blueskies1234

I have insulin resistance too, and my glucose levels are normal. I make sure to eat whole grains no refined carbohydrates as well as exersize (when my body will allow me to). I also have Polycystic Ovaries (PCO) which is correlated with insulin resistance. Some doctors will prescribe Metformin to help your cells more sensitive to insulin.

I find losing weight more difficult, but don't have too many issues other than that.

Count me in! Night sweats that leave puddles. I also get so sweaty during certain parts of my head while at the same time having ice cold extremeties. My temperature regulation is WAY off.

This is a symptom that has happened to me throughout my life, so I just assumed it happened to everyone. What happens is I get a fizzing sensation right at the back of my neck where my skull meets my neck. It's almost like the fizzing when opening a soda can, or a fly buzzing-a definite vibration.

I notice it sometimes when my stomach is gurgling too, so I'm not sure if it's connected? I notice it when I'm sitting up in bed.

Is this something you experience too? I'm not sure if this is something worth mentioning to my doc or not?

I have PCO too...although I have basically been symptom-free for 12yrs now. I've been wondering if there is a connection since PCO seems to be correlated to insulin resistance, which affect lots of hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, FSH/LH) which is somehow connected to the adrenals...which I've read some folks speculating about POTS being connected too.

I was diagnosed with PCO 16yrs before I had any symptoms of POTS.

You can easily get a hormone panel done. I see a reproductive endocrinologist for PCO treatment. I know they look at your LH:FSH ratio which should be 1:1, and the free testosterone.

Best of luck, and please excuse the brain fog :-)

I've gotten them 3 times since December, and I was just diagnosed with POTS. It does wipe me out for a couple days afterwards.

I had it happen one time before I had been diagnosed years ago, but I had been to a wedding and drank a little too much red wine :-), and that time it turned into a full migraine

I wondered if there was a connection since it seems to be a new thing for me. Very interesting....

PS- I did try a beta-blocker but my blood pressure dropped too much.

I'm trying to figure out all this POTs stuff after being recently diagnosed.

I'm one of the odd ones who has an increase in blood pressure when standing (and heart rate too obviously), and am extremely symptomatic but have never fainted. My doc had never heard of POTs, so we are both learning, but she is under the impression I cannot take florinef or midrodine etc because it will increase my blood pressure even more (I have normal-slightly low blood pressure when not standing).

I'm also wondering if this increase in BP means I have the hyperandrogenic form of POTs?

I hope this all makes sense- my brain isn't flowing properly.

Thank you!

I have come down with an upper respiratory infection, and feel like I've been hit by a truck. I will be seeing my doc tomorrow, but in the meantime do you have anything I should be aware of? Medications to avoid? I'm resting and drinking lots of fluids/salt.

Thank you!

Really hope you start to feel better soon, Rene! Please take good care of yourself!

I just saw this video too, and really don't know what to think. Being a 'newbie', I'm interested to hear what others think. Thanks for sharing!!

I can't 'shower', but I do take a bath almost every day. I wash my hair at least a few times a week, but not every day. I feel like I will faint if I stand in the shower for more than a minute or two.

http://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2010/02/23/h...-at-mayo-clinic

Thought you might like to see.

I've been thinking about getting one too-thanks for sharing the links.

What do you recommend getting engraved on it? Since most medical docs that I've found haven't even heard of POTS, I'm not sure how much it would help?

I guess my brain fog is acting up today (either that or I'm losing my mind too?)...I KNOW I typed a response and submitted it earlier this morning....anyway....

I have similar problems with reading Nikki. I have also seen 2 ENTs and eye doc-both saying everything is fine. They say they think I have Horner's syndrome which causes my pupils to have issues with contracting, and my eyelid will droop at times. My mother once noticed that my eyes weren't tracking together too.

Sorry I don't have any answers to help-it sure isn't fun! Do you notice that it's worse at any paticular time of day? My vision is definitely worse at night.

Obviously this is for the general public, but I imagine the 'rules' are similar for us?

