think about it, it dosent seem so far fetched. How would I go about getting tested for viruses and stuff to that nature. Please respond!

[Star382000]

You would have to have blood tests and talk with your docs and such, but just want to tell you that it is NOT far-fetched, I have read here how some people's POTS has been caused by viruses of some sort. It's great that you have such a good idea of how it (at least may have) happened. Best of wishes and you are in my prayers!

[yogini]

Very blue,

My POTS was probably caused by an ordinary stomach virus which lasted for about 4 or 5 days. I had the virus about a month before I got POTS. (January 9 was the virus and Feb 17 was the onset of POTS) We had sub zero temps in NY that week, but I also had sushi so I am not sure whether it came from the weather or the food. During the period in between, I felt kind of tired but I was able to maintain my crazy social and work schedule.

I think a large % (maybe half) of POTS cases are caused by a virus. So, if you don't fall into the other categories (pregnancy, congenital), a virus could well be your cause. I don't think there's any way to test for it, because it would be out of your system by now. The body just takes a really long time to heal. I've already had this for 9 months, and have been told it would take another 6-12 months to get better.

-Rita

[blackwolf]

Veryblue, I am also sure that my "onset" was caused by a virus. In my case, I still suffer from several bouts of viral pluersy(inflamation in the lining around the lung) a year(about 5 times this year alone). As to testing for viruses, that is up to you and your doc. But I have to say that most viruses are a shot in the dark to locate and I would be suprised to see if they found anything still in your system from then.

Blackwolf

[Gena]

Hi VeryBlue,

Your situation sounds similar to mine. The very first night I ever experienced POTS symptoms (tachycardia, nausea and dizziness and diarrhea) was in June after going out to try a new restaurant with my husband. The food was awful and my fish was very undercooked. I ate some of it and sent it back to the kitchen.

I woke up in the middle of the night with diarrhea and tachycardia. I didn't have any more symptoms until about 3-4 weeks later the same symptoms came back with a vengance. I don't know if it's just a coincidence that they started on the same night I ate the undercooked fish or not. But I often wonder if there is a link. I don't think I'll ever know for sure. I do know that I am feeling a lot better now.

Also, certain parasites can cause symptoms similar to POTs. The Great Smokies Lab offers a complete stool study that evaluates bacteria and parasite levels. Their website is www.gsdl.com if you're interested. (your doctor has to fax them a written order for it and then they send you the test kit.)

Let us know if you find anything else out. Good luck.

[calypso]

That GI episode may have been a total coincidence or may very well have been your cause. But regardless, there's probably nothing you can do about it now except ride it out. Viruses come and go, and the post-viral kind of stuff like POTS and chronic fatigue often don't go away when you kill the virus. It's much more complicated than that.

I think you will probably heal in time. We all just have to be patient!

Amy

[MightyMouse]

You may never know the answer.

Also, typcial food borne illnesses are typically bacterial NOT viral--and they test for those via stool samples. If it were an enteric bacterial infection, as are most bacterial infections transmitted by food (not crossing the gi barriers into the blood stream), you'd likely still have some symptoms related to the GI distress. For example, salmonella, doesn't usually go away without antibiotics.

Viral issues are a bit different--there are so many types of virii and we don't know enough about the link with autonomic problems to say anything more than many of our members report onset of symptoms following a major viral infection. These same folks are likely to experience remission more often than others (according to those doing research in autonomic dysfunction). There are very few viruses worth testing for, other than mono (esptein-barr), which typically get better with rest, HIV/AIDS, etc. They don't have treatments for most viral illnesses.

My opinion: it's a highly unlikely thing that bacterial food poisoning would have been the setting event for POTS. More likely would be a viral infection that precipitated the symptoms.

Here's the thing I feel I must say to you VeryBlue--and it's not intended to be harsh. In my observation, you seem to be obsessing on the reason you've gotten sick. Nearly every post you've made on this board (where you've started the topic) mentions your need to know WHY you've gotten ill. As others (and I) have said before, none of us can provide you with that information--and after 6 months of the same essential question coming up from you, it leaves me feeling a bit frustrated as the moderator. I empathize with where your at but also feel very strongly that you need to be asking all those questions of your doctors. Also, if they verify that you have POTS, then you need to move forward and look towards how to make yourself feel better during your day to day instead of looking backwards every day--it takes up your time and energy, which can't be healthy for you to be spending on things you cannot change (reminds me of that "serenity" poem..."grant me the serenity to accept the thing I cannont change").

