LJENN85663

I have felt this way many times. When this happens to me my pulse is usually really fast. I also experienced shortness of breath that severe when I was taking 125mg of Betta Blockers twice a day. I am in the process of decreasing/coming off of my beta blocker because of this shortness of breath.

I am also one that is able to work. I work full time as a Nurse Case Manager for a Hospice Company. I realized very early that I could not do 12 hour shifts at a hospital, or even 8 hours running around. My job now requires me to drive most of the day between patients, and since I see patients in nursing homes or at their home I sit a majority of my day. I think that if I hadn't chosen this path in Nursing I would be in the same position as most of you. I work 40-50 hours a week, and depending on how many hours, work is the only thing that I feel up to doing. Most days I come home and take at least an hour to an hour and a half nap in order to just function the rest of the night.

Hello all- I am new to this forum, so please forgive me as I am just learning how to post. I recently was diagnosed with EDS, and told that this is the cause for my POTS. First I was wondering if anyone else had heard of EDS causing POTS, as all my docs are looking at me like I am some kind of freak. My primary doctor even went so far as to tell me that I was going to end up living a life full of pain and end up having multiple surgeries. I have an appointment to see an arthritis and osteoporosis Dr. this Thursday, and I am worried to hear what they are going to say. My second question is have any of you with EDS had problems with your shoulder joints. I recently went to raise my arm outward to a 90 degree angle (at my side) and partially tore my rotator cuff. I am in physical therapy for it currently, but it seems to still be bothering me. Now when I look in the mirror my hurt shoulder actually sits lower on my body than my normal shoulder! I was just wondering if anyone else has heard of this before. My PT says it's due to the EDS causing a laxity of the muscles/ligaments in my body that is causing this. I get my brace tomorrow for my shoulder, but I am just so unsure. These doctors and their lack of knowlege have me very worried. I thought I had my POTS diagnosis pretty much digested, and then to have this sprung on me, just adds more worry and stress to the situation. I am only 26 years old, and I feel like I am falling apart WAY too soon. I am just so frustrated at everyone's lack of knowledge, and so happy to have found this forum. I feel like I now have people I can turn to that may understand all the feelings of frustration, worry, stress, and just plain anger that I am feeling. I am sorry to vent my first post, but thank you for allowing me to.

Hello- I actually asked this same question to Beverly (Dr.Grubb's NP) the last time I was there, and she said the reason that POTS patients have increased symptoms at the time of our periods is due to testosterone not estrogen. During our cycle our body gets rid of testosterone, which is a vasoconstrictor, so our bodies react to the Estrogen levels, vasodilator, more as Testosterone is stronger than Estrogen. The fact that Testosterone is stronger than Estrogen is why during the rest of the month we do not feel the effects of our Estrogen levels as much.