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RIfainthearted

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Posts posted by RIfainthearted

  1. I saw a neurologist at Lahey Clinic. He noted there were four areas of concern: poor balance, abnormal gait, memory and syncope. The only abnormal blood test was kidney function. MRI was normal. He said that I may not have POTS. There's no question that my BP plummets when I stand and my HR goes up.

    What does a TTT show besides the postural orthostasis? He ruled out Parkinson's, stroke and brain tumor. Can anyone suggest alternative diagnoses? Thanks-

  2. I have POTS but need info on pediatric POTS. My neighbor, Matt, started fainting last Wed. Since then he has fainted (or fallen) when walking up stairs, in shower, while brushing his teeth, and several times while walking. He describes his legs as feeling "wobbly" and feeling dizzy before falling. His allergies were really acting up last weekend and up until last Tuesday. He's been to the ER three times (CT scan, blood workup, chest X-Ray, EKGs, ears, all normal). The hospital suggested that he be seen by a pediatric cardiologist tomorrow to have an ECHO and possibly, a halter monitor. Yesterday, when they checked his BP (prone, sitting and standing), he wasn't orthostatic but was tachycardic upon standing. In the original ER visit, he was orthostatic. I was in the ER with his yesterday and asked about POTS and the doc said that they don't use the term POTS with children. She said they just use vasovagal syncope. So- for any parents with affected kids, I have some questions:

    Did the POTS symptoms start out of the blue or was there a trauma or illness that brought them on?

    How did your child continue to go to school if there was the danger of fainting?

    After cardiac problems are ruled out, what testing was done? (tilt table test?)

    What type of doc diagnosed and/or treated your child? Neurologist?

    What meds (if any) were prescribed?

    What is the prognosis for POTS in children?

    Hopefully, this will turn out to be a virus or something that's easily treatable. Since the docs seem to leaning in the vasovagal direction, I figured there was no better source of info on the subject than you parents. Thanks in advance- Susan

  3. I'm having a nuclear stress test next week in Boston. I had a chemical one two years ago and I almost fainted lying down. This time they're planning to put me on a treadmill. Should I have someone drive me to Boston? I live in RI and usually drive 45 minutes to the "T", and then take that in to Boston. The one problem that I have is climbing the sets of stairs at the "T" stop in Boston. I'm having the test to check me since I have trouble with inclines (dizziness) and to clear me for knee surgery. I can't take Nadolol the day before and the day of the test. Last time I stopped my betablocker cold turkey, I was in the emergency room two days later. Any advice? Suz

  4. I've been taking everybody's suggestions and trying to stay on top of things. I've been drinking lots of fluids and eating bananas for potassium. Lots of salt. So far I feel great. I'm up in Maine so the cooler temps help. I went to a party yesterday and after I got home, I realized that I had stood for 3 hours talking to people. A miracle. Usually, I'm planning my strategy to grab a chair. Do you think 5 cups of rum punch had anything to do with it? :)

  5. Thanks so much to everyone for the great advice. I'll see if I can locate a mister, battery fan and the ice "blankets". I was told there were approximately 3500 graduating from Hopkins (undergrad and grad). Since my hotel is directly across the street from the stadium, if I find out my son is late in the program, perhaps I can scoot back to the hotel for a while. Wish me luck! Yippee- no more tuition! :)

  6. I ran out of Florinef and was only able to take one of the two prescribed tabs this a.m. Since then, despite drinking lots of Powerade and water, I've felt terrible. Dizzy, hissing sound in my ears, weak and generally, feeling out of it. Could the missed dose of Florinef have that kind of sudden impact? I am feeling a bit desperate because I have to be well this week- too much to do.

  7. Griffin- I feel like I'm stalking you- I just replied to your beta blocker post :rolleyes: My HR without meds was 100-150 resting and quickly rose to 170's with standing. Since I've been on the Nadolol- haven't any episodes of tachy. One Cardio took me off Atenolol and then left town with no one covering. Two days after stopping cold turkey, my husband had to drive me back from Maine to go to the local clinic. No fun-

  8. I've been treated for a herniated disc and SI joint pain. The slipped disc caused great pain in the lower back and it radiated down the buttocks and back of my thigh. I couldn't sit or lift my leg. After 2 months of bed rest (when I was 17), they removed it.

    I was treated for SI pain a few years ago. Months of PT, which entailed electric stim, massage, exercises to build up my core and water therapy. I had gotten so used to the pain that it wasn't until the field of pain started shrinking that I realized how abnormal it was.

    When I saw the ortho for the SI pain, I assumed it was another disc. He had me bend over, lift my legs, bend side to side and none of that caused pain. He then pressed the SI spot and bam- the pain arrived.

    I was fitted with a brace after the disc surgery and whenever my back acted up, I'd wear it for a while. When things get really bad- exercising in water is the only thing I can tolerate. The one medication that worked for me with the SI pain is Diclofenac. I think it's a prescription anti inflammatory. Hope some of this helps- Suz

  9. I've just started taking a higher dose of salt pills. Yesterday, I took two 1 gram pills at different times. No problems. At night, I took one right after dinner and minutes later, I was vomiting. Do you take them on an empty stomach?

    My doc just doubled my Florinef to two pills/day. Since then, I've had a couple of days where I am so exhausted I can't really function. Is this typical?

    Does anyone have any advice?

