POTS Diagnosis Criteria

[Shane]

Two things have me confused.

1. One of the criteria for POTS is >= 6 months since symptoms started.   I didn't get the major symptoms (high heart rate on standing, SOB, etc) till 45 days ago (literally) out of the blue. Why would 6 months be meaningful criteria?

2. I believe my symptoms must have started post-viral (I guess assuming I am not hyperPOTS) , but I didn't have a virus in over a year before the abrupt onset 45 days ago. Not sure how "post" viral the trigger could be.

Thanks.

[StayAtHomeMom]

I have not heard of the 6 months criteria before maybe someone else will have a better answer to that. I would assume because you could get the orthostatic issues from being on bed rest and may get better over the following months.

You may have been like me. I suspect I have had my POTS since I was a teenager and it didn't flare until 3 years ago when it hit me like a truck. Mine started after a short run (less than a block, recreational). But I remember in high school they were teaching how to check your pulse and mine was high 90s sitting in class. I think it just happens for some people that way. 

[Pistol]

@Shane The 6 months criteria is because you could have something that temporarily causes high HR, If it goes on for more than 6 months it is something chronic. And the post-viral just means that the symptoms started after a viral infection , meaning the infection was the trigger for the symptoms. If yours started out-of-the blue ( mine did ) then it probably not an infection that triggered it. Sometimes the reason why POTS started can never be found. In my case it just started one day, no clue why. --- I wish you the best - please be well!!