Justlooking Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Hello all…first time posting…long time browsing. I am a 30 years young and have chronic lyme, bartonella and babesia for the past 10 years and have some orthostatic issues as a result of these infections. My main symptom seems to be dizziness and blood pooling…despite me wearing 30-40 compression hose. I used to have horrible tachycardia all the time, laying, sitting, standing but that has improved greatly once I treated the lyme and although once in a blue moon I may get tachycardia on standing…it's not too bad maybe 100 or so up from 72 laying…again this is rare. Usually my orthostatic vitals are around 120/80 and 85-90 pulse…I am not on any POTS medications except florinef because the lyme depleted my aldosterone. My questions are I understand that vitals taken in my arm don't reflect what kind of blood flow is going to my head…I mean I know it's reduced because I pool blood. I have huge veins all over my body that I never had before…doc says it's from bartonella and that is why my laying blood pressure is lowish 108/68…I have excessive vasodilatation as long as those buggers are still making home in my veins. Anywho, why is my blood pressure normal standing? Is it because my arteries are constricting normally since they aren't affected by the bartonella, hence giving me normal readings, yet feeling dizzy because of reduced venous return and what the heck can I do about this? If I tried a vasoconstrictor drug wouldn't that increase my BP too much since it's normal anyway and I assume my arteries are constricting…I'm assuming they work on both veins and arteries and my veins seem to be the issue here. I sometimes get dizzy laying too…since my **** veins are so LARGE!! I have had autonomic testing done that all came back normal so since I have no "damage" the specialist here said its just a result of infection and will go away with it…which lyme takes forever to do away…so no treatment for me. I would like to feel better in the meantime. My hubby and I just lost a baby a few weeks ago, would have been our third and my last two pregnancies were high risk but I sailed through them…this one seemed to be more rough but I was only 10 weeks along. We would love to try again but I'd like to band aid this vein issue if at all possible before hand. Any suggestions or am I just a weird lymie lost in this world? I've had these orthostiatic issues since early lyme, they got way better with treatment and then came back when I got a really bad cold a year ago and have bounced around since then. That's when we figured out I had co infections too…what fun! Thanks all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted February 14, 2014 Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 Hi Justlooking, welcome at the forum, though I'm sorry you have reason to be here of course! Also I'm very sorry for your loss, it must be so painful. I can't help you with your questions, but maybe others can. I hope things will get easier for you and that you will find the answers you are looking for here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 I think your kind of making assumptions about what your veins and arteries are doing for a start. Most vasoconstrictors work on alpha 1 receptors (midodrine, phenylephrene) and serotonin receptors (DHE) which are expressed more in the microcirculation than anywhere else or in the case of serotonin receptors specific for the veins. Blood pressure readings are almost meaningless in POTS since they tell you very little about regional blood pooling, increased microcirculatory filtration, brain perfusion and most importantly stroke volume. When i take vasoconstrictors my standing blood pressure lowers and I feel better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justlooking Posted February 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 What is DHE??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Dihydroergotamine - a selective veinous vasoconstrictor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justlooking Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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