  10. Lieze- how awful for you. If the Paxil was prescribed, why aren't you taking it? Did your doc want you to take both Xanax and Paxil? I've never experienced your symptoms with POTS. It sounds like a panic attack and maybe should be addressed by a psychiatrist or someone who deals with anxiety disorders.

    You deal with so much having 4 children you need to take care of yourself. Your neurotransmitters or something else in your brain may not be functioning properly, thus the excessive anxiety. Seek help because you shouldn't have to suffer. Take care of yourself.

  11. I too have the red dots on my arms and legs sporadically. Never thought they could be connected to POTS. Does checking your level of vitamin C require a specific blood test? According to my research, the red dots are petechia. "A petechia (pronounced /pɨˈtiːkiə/, plural petechiae /pɨˈtiːkɪ.iː/) is a small (1-2mm) red or purple spot on the body, caused by a minor hemorrhage (broken capillary blood vessels)[1]

    Although they're probably nothing (my husband, a dentist, says that he sees them all the time in people's mouths), we still should have them checked. Occasionally, they are a symptom of something serious.

  12. Interesting idea about spinal trauma and POTS. I had a disc removed (L4 or 5) when I was 17 (1974). I was finally diagnosed with POTS two years ago. After reading your posts, I realize that I have had symptoms since then. Without meds, when I stand, my heart rate rises as if I was jogging. It is much easier for me to walk than stand in place. I have found that the meds have greatly helped: midodrine, nadolol and florinef.

    Right now, my internist and I treat each change in symptoms as they arise and try different things until there's improvement. Unfortunately, because of depression, POTS and a bit of laziness (ok, maybe a tad more than a bit...), I have let myself get terribly out of shape. I spend summers in Maine and try to swim every day (native Mainers look at me like I'm crazy). Hopefully, I can get myself motivated to start moving because the deconditioning makes everything harder.

    If you can find a pool, you might give swimming or even just moving in the water, a try. It's the one place where I feel great. Take care-

  13. I have brain fog but don't know if it's from the POTS or ADD. Since 1974, I have taken a nap (usually 2 hrs) every day, except when I worked full time. I find that after a few hours of being awake, my mind is either racing or in such a fog that I can't think straight. You might want to research some of the strategies used to help teens with ADD. They are very useful for getting organized, following through on things, etc. I know of some good books if you're interested.

  14. I had the same symptoms (resting HR between 100-150) which rose to 170+ upon standing. After many tests, it was determined that my heart was healthy. After many years with no answers (I was taking Atenolol), I saw a cardio at Mass General. After a couple of tests, he diagnosed POTS and switched me to Midodrine and Nadolol. Recently, my internist added Florinef. The key for me is staying hydrated. After one faint, a neighbor called 911 and the responders decided that my skin was gray, BP was too low and I was too out of it. After four bags of fluid in the emergency room, I was much better. Definatly time to get a new doctor...

  15. My last job as a librarian was in an elementary school (pre-K through 6). I hadn't been diagnosed with POTS and was frequently dizzy from rising after being on the floor or crouching. In front of the class, I usually leaned against a desk or stool. I found that if I kept moving, things were better. What really did me in was the sheer exhaustion. After 6 years, I resigned because I didn't think it was fair to my sons, who were 12 and 14 at the time.

    Don't forget to consider whether the work you bring home at night (class prep, grading papers, etc.) is going to prove to be too exhausting for you after a long day in the classroom.

  16. I've been on midodrine (5mg twice a day) for two years. It wasn't until I just read the above responses did I realize that my constant chills and strange tingling in my head, are caused by the midodrine. Midodrine has been great for me. There are still days when my BP plummets, but not nearly as often. I also take Nadolol to lower my HR (it will rise to 170's by standing). It seems contradictory to take something that lowers the BP when I have such low BP. However, the nadolol is required to lower the HR and the midodrine is used to counteract the lowering of the BP caused by the nadolol. Confused yet? Anyway- the other med I take is Florinef which has also helped with the low BP. Hope this helps-

  17. I, too, have lightheadedness when my BP goes low. A cardio saw me as a favor to another doc two weeks before I was to leave for a trip to Italy. He performed two tests, changed my meds, suggested the compression hose and recommended hydration and salt pills. Another med he prescribed was Xanax. I was to take a pill whenever I knew that I would be standing in line. He believed that it would lower any anxiety that I would have about standing and the possibility of subsequent fainting. I took it for the airports, followed the rest of his suggestions and had a great trip.

    My doc wants me to lie down if the systolic goes lower than 90. That's now always possible but I do sit when I begin to feel that sensation in my head. Getting up very slowly after sitting or lying also helps a lot.

    Out of curiousity- what's an A & E? Is it a hospital emergency room? You're the second one who's mentioned it recently.

  18. Deb- I think we've all been desperate at times with our various symptoms. One easy way to check for POTS is to take your BP while lying down, sitting and standing. You must be in those positions for 2 minutes before you get the BP reading. For me, it started with tachycardia being explored (150 HR resting, rising to 180's standing). It was later that the lowering of the BP upon standing became so evident. I think if your BP drops more than 30 pts. upon standing, while your HR rises significantly, you may have POTS. I, too, am cold all of the time (particularly my hands and feet). Perhaps you could print up some concise info on POTS and show it to your new doc. You have to trust your instincts. Ignore any who doubt that there's something physiologically wrong. Continue to be your best advocate. Tell any doc who dismisses you with "it's anxiety, depression, stress, etc." to take a flying leap...

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