jsb

Those are premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs. They often occur when your heart is overstimulated. They're not dangerous unless they're sustained for a long period (beyond a few beats), in which case they can turn into venticular tachyardia.

"I've had moments that were exceptionally challenging, but despite having POTS and NCS all my life, I would characterize my life as happy and fullfilling."

If I can't regain the concentration, focus and mental acuity I once had, my life will never be happy or fulfilling; so much depends on that. I'm a writer, with a huge project I stopped cold three years ago; I've returned to it recently, but I find I just can't work effectively. It's the ****** brain fog.

For some people, autonomic problems present with a slow progression, so slow progression wouldn't mean that don't have POTS (doesn't necessarily mean that you do, either though...)

Good to hear that you're seeing a GI doc--especially if you've picked up a parasite. In addition, if you think you may have an autonomic problem, you should see a doc who specializes in that area--they can order the correct tests.

Here's a list of doctors:

http://www.dinet.org/physicians.htm

And here's a list of the typical tests they might order:

http://www.dinet.org/how_is_pots_detected.htm

In addition, if there are no docs in your area, you might able to find someone knowledgeable through the chronic fatigue docs listed here:

http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm

Welcome to our board--Nina

I hold the hope that I don't have an underlying autonomic problem; because that would mean that my life as I know it is over, and I don't think I could deal with that. Before the panic, I took stimulants for attention deficit problems, and they helped tremendously; but I haven't been able to take them without panic reactions in the last three years. Even drugs like Wellbutrin and Straterra have side effects I can't tolerate. I've been unable to work effectively for three years, and I want my old life back. I seem to require adrenaline and a high excitation state to feel good; some people are like that. But I can no longer tolerate that state; it doesn't make me feel good anymore, but panicky.

Anyway, thanks for the links; I'll look them over.

Hi, I'm new here. Male, age 27.

Over the last six years or so, I've slowly developed the following symptoms:

Tachycardia after eating, esp. when I eat carbohydrates, sugar or diary products.

Crushing fatigue and tiredness.

Diahrea and constipation (alternating).

Weird reactions to a lot of drugs; e.g., Vicodin can send me into a panic attack.

Panic attacks.

Frequent Urination.

Inability to concentrate; the classic "brain fog."

Mild abdominal pain in specific places.

Nausea.

Exercise intolerance.

General ill feeling.

Flatulence.

Heat intolerance.

Shortness of breath (when my heart beats fast).

Most of these symptoms have come along in the last three years, since January, 2001; esp. the panic attacks.

I've been to a number of doctors, and no one knows what's wrong exactly. After much research, I decided it was some form of dysautonomia; but the slow progress of the symptoms seems to suggest otherwise--usually, POTS and like illnesses hit more quickly than this. I've begun to suspect that parasites are to blame--I've passed at least one worm, and I'm now seeing a GI doctor for that. I have an appointment this Thursday to discuss fecal test results. I theorize that the parasites have slowly worn down my defenses, and are now overwhelming me; my nervuous system seems to have hair trigger--it's always on edge, and can go into a rage with little provocation; parasites release a lot of toxins that could be to blame for this.

Anyone have experiences like this? Could parasites cause all these dysautonomic symptoms? And, once elimiated, would my body return to normal?