Anyway, I hope you will check in with your doctor. Nina

Nina

[Ling]

Nina you put it so well. We all need to remember that! It takes strength to live with these problems. Very blue have you tried praying for strength. I have gone through things in my life that I did not know how I was going to make it. But I promise you this. The more you pray the more strength God gives you. I often just pray myself to work or that God will just help me to make it through the day. Every time I make it to work and through the day. Gods grace is sufficient!

One of the best Qualities my G.P has is that she is strict and straightforward. I love her for that she keeps me on my toes and keeps me going on with life.

[Guest veryblue]

This is one of the main causes of POTS found on Chirs Caulders website:

"Viral and bacterial infections that damage the autonomic nervous system. Patients who develop POTS due to an infection, with no deeper underlying genetic cause, have the best prognosis for a spontaneous recovery over time."

Viral and bacterial...so I very well could have been this incident. I dont believe in concendiences and I know that it had to have something to do with this becasue I just didnt feel quite right after eating that meat where the day before I was fine. So there has to at least be a link! Wouldn't you say so? Funny Rita how yours might have started the sam way.

Thanks Ling for the prayer advice...however, I have problems with praying...I grew up in catolic schools and they have convinced me by leaving unanswered questions about many topics to become agnostic....It's not that I dont believe...its that I dont know. I guess it wouldnt hurt to try though. Im glad that you have found strength through prayer.

As far as me searching for an answer...sorry thats just who I am...I have always been like that..never been able to accept something that has no answer of root behind it...I guess that's why I buy the big bang theory...cuz it makes sense and it is something that I an actually conceptulize. I will never stop searching until I find my answer...and I know that I will find out whats wrong in time. See I dont have a doctor...I have been to 5 neuros, 3 endos, 2 caridologists, 1 EP who did an ablation on me, and several GPs and all say I am fine. 1 of the neuros actually worked him Dr. Low at Mayo...he tried to get me in just cuz I demanded but Dr. Low didnt even want to give me the time of day...he said I was too healthy...did too many things alwreay and that I probably am having some post viral problems that will go away in time. If only I had a billion dollars...**** I would have been cured by now...look at Magic Johnson...his T Cell count is through the roof...and he has HIV for crying out loud! All you need is money...and then the wheels with start turning. My family dosent believe I have POTS, nor does my boyfriend my friends, my dog probably wouldnt believe me for crying out loud. I am all alone, and quite frankly that is fine with me. They would just get in the way of my research. So that is my theroy of the day....beware the evil hamburger...so I will see where this takes me. Thanks to everyone who doesent think this idea is far fetched...gotta go back to class.

[yogini]

I know how you feel, because I have been to many doctors who can't seem to make me feel any better. I saw Dr. Low at Mayo in Sept. (Mayo rejected me too and I got in through someone at work). He is very knowledgeable, but he didn't really have much more to add than my doctors at home. Unfortunately, I don't think there is any magic cure for POTS and no amount of $ can make it go away. Mayo told me that, even with meds, I should still expect to have symptoms. Hopefully, the symptoms will gradually get better with time. I feel lucky to have the hope that this will someday go away.

[Guest Julia59]

Veryblue

Excuse me----but I don't remember, and I don't feel like going into the old posts.

Are you actually diagnosed with POTS by a specialist?

And who diagnosed it?

I do believe that this problem would have stayed with you---the GI upset for a longer period if that were the case.

I read what Nina posted---regarding the GI/blood barrier. If a food borne bacteria illnesss does not usually pass into the blood from the GI barrier----then how would this be an issue? It would seem that it could not become systemic without that process.

I'll have to go back and re-red Christoper Calders web site.

Julie :0)

[Guest veryblue]

Julia:

No I havent been Dx by anyone, but that has to be what it is. I am DX myself. I cant get into a clinic tht wil DX me. Oh and I'm sorry the GI issues did go on for a longer time than I mentioned...they went on for about 6 or 7 months...they just are getting somewhat back to normal now...sorry for not being more specific.

[morgan617]

i went through a zillion tests because it drove my doctor crazy that he couldn't make me better. i am very curious too, but have realized that some things just are. all the whys and what's in the world aren't going to change the fact that you don't feel well. and for this kind of problem, unless you're magic johnson going to congress, there aren't going to be answers for a long time. it's more a matter of dealing with what you do know, and even if that's what caused it, the damage is done, so it's pretty fruitless to obsess on it. but i guess we all have to go through whatever period of time it takes to learn this lesson about autonomic problems. i do continue to be amazed at the life you are still able to live with this, as i feel fortunate if i can get my bathroom cleaned or more than one load of clothes washed at a time. as for drinking, it would probably kill me off. i guess in the mood i'm in right now all i i can say is count your blessings and enjoy the fact you do have a pretty great life compared to most of us. sorry, tired, frustrated and cranky. morgan