Tessa

Hi Maxine Good question. As my medical issues are too long to write on such a small item, on the front of my pendant it I have my blood type. On the back is written: "see wallet" (in both, Spanish & English). It is in my wallet where I have a medical card (slightly larger than a credit card) with the most important information on dx, treatments, allergies, etc. Hope this can help, Love, Tessa

Worried too. Sending possitive thoughts and prayers your way... Check in soon! Take care, Love Tessa

I wish I could. I think it is too early for me. I have to feel better first... Good luck Take care, Love, Tessa

I am so sorry that you have to go through this. Parents are supposed to be the first ones to understand our health issues and suffer. At least, we expect them to support us... But this is only the theory and sometimes you can find the support from friends instead that from your relatives. I know how you feel, because I have been through it too. They always thought that I was healthy, that it was in my head and that they made me perfect... Our differences increased and we have not seen echoder for over a year... A week ago my father came along and said he wanted to try again... And here there are now, trying to understand and accept the situation... Though they still insist that they made a perfect child... I think that they just need time to assume and accept, but at the end, your parents will get there too. You have my support. Take care, Love, Tessa

Hi I agree with Flop. Adrenal issues are a possibility. Addison is not the only disease/disorder, so be sure to also check aldosterone-renin and basal aldosterone. about aldosterone Do not carry out these tests being on Florinef (wean off). Take a look to the following website where the tests are explained Take care, Love, Tessa

I am so sorry about your son?s experience having the blood test done. And you suffering too. I am not a doctor, but his reaction seems a Hypovolemic shock. I know, a blood test is not a large loss of blood to provoke such a shock, but with POTS and whatever we have, I guess that our body can easily react as if there was a serious loss of blood causing such a shock. I would prepare by drinking plenty of fluids before the test and after the test (fluids and electrolytes to recover). Also do not have the blood test sitting but lying down with the legs up. Ask them to get the blood in only 1 tube to fill the others up later (not using one tube after another on him) Before the blood test, they should control his bp and hr rate too, because if bp is too low, they should cancel the test or start IV fluids at the same time. That?s my opinion and suggestion. I hope you can find a doctor who can help you. My best wishes for you and your family. Love, Tessa

By the throat do you mean a side of your neck? I?ve been feeling this sensation too from time to time and when I?ve checked my heart rate is has been fast... Take care, Love, Tessa

Hi Lisa Having a blood test done has been terrible for me. Near passing out and feeling sick for hours afterwards: nausea, dizzy, fast heart rate, breathless... I guess I have a low blood volume too, besides POTS and (now I know) adrenal insufficiency. I recommend having the blood test done while lying down and drinking plenty of water the day before and after the test (adding electrolytes to the fluids). Control bp and hr after the test and if your bp is too low, you might ask for IV fluids. That?s what I am doing now and things have improved. I do not feel dizzy anymore during and after the test. (because lying down makes an important change to it) Love, Tessa

Hi I have been reading your post several times and have decided to answer. Of course, I am not a doctor and I cannot give you any advice as a doctor. I can only speak from my own experience, from what I?ve learned by myself and thanks to others? But it may help you to rule out things. What else can you do if doctors do not seem to help? I had to learn things too and get to the base of it without the help of a specialist first and then, showing them what I found, together with the doctor? But, that?s a long story? Sorry for the long post, though it might be useful. I have been suffering from chest pain too, as well as from shortness of breath. Sometimes the pain went up to my left shoulder and left arm, as well as to the back? Further to having my heart racing from lying to standing, standing and sometimes, even while sitting. Other symptoms I had were dizziness, nausea, etc. When my dx was POTS I thought that I had finally arrived to the end of an ongoing journey from one specialist to another and that I would have the right treatment for all my health issues (the chest pain and discomfort included). But it was not. Furthermore, I nearly died after getting sublingual nitroglycerin (so it worse with nitroglycerin for me too). Then one day, reading Dinet once more, I found information stating that POTS can be caused by adrenal issues? I read about adrenals and many symptoms matched with mines? It?s a long story, but I am not going to tell you everything (this would be a never ending post)? The thing is that once I?ve started the treatment for my adrenal insufficiency, the chest pain went away! What I am trying to tell you is that chest pain can be triggered by a wide range of causes. Some can be serious, others not. Getting to the reason of having chest pain is not easy but if your doctors do not have any idea, maybe it is time to check yourself and give them a light. If your adrenals are not working properly, you very likely will have POTS, as well as chest pain, and many other health issues? Your electrolytes will not be properly balanced and this can also cause chest pain? Potassium or sodium could be above or below normal levels or not within the most appropriated levels and cause chest pain, as well. Adrenal issues are more common than you might think and it is not easy to get a dx. It is a rare disorder and it is not easy to find a doctor who knows about it. Your health problem can be or cannot be related to what I mention. I do not know, but there is a chance. Have you ever undergone a right blood test for adrenal issues? By the way, do you have a low blood pressure? Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator and has been associated with acute episodes of angina pectoris, myocardial infraction and sudden death. Other signs and symptoms associated with it include dizziness, nausea, palpitations, and decreases in systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressures. These initial signs and symptoms, including headache, are indicative of a shift in blood volume form the central to the peripheral circulatory system, initiated by dilation of the blood vessels. If the reason of your chest pain is related with your adrenals or electrolytes and your problem is vasodilation, then nitroglycerin can worsen your health. Nitroglycerin can cause sudden severe hypotension. Patients with normal or low pulmonary capillary wedge pressure are especially sensitive to the hypotensive effects of nitroglycerin. I hope to have been of any help. It is difficult to explain things trying to summarize. Take care, Love, Tessa P.S.: By the way, I agree with Nina. You have to find a doctor who believes in you, who really cares and who has the knowledge. I know: a difficult task. But you will find someone. I am sure. Get all the knowledge you can and look for a good one...

