Statix

Dave, when you say "normal", do you mean normal for everyone or for people with POTS? Mine does the exact same thing AKgirl describes.

Hey everyone, I know I have talked about this before, but I am going to try and get some information from you guys about what causes this, or if anyone on here experiences the same things with their HR. Okay, to start off, it seems my heart rate decreases throughout the day. For instance, when I wake up and get out of the shower, my standing HR will be around 100-110, sitting will be around 75-80. This will last a few hours until I cool down and such. After it calms down a bit, my standing will be around 85-95, and sitting will be around 65-70 and will stay there for the most of the day. Now, in the later hours of staying up, I would say starting around 8 hours of being awake, my heart rate will be around 75-85 standing, and 55-65 sitting. Today, I am staying up later than usual, and have been up for 14 hours. This is the longest I think I have stayed up since I became aware of my HR symptoms close to three months ago. My standing HR is 65-70, and my sitting is around 52-58. To sum this up, it seems my heart rate slows the longer I stay up. I am almost scared to stay up because I don't know what my HR will get to lol. In addition, I would like to add I have not been diagnosed with anything as I have not got to the doctor yet, and I don't have any other symptoms. I don't take any medicine daily except some generic zyrtec in the AM. My questions is what do you guys think causes this, and what happens when I sleep that makes it restart every day? Also, I notice that when I stand still, my HR will speed up, but when I start moving, like shuffling or walking around, it will slow it down until I remain standing still for a few seconds. Any input would be great! Thanks!

Hey everyone, hope all is well. I was thinking today and wanting to ask this question because I live a very sedentary lifestyle. I literally sit most of the day and get practically zero exercise. I do have the 30bpm increase in HR, but it usually only happens in the AM, and within a few hours of being awake, my standing HR will usually be around 82-90. A few months ago, when I joined the site, it was around 100-120 standing pretty regularly, but it seems my HR has been dropping to a more reasonable level lately. I also ask this, because I do not have any other symptoms that seem to go with POTS. I don't get lightheaded, I don't get headaches, nothing other than HR increase when I stand. In the afternoons, it will even be below a 30 bpm increase with standing. What what do you guys think? Can being deconditioned mimic the HR that comes with POTS?

Hey everyone, I'm trying not to turn in to a hypochondriac, but since I have been noticing my HR more often these days, I noticed that when I am drinking water, my HR will increase about 15 bpm while I am doing it. I read that swallowing will increase the HR, but could never find out how much. I don't know if this would make a difference, but I drink through a straw. I will feel my pulse, then start drinking through the straw. Once I start drinking, my HR will increase pretty instantly to around 15 bpm faster than when not drinking, and will remain that way for a few seconds after I stop drinking. Is this normal, or is my response overly exaggerated?

Hey everyone, hope all is well. As I am still trying to figure out what has been causing my tachy with standing, I noticed I had blood pooling issues, so I ordered some compression socks (30-40 knee-high). Once I put them on, I sat down for a while with my feet up and watched some TV. Once I decided to stand up to see if they were working, I went to check my BP/HR. My BP was high, like 150s/100s, and my HR increased up to 147 before I decided to sit down. I also broke out in a sweat. I think some of this was anxiety of seeing my BP so high, but this was the highest my HR has been since the first day I noticed my tachy a little over a month ago. I still have yet to get to the doctor, and I know I need to go, but for now, I was wondering if any of you had any input? Thanks.

See, that scares me because my anxiety levels are so high right now, I'm finding it very hard to even get to the doctor. I have had anxiety for most of my life, and have developed agoraphobia (not completely housebound) for 5 years now. Now, since I have been experiencing tachy with standing/blood pooling issues, I have pretty much self-diagnosed myself with POTS. I know I can't self-diagnose, but I also know I would need to get around out of my comfort zone to get proper tests, which is especially hard with someone with my condition. I am also know questioning if my anxieties are due to POTS or something. I have only been experiencing tachy with standing for a little over a month, but I am freaking out about it.

I understand that. That's why i'm trying to take a low dose and only take them when I really need them. I don't have many, so i'm using them sparingly.

How long were you on the Benzo? Since my anxiety has been going up lately, I have been taking a .25mg dose once every 3 days or so. I'm trying not to make it a habit to take them, especially since I am taking them without my doctors approval.

I think I have similar things. Although I am not diagnosed with anything yet as I have only been having tachy with standing for a month, once I noticed this, it freaked me out. I even went to the ER. I have had anxiety problems since I can remember, and I think people with anxiety are just more in-tuned with their body. The slightest change with our body can make us THINK something bad is happening. We start "catastrophizing" which in turn makes our anxieties worse. I know how hard it is to calm down, but if you start feeling anxious, sit down, lay down, do what ever you need to do and try to get your mind off of the symptoms you are experiencing. I don't think my POTS problems are as bad as a lot of people on here, as I only get tachy, but I remember reading that POTS anxiety feels like an anxiety attack without the mental thoughts, while an anxiety attack is when our thoughts are rushing and we start feeling that something terrible is about to happen.

Yeah, I have seen that picture, and it also seems it's quite common for people to have blood pooling when standing still. I have also had anxieties for as long as I can remember, it's nothing new that has started since I have noticed the increase in standing HR. I am just very tuned with my body and the slightest change can make me feel some anxiety. But, from what I have gathered so far, it sounds like I do have POTS, or some sort of dysautonomia. It's just strange that it happened all of a sudden following my chest pain episode I talked about in my intro.

Well I just did it for about 7 mins, I quit because I started becoming anxious after looking at my legs. They became purplish and had a little tingle to them. My HR did increase from a 60 resting to 93 standing. This could have been because I was anxious or concentrating on my HR, or because of course POTS. I am going to try again tomorrow when I have someone with me lol. I didn't get lightheaded or anything, and I think my BP actually went higher (I was looking at HR more than the actual BP).

I get a 30 beats or more jump directly after standing, and it will stay that way until I sit down (even if moving around). I don't have any other symptoms consistent with POTS, though. This is what has me confused.

What should I be looking for? I think I have actually done it for 10 mins now that I think of it. What would happen if it is POTS? Do I need to remain completely still or do I just need to be standing for 30 mins? (I stand for 30 mins every day, but walking around, too)

I have done it for 5 mins, and I couldn't really tell a difference in my heart rate as my heart rate increases pretty much immediately upon standing. when I stand still, it would go up a bit, but would eventually level out, but still in or near tachy range.

Thanks for the reply. I have tried SSRI's in the past with little to no relief. The side effects would make me get off them because I felt the negative out weighed the positive. I am going to ask about Zoloft since I have not tried that one yet. I keep trying to think about other things that might could cause a faster heart rate upon standing, but all I seem to find from searching the net is POTS that explains the same increase I am having. Could a thyroid problem mimic the same HR increase? Could anything else mimic a faster heart rate upon standing other than POTS? I feel like I am going insane sometimes because I can't seem to find anything other than POTS that describes this, yet I don't seem to have any other symptoms of POTS. Also, from what I have gathered, they couldn't diagnose me with POTS if my symptoms have not persisted for longer than 6 months. I have only been dealing with this for a little over three weeks.