erinlia Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 one thing I always wonder about my POTS is why do I get so cold when I do too much or get stressed? Is this a POTS thing? and if so, what's going on there? Why would standing too long make me cold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 Hello @erinlia - this happens to me when i have too much norepinephrine in my system, I start freezing and shivering ( amongst other things 🥴). I was told that it happens because the adrenaline causes the blood vessels to constrict which in turn causes us to be cold. It also causes less blood to go to the brain, causing dizziness, brain fog etc. It is kind of like going into shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misseb Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 I know when I'm about to have an attack as I start to feel very cold, often after eating and standing, it's as if the life is draining out of me. My vision blurs, I can't think and then feel very cold. Often my temperature drops to 34 degrees Celsius and I'm shivering. Interesting to understand why. Thank you Pistol. 🥶🥵 🥶🥵 🥶🥵 🥶🥵 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erinlia Posted June 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 that makes a lot of sense. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiminOrlando Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 My hands go ice cold and numb. I can't feel what I am doing so I drop everything. I was chopping vegetables one time and cut my hand. I saw it, but didn't feel it. It didn't start bleeding until I sat down with my feet up. I also think it is blood vessel constriction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 6 hours ago, KiminOrlando said: My hands go ice cold and numb. I can't feel what I am doing so I drop everything. I was chopping vegetables one time and cut my hand. I saw it, but didn't feel it. It didn't start bleeding until I sat down with my feet up. I also think it is blood vessel constriction. Kim - this happened to me before. I have Raynauds syndrome from autonomic dysfunction - it causes hands and feet to get ice cold. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20363571 I have it the worst in my feet ( since childhood, I even had frostbite on my toes from it ) but my hands suffer from it as well. It is caused by spasms of the blood vessels, stopping the blood flow. In my case it also happens to the vessels in the brain ( causing seizures ) and the heart ( called Prinzmetal angina ). I respond well to vasodilators such as diltiazem. My15 y.o. daughter ( also has POTS and Raynauds ) was recently started on Norvasc, a calcium channel blocker, and it has helped a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiminOrlando Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 @Pistol How do vasodialators work with POTS? They talked about this, but decided it would drop my bp and exacerbate tachycardia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted June 21, 2020 Report Share Posted June 21, 2020 @KiminOrlando - since there are differnet types of POTS ( with completely different mechanisms ) the treatments also differ. some types of POTS cause excessive vasodilation and those people need vasoconstricting agents. In HPOTS however the excessive output of norepinephrine causes vasoconstriction, which in turn causes high BP and the symptoms typical for sympathetic overactivity ( tremors, chills, tachycardia, hypertension ... ). In these cases vasodilators CAN be helpful. However - it is very important that the MECHANISM of the dysautonomia ( or the specific type of POTS ) is clear b/c depending on the type of autonomic dysfunction vasodilators can make it worse. The following article might explain it better: So - yes, vasodilators can cause a drop in BP and an increase in tachycardia in patients that HAVE POTS RELATED TO VASODILATION ( these people typically do not experience hypertension ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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