From WebMD:

Call911or other emergency services immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

A sudden, severe headache

Chest pain (angina)

Other symptoms of a heart attack

Symptoms of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Call a doctor immediately if you have high blood pressure and:

Your blood pressure is usually normal or well controlled, but it suddenly goes well above the normal range on more than one occasion.

Your blood pressure is 180/110 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher. [/b

Call a doctor if:

Your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher on two or more occasions (taken at home or in a community screening program). If one blood pressure measurement is high, have another reading taken by a doctor or nurse to verify the first reading. Many doctors' offices or clinics will take blood pressure measurements without an appointment.

You have significant side effects from any medicine you take for high blood pressure. The side effects may be so bad that you do not want to take your medicine anymore. Talk with your doctor before you stop taking your medicine.

Adults are encouraged to have their blood pressure checked regularly

Hope you feel better soon!

During my tilt tests the increase in my heart rate ranged from 22bpm to 60bpm increase. Within the 1st minute the increase was 37bpm, then it dipped down to 22bpm (while my blood pressure increased), and by the end was up to a 60bpm increase. It seems to be a similar pattern during my 'poor man tilt'-meaning it shoots up, drops and then significantly jumps at the end of 10minutes.

I did receive word today that I have an appointment with a Neuro at U of Denver who specializes in Dysautomonia in February. Until then, thank you for all your knowledge and help!

Wow-I am exactly the same! Until recently, I thought the diagnostic criteria for POTS was a decrease in bp (and so did my docs). My bp elevates tremendously when I do any activity (talking on the phone, eating, standing etc).

I also have the extremes that have been described (180/100 vs 90/45). I think I feel bad at either end of the spectrum.

I'm learning a lot on here-thank you!

I have been experiencing the exact same thing, Machair! Unfortunately, I don't have an explanation that I can share (neither do my docs).

My night sweats seem to be correlated to when I'm having restless legs-not necessesarily the same night, but within a few days. I have lowered the heat to 50 some nights, but I still wake up dripping wet.

I am also FREEZING most of the rest of the time. Over the holidays, I was in southern california where the temp was in the 60s (as opposed to the teens here), and I had to have an electric blanket and layers all the time.

Sorry you are going through this too! Must admit though, I am comforted to know I'm not alone :-)

Be well,

blueskies

I just got a temporary one as well, and use it when I need too. As others said, it's a good thing to have on 'bad' days (and it was incredibly helpful during the holiday season when parking was virtually impossible most places around here).

Your Bp does not have to drop for you to have POTS. My BP went up during my tilt table test. Sounds like you need a neuro and some docs that know what the test means.

With that said- was was never given anything during my test so if you got some kind of injection I guess it could mean something else. Good Luck

Wow! Very interesting responses THANK YOU for the clarification! I am now convinced that I have POTS (not IST) afterall. I guess I need to find a doc that can interpret the results and get me a 'proper' diagnosis.

Thanks again!

I'm new around here, but have been learning a lot so far! It's exciting to talk to people who know what I'm talking about!

I am very confused about some things....What is the difference between inappropriate sinus tachycardia vs. POTS?

I have been sick since May '09 which they think started as a virus (perhaps mono, but it wasnt confirmed). I've had 2 tilt table tests-one was more autonomic (and less accurate according to my doc), and the other was cardiac (with the nitroglycerin). The 1st autonomic tilt test showed 'Mild Orthostatic Intolerance', but not as bad as typically seen for a POTS diagnosis. My heartrate did increase 35bpm and had a high of 147.

The 2nd tilt test (cardiac) gave me the diagnosis of 'Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia' due to the increase in heartrate (165bpm) without the normal drop in BP.

The thing is, I have confirmed gastroparesis, unequal pupil size, extreme fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes, cold extremeties, I'm dizzy when I stand, brain fog etc.

I'm not sure where to go from here? Should I be seeing a cardiologist, or a neurologist?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide :-)