ramakentesh

Im new here and have been diagnosed with POTS.

I had a terrible time getting diagnosed: nine months of being treated like a loonie. Originally my first doctor thought it might be my thyroid so sent me for tests - my thryoid hormone was slightly higher than normal and i had some nodules so he told me it was my thyroid and put me on inderal (beta blocker). The problem was i was so terribly dizzy, lightheaded and out-of-it unless i was lying flat in my bed that the inderal made these symptoms worse while getting rid of the palpitations, breathlessness and tremors.

Initially my symptoms were waking at night with a pounding heart beat, termors, and double vision - then my hands would tremble and my chest would ache. I got vitreous floaters all through my eyes and my nipples were swollen.

When the endo said that it was not my thyroid, but had to be 'anxiety.' i felt so angry because i knew that i was not going mad. I went to two more endos and one suggested hypotension upon standing, but because i got higher blood pressure and hreat rate upon standing i was told that it 'couldnt be that - and must be psychosomatic.'

I went to my old doctor from childhood who suggested that i was a 'speed addict - its obvious from your tremors and weight loss.'

I went to naturopaths who told me i had reactive hypoglycemia - which was sort opf true as my blood sugar was dipping low, but my adrenal response was over the moon - tremors, confusion, chills, dizziness (more than usual!)

Every time i went to the supermarket or a the plaza, the neon lights and crowds woiuld overload me and i woulkd be so dizzy, weak and spaced out that i could barely keep my eye lids open. I would go home, loy down and then be fine ten minutes later. My fingernails started to get ridges and my eyes were full of vitroeus floaters, i couldnt deal with any stress and had the odd panic attak - which was hard to accept for a rational person like myself.

Then i went to an alternative doctor who suggested chronic fatigue complicated by thyroid abnormalities, then it was gilbert's disease, then a host of other obscure diagnosis - although im sure all the doctors thought i had anxiety - every specialist i saw jumped to that conclusion and i could tell that my GPs suspected it as well.

Then i found POTS on the internet, copied the details and took it to my doctor. He instantly asked me to lean forward and whether i felt my heart punding in my head - i said yes - off to a specialist who confirmed POTS.

FInally a diagnosis after months of fear, trauma and doubt...

Now what do i look for to treat these problems? Lots of salt? My blood pressure is 140 over 80 standing. Or should i try midodrine?

Im often hyperactive - so much so that they thought i had an overactiev thyroid.

I find that inderal helps as does a tea of valerian (safe herb) and if i even touch caffiene im so dizzy and spacy that im on a different planet.

ive got POTS witha slightly overactive thyroid, but still feel cold all the time. My hands and feet are often freezing - and this is from a guy who used to wear tshirts in winter and ride on a bike in the wind to school!

Im new here and have been diagnosed with POTS.

I had a terrible time getting diagnosed: nine months of being treated like a loonie. Originally my first doctor thought it might be my thyroid so sent me for tests - my thryoid hormone was slightly higher than normal and i had some nodules so he told me it was my thyroid and put me on inderal (beta blocker). The problem was i was so terribly dizzy, lightheaded and out-of-it unless i was lying flat in my bed that the inderal made these symptoms worse while getting rid of the palpitations, breathlessness and tremors.

Initially my symptoms were waking at night with a pounding heart beat, termors, and double vision - then my hands would tremble and my chest would ache. I got vitreous floaters all through my eyes and my nipples were swollen.

When the endo said that it was not my thyroid, but had to be 'anxiety.' i felt so angry because i knew that i was not going mad. I went to two more endos and one suggested hypotension upon standing, but because i got higher blood pressure and hreat rate upon standing i was told that it 'couldnt be that - and must be psychosomatic.'

I went to my old doctor from childhood who suggested that i was a 'speed addict - its obvious from your tremors and weight loss.'

I went to naturopaths who told me i had reactive hypoglycemia - which was sort opf true as my blood sugar was dipping low, but my adrenal response was over the moon - tremors, confusion, chills, dizziness (more than usual!)

Every time i went to the supermarket or a the plaza, the neon lights and crowds woiuld overload me and i woulkd be so dizzy, weak and spaced out that i could barely keep my eye lids open. I would go home, loy down and then be fine ten minutes later. My fingernails started to get ridges and my eyes were full of vitroeus floaters, i couldnt deal with any stress and had the odd panic attak - which was hard to accept for a rational person like myself.

Then i went to an alternative doctor who suggested chronic fatigue complicated by thyroid abnormalities, then it was gilbert's disease, then a host of other obscure diagnosis - although im sure all the doctors thought i had anxiety - every specialist i saw jumped to that conclusion and i could tell that my GPs suspected it as well.

Then i found POTS on the internet, copied the details and took it to my doctor. He instantly asked me to lean forward and whether i felt my heart punding in my head - i said yes - off to a specialist who confirmed POTS.

FInally a diagnosis after months of fear, trauma and doubt...