Hi Add another one to the difficulty of enjoying a movie... Yes, it is really hard, though I am feeling much better since I?ve started the new treatment (since the new dx)... And my heart has relaxed a lot, I am still unable to visit an amusement park ride...That?s for sure. It will make me dizzy, sick and can cause nausea and vomits... Movies are different now... But it also varies depending on how I feel that specific days. Some days loud music can trigger some symptoms... Others not.. Take care, Love, Tessa

Did you have your sodium and potassium tested? Unbalance of sodium and potassium can give chest pain, increased when lying down... I hope you can feel better soon and know what?s going on. Take care, Tessa

Hi Just wanted to pop in to send you my best thoughts for the TTT Do not worry. They know that you are ON meds and that your reaction is very likely going to be different than if you were without meds. Try to be calm. It will be over sooner than you expect. After the test, if you feel dizzy, try to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Share your TTT experience with us when done. I am looking forward to knowing from you, Take care, Tessa

I do agree with you... If it was really urgent, he would have acted in a different way. I know it is difficult, but just try to forget it. Why worrying beforehand if you do not know exactly what?s wrong? Take care, Love, Tessa

Hi, Angela I wasn?t sure what to vote for. I have POTS and I also have sinus tachycardia... But I do not know if I have PSVT or Vtach... Love, Tessa

I agree, call back. You need more information... they cannot give you such a news without telling you the rest... That?s stressing and disturbing. Insist. And investigate their answers. Share them with us, please, Take care, Love Tessa

Nina, you have found the best words for Ernie. I am sorry, too about the findings, but feel that it is better to know than not having the information. They might have been clueless in the future not knowing what was going wrong... Thanks to you, they know beforehand and can take the measures to avoid feeling worse...And time to investigate the cause... Love, Tessa

Yes, the heat worsens the symptoms... I drink plenty of fluids (water), most of it salted water... to balance my electrolytes and blood pressure... (which is low and tends to lower more with the heat) Love, Tessa

Ernie! How great that they decided doing this test!!! Well done. You can do it. I am sure. Looking forward to seeing the results. Take care and take it easy, Love, Tessa

Yes, I have developed a hypersensitivity to some meds. I never know what will happen next... Last time I took a med to avoid sickness on a flight I slept for the whole flight... (it was not expected to sleep)... Just as on my last endoscopy with sedation... Slept for a very long time during the test... The doctor was angry because I fell asleep... Other reaction have been much worse... A shock... I am more cautious now with whatever prescribed... Love, Tessa

Might be a side effect or a thyroid disorder. Have you tested your thyroid lately? Love, Tessa

Hi willows I am so sorry to know that you have glaucoma. Hopefully on time to prevent it from progression. On my last visit to the doctor last year, we detected that I had pterygium on both eyes and on both sides of each eye. My vision was affected but he insisted that it had nothing to do with it. According to the doctor, nothing to worry about as it was on the conjunctiva, close to the iris, but far enough from the pupil to cause any problem... I went to my GP the other day because I was astonished to see that the pterygium had extended into the iris and very likely is going towards the pupil... Sometimes I have a feeling as if I am having a foreign body sensation in the eye. Furthermore, they become easily red and my vision is not much better but worse than last year... I have been told that if a surgery is recommended there is no surgery with laser but at an operating room setting and going through a surgery with anesthetic... The removal may take place in a procedure room or operating room setting. The pterygium is carefully dissected away. In ORDER to prevent regrowth of the pterygium, your ophthalmologist may remove some of the surface tissue of the same eye (conjunctiva) and suture it INTO the bed of the excised pterygium. Alternatively, an antimetabolite such as mitomycin may be applied to the site. Postoperatively, your ophthalmologist may recommend some steroid eye drops for several weeks to decrease the inflammation and prevent regrowth of the pterygium As you can see, some of us develop problems in our eyes. And I am for the theory that everything is related. If you have a glaucoma, please, be sure to use sun glasses specially designed to protect your eyes from the UVA rays. (Very important). Yes. Immediate treatment for early stage, open-angle glaucoma can delay progression of the disease. That's why early diagnosis is very important. My husband is in risk of developing glaucoma and I have been surfing the net about it. Glaucoma can be treated... Though if the optic nerve has been affected, that cannot be reversed, but you can prevent it from developing further. Take care, Willows, Tessa

Be possitive... My prayers are with you too, Pat Love, TEssa

Hi Ernie Thank you for sharing your story with us... (And happy Birthday)... Your effort and possitiveness has reached my soul... Impressing... You have a lot of energy and a possitive attitude towards life. Thank you for your giving hope to others. Thank you for telling us and for giving us the prove that IT is possible. Wish you much better days to come, Love, Take care TEssa

Lindajoy I am with you that not having ink... and that the letter ended in the dustbin... was for a very good reason. Congratulations for starting the group and for u nderstanding that your energy could have a better use!!! Excellent idea!!!! I am sure that you will help many people and... That?s the most important thing. Love, TEssa

Oh, I am so sorry to know that you are in the Hospital... But I really hope that they will be able to help you to feel better soon. I know that you need much more patience when you are at the Hospital... It is frustrating, but try to rest and think possitive You are in my thoughts and prayers for a soon recovery. Take care and keep us updated, when possible. Love, Tessa