Can A 5 Year Old Get Pots?

[hholmes13]

Hi All,

My daughter (5 1/2 yo) has been having lots of stomach issues for the past few months. She constantly complains about her stomach hurting. She has been having episodes lately of vomiting that will last for a few hours and then subside for a few days and then come back again. There is no fever or other symptoms. Then this morning, she came out of bed and told me, "Mommy my heart feels like it's beating really fast." I felt her pulse and it was crazy fast. She started complaining that it was hard to walk and felt weird to be upright. Not too long after she threw up.

It has been my biggest fear that she will develop this stuff. I felt her pulse when she was laying down and it is 120. That seemed high so I checked online what it should be for her age. The average is 95 but the range for kids 3-5 was 80-115. I had her stand up and it was a little over 150. I'm hoping this isn't the start of POTS. I've got an appointment set up for her to see her peds doc tomorrow to try and deal with the tummy issues. I'll probably bring up my concerns about the heart rate stuff too, especially if it continues.

As a side note, I've also got HEDS and she can do all of the same things I can do. The geneticist I see wanted to hold off on giving her any kind of a diagnosis unless it was necessary. However, I'm just wondering if I've passed my lovely combo of health issues onto my daughter. I always thought POTS didn't come on until later in life. Anyone ever see symptoms of POTS in a child this young?

Any insight would be much appreciated!!

[Aimes]

I've had symptoms since I can remember. Even as a really small child I had stomach problems, exercise intolerance, fatigue, etc. I'm hoping the best for both of you! She's lucky to have a mom who is already knowledgable in POTS.

[jangle]

Younger people naturally have higher heart rates than adults.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachycardia

For a 5 year old, a heart rate over 133 would be considered tachycardia.

I think they changed the definition of POTS for children and teenagers to be a rise of over 40 bpm. However, it couldn't hurt to do a TTT and get an autonomic specialist's opinion.

Also keep in mind that POTS is generally triggered by something, usually a prolonged viral infection or trauma/stress. She might have a genetic predisposition for POTS, but so long as she avoids these triggers, she could theoretically reduce her chance of developing full blown POTS. As for the ehler-danlos, I'm not too familiar with that, so I can't really give much advice.

[MightyMouse]

I've had symptoms since birth--I have a genetic condition that gives me the same type of problems as HEDS, but is more closely related to dwarfism.

[Christy_D]

My son's issues began in grade school and started out as GI problems, stomach ache, abdominal pain, vomiting...The older he got the more frequent the issues became until it became daily in middle school.

[issie]

I think I was born with it. First remembrance after a vaccine when age 8. But, was born with colic and have had issues with problems since birth. Inherited - probably. Also have EDS and MCAS.

Issie

[hholmes13]

Thanks for your replies everyone! I'm not jumping to any conclusions yet, but it's hard not to have my mind drift that way. Today her nausea has been the worst when she's standing. I am going to let the doctors know about my medical history just so they can keep that in mind. I actually see my neurologist this week to follow up on my neuropathy. I'll probably mention her to him to see what he thinks. The first thing I want to get figured out is all the tummy stuff. She's been having issues on and off for the past 2 years. I think it may be time for her to actually see someone in GI.

[issie]

A diet change may help her a lot. It sure has me.

Issie

[looneymom]

Keep a close watch on her. I've read that POTS can start at an earlier age in females. Because you already have this condition, I would think this might be a possibility. I hope not but talk to your doctors about what you are seeing.

[margiebee]

My symptoms definitely became much worse after I hit puberty, but they were definitely there for most of my life in some form. When I was a kid (around ages 5 to 10) I had pretty bad GI issues and would get severely constipated and nothing would help. I also always noticed a very strong intolerance to heat and exercise. I always loved to run around but I would always get dizzy and have to sit down, I thought it was normal because I didn't know any better. Also have had severe allergies to various things my whole life. Started with a milk allergy as a baby.

We feel that whatever form of POTS I have it is genetic because my brother has it and my father had symptoms when he was a young adult. Both my brother and I have shown symptoms since we were young children. So in my experience, I think if its genetic maybe it shows up sooner. I hope you can get her feeling better soon though!

[Relax86]

After vomiting the heart rate will rise and especially when kids or anyone gets dehydrated. Kids can feel dizzy as well after barfing. My 19 year old has finally told her old Mom that she agrees that milk makes her stomach hurt. I've been saying she's intolerant for about a year. But what do I know?? Good luck with your little girl.