gossamer4448 Posted March 10, 2019 Report Share Posted March 10, 2019 How do you know if you have Hyper pots ? whats a adrenaline rush feel like ? typically how high is your HR? ect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted March 11, 2019 Report Share Posted March 11, 2019 Hi @gossamer4448 - hyper-POTS is diagnosed by symptoms and neurotransmitters ( resting and active, anything above 600 is considered abnormal ). The symptoms differ from other types of POTS due to the BP elevation, mostly diastolic hypertension ( the lower number is elevated as well as the upper number, i.e. 150/100 ). Typical symptoms are tachycardia, tremors, chest pain, cold hands and feet, brain fog and even confusion, cognitive issues, often headaches, in some cases fainting. A hyperadrenergic storm in my case presents with excitement and nervousness, shaking uncontrollably, blue lips, cold hands and feet, inability to find words or speak, extreme chest pain and hypertension. Often it ends in syncope or an autonomic seizure. Imagine if you are racing to get someone out of a burning building and your adrenaline is in overdrive. Then - when the fire is put out and all is over - you are sitting down and all that excess adrenaline is still in your system and you start shaking as if you are going into shock - that is what it is like. Fight-or-flight response - there just is no burning building, no cougar threatening you, no gun held to your head. Just a normal moment in every day life and this can happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimL Posted March 11, 2019 Report Share Posted March 11, 2019 4 hours ago, Pistol said: Hi @gossamer4448 - hyper-POTS is diagnosed by symptoms and neurotransmitters ( resting and active, anything above 600 is considered abnormal ). The symptoms differ from other types of POTS due to the BP elevation, mostly diastolic hypertension ( the lower number is elevated as well as the upper number, i.e. 150/100 ). Typical symptoms are tachycardia, tremors, chest pain, cold hands and feet, brain fog and even confusion, cognitive issues, often headaches, in some cases fainting. A hyperadrenergic storm in my case presents with excitement and nervousness, shaking uncontrollably, blue lips, cold hands and feet, inability to find words or speak, extreme chest pain and hypertension. Often it ends in syncope or an autonomic seizure. Imagine if you are racing to get someone out of a burning building and your adrenaline is in overdrive. Then - when the fire is put out and all is over - you are sitting down and all that excess adrenaline is still in your system and you start shaking as if you are going into shock - that is what it is like. Fight-or-flight response - there just is no burning building, no cougar threatening you, no gun held to your head. Just a normal moment in every day life and this can happen. I've had some of that, but my bottom numbers don't elevate. Usually the systolic is 65-75. Top numbers are rarely above 130, usually 110-120 when I awake. I've had the cognitive issues and cold feet, I've had some shaking/tremors, but rarely. A lot of GI issues, bloating, gas, nausea, pain, headaches. I am going to try to setup an appointment with a neurologist I found on this website. He's local and has dealt with POTS, obviously. I hope I get in and not get dismissed as has been the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieP Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 @Pistol - such a good description of an adrenaline surge. I'm in the midst of a POTS storm at the moment after a pretty good run. The chest pain that comes with the attacks is particularly bad at the moment. I was wondering if anyone has explained to you what causes the chest pain? My cardiologist doesn't think it is cardiac in origin but I think it would help me to deal with the pain if I understood it better. Also do you find your attacks occur in clusters? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 @AngieP - the chest pin that I get from POTS at times can be severe. My cardiologist did a heart cath last year and found out that I have Prinz-Metal-angina ( chect pain caused by spasms of the coronary arteries ). I also have Raynauds which is spasms in the peripheral blood vessels and is the same mechanism. So this is all from hyper-POTS since the elevated adrenaline causes vasoconstriction. I have heard that other types of POTS cause chest pain due to a change in circulation to the heart. I also notice that my chest pin comes on strong with high BP. 11 hours ago, AngieP said: Also do you find your attacks occur in clusters? I have not noticed that, when I was still working they would come from being upright or active too long. Now - since I get weekly IV fluids and am much, much improved - I can pretty much stop them by lying down and prevent them by having a finetuned balance of activity and rest, this helps tremendous. I try not to even give the ANS the chance to go in overdrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieP Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 Hi @Pistol - thank you so much for sharing this info with me. My cardiologist wasn't sure if I was having coronary spasms and gave me a Nitrolingual pump spray just in case. After the next episode of chest pain he also wants me to get a blood test to check my troponin levels. My diastolic blood pressure is also usually elevated when I'm experiencing the chest pain. I notice that the veins in my hands which are usually prominent become very constricted and almost disappear entirely too. For me the biggest challenge is believing that I won't drop dead during one of my severe chest pain episodes. Even though I have lived through so many, I always panic in the moment. It sounds like you have a great management plan in place with the weekly IV fluids and incorporating plenty of rest. Over exertion is definitely a big trigger for me too. Thank you again! Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 @AngieP my cardiologist had me on a nitropatch, which did help and did not drop my BP. I also have the sublingual pills for emergencies but never had to use them. Since the IV fluids I no longer need the patch since my chest pain is gone ( unless I overdo it ). The patch is great sine it puts the same amount of medicine out and there are no ups and downs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 On 3/12/2019 at 3:00 PM, AngieP said: @Pistol - such a good description of an adrenaline surge. I'm in the midst of a POTS storm at the moment after a pretty good run. The chest pain that comes with the attacks is particularly bad at the moment. I was wondering if anyone has explained to you what causes the chest pain? My cardiologist doesn't think it is cardiac in origin but I think it would help me to deal with the pain if I understood it better. Also do you find your attacks occur in clusters? Thanks! Angie how have you stopped them from occurring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieP Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 @Pistol - the nitropatch sounds great. I have an appointment with my cardiologist in April and will ask him about it. Thanks again for sharing your experience with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieP Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 Hi @Outaker, I'm afraid I haven't worked out a way to totally stop the POTS attacks from occurring. For me, I find that if I get lots of rest, eat a healthy clean diet, and incorporate exercise (light strength training - no cardio), I am pretty stable. As soon as I mentally or physically over do it, I can find myself in a nice big POTS flare up. I've also been on a daily beta-blocker for the last five years that has helped me a lot. Do your attacks occur in clusters too? The one I'm in has been going for almost three weeks - I'm having an attack every second day which is a lot for me. Cheers, Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted March 16, 2019 Report Share Posted March 16, 2019 On 2/28/2019 at 10:30 AM, FileTrekker said: Thanks. Yes I have no intention of taking the Bisoprolol, if for no other reason than I just know they'll floor me and I can't afford the time off work. I'm also seeing some limited success on magnesium and taurine supplements and I'm gonna try coconut water too. If it gets more desperate then I may consider it. I feel doctors are too quick to just jump to beta blockers and send you on your way. My POTS is manageable without the BB thankfully and I have bradycardia anyway. So to my mind it's not a worthwhile risk currently. 15 hours ago, AngieP said: Hi @Outaker, I'm afraid I haven't worked out a way to totally stop the POTS attacks from occurring. For me, I find that if I get lots of rest, eat a healthy clean diet, and incorporate exercise (light strength training - no cardio), I am pretty stable. As soon as I mentally or physically over do it, I can find myself in a nice big POTS flare up. I've also been on a daily beta-blocker for the last five years that has helped me a lot. Do your attacks occur in clusters too? The one I'm in has been going for almost three weeks - I'm having an attack every second day which is a lot for me. Cheers, Angie Hey ANgie have you tried rauwolfia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieP Posted March 16, 2019 Report Share Posted March 16, 2019 8 hours ago, Outaker said: rauwolfia Hi @Outaker - no I haven't tried Rauwolfia. I'll look into this too. Have you found that it has helped you? Thank you, Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted March 16, 2019 Report Share Posted March 16, 2019 Nope just started researching this condition due to the adrenaline surges. I am looking to prevent any surges again in the future. Rauwolfia drains norepinephrine from your synapses by 70 percent. The first hypertension drug developed Reseprine was based on this herb's alkoloids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aelizabeth3300 Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 It's really hard for me to explain what mine feel like when I'm not experiencing them. I feel it all in my chest though. It feels like a rush of... everything to my chest. My heart pounds and races, typically 150-200bpm. I get lightheaded most of the time. Shaky. It feels terrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek1987 Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 On 5/7/2019 at 7:49 AM, FileTrekker said: Rauwolfia is pretty dangerous stuff. I wouldn't try it. Can you elaborate? Never heard of it. Pretty sure I have hyper pots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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