Hyper-Pots And Mcad

[autumn]

There's a lot mention of hyper-POTS and MCAD on here, and I'm trying to formulate questions for my doctor(s) without sounding like a hypochondriac. (Also, I'm just a generally curious type and like to know about things.)

Can someone explain or point me in the direction of info about them? What symptoms would differentiate hyper-POTS from your "average" dysautonomia? What about MCAD?

[sue1234]

Boy, thinking you might sound like a hypochondriac sure rings a bell with me! It seems there's a fine line with wanting to be assertive and the medical profession thinking you're a hypochondriac. All I know is I am the only one in this world with the time to devote to possibilities for my POTS, so that's why I bring them up, over time, when I have appointments.

If they only knew that curing/helping my POTS would keep me from only seeing a doctor once a year for a wellness checkup! I am NEVER sick, never any issues except for POTS. (knock on wood!)

[juliegee]

Here's a good article that describes it:

http://hyper.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/hypertensionaha;45/3/385

[Lovebug]

Here's a good article that describes it:

http://hyper.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/hypertensionaha;45/3/385

Wow...I have ALL of the symptoms of MCA but my B-blocker is my life saver. BTW...LOVE your quotes!

[autumn]

Thanks, everyone.

Sue, I always feel a little weird going to a doctor's office because I'm so young and have a laundry list of diagnosed problems and a longer list of symptoms that didn't have an explanation. I was happy my PCP was the one to bring up POTS; I had known about it for years from a friend, but I didn't want to seem like a hypochondriac and mention it to anyone. But now I've got the diagnosis, and I just got a call yesterday from a specialist for a follow-up appointment. My test was only borderline abnormal, but my doctor called and said I had to be seen ASAP (I've had two borderline tilts -- for different reasons -- and a clinical history of POTS symptoms), so I'm on a high-priority list. The doctor is known to be, well, difficult, and I want to be prepared when I go in there without sounding like a know-it-all. I think that's a difficult balance to strike.

That said, I think it's worth asking about because I do have some of the symptoms of hyper-POTS and MCAD.

It's just ... I'm so used to being told nothing's wrong -- really, they can't find anything wrong -- that I'm still struggling to accept it's not all in my head and that there really IS something.

[Sarah4444]

autumn, I can also relate to feeling like a hypochondriac with the long list of strange symptoms I get. I bring the article that Julie brought up to all my appointments now, and I try to isolate the symptoms sets that are bothering me the most and that are likely to make sense to the doctor I am seeing. However, I also mention other symptoms, which sometimes seems to annoy them, but I want to give them the sense that they are only seeing part of a bigger picture.

Don't let people make you feel like you are making this up or exaggerating just because you are young. When I was in my late teens/early 20s I had all kinds of symptoms but ended up giving up on doctors and just dealing with it myself the best I could, because back then POTS hadn't even been identified yet. You need a clear picture of what is going on as you get older, and the only way to get this is to insist that they believe you and treat you, even if what you have is unusual and makes them uncomfortable due to their lack of knowledge.