Mrs. Burschman

I drink a LOT of hot tea, but it's usually weak. I think it helps me stay alert, but it might be more helpful in that it keeps my fluid intake up.

Thanks for posting this, Ramakentesh!

Amy

I take a hot water bottle to bed with me every night in the winter. Although I might need it less this year in Washington, D.C., than I did in the arctic wilds of South Dakota...

Amy

Tattoo?

Just kidding. I don't do well with needles.

No, Benadryl is an anti-histamine and Sudafed is a decongestant. The anti-histamine effect of Benadryl is actually a side-effect since it is also a potent central nervous system depressant: that is why it makes you sleepy.

Jinx! Said same thing at the same time!

I don't suppose you happen to be having any symptoms associated with withdrawal, are you? That might be a clue that plasma levels are dropping out on you.

Well, I can't really tell. The last time I thought I was having "withdrawal" from quitting Paxil, I figured out that it was actually POTS, confirmed by a tilt-table test. I think they actually have a lot in common.

Amy

Thanks, guys. I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner.

Having diarrhea would also make me feel worse because of dehydration and improper nutrients, so I'm probably getting a double-whammy. And when I don't take my Paxil, I get diarrhea. So that makes a triple-whammy.

Hopefully, the doctor can figure out what's wrong with my guts and get them calmed down. Bleah.

Amy

Does Benadryl do the same thing as Sudafed? Benadryl seems to make me tired....Anyone know?

Thanks!

Jana

No, Benadryl is an antihystamine, and yes, it makes people tired. In fact, my brother-in-law, who's a doctor, recommends it for people with insomnia. My husband takes it sometimes.

Sudafed tends to do the opposite -- get people wired. People who have hypertension aren't supposed to take it.

Amy

Oh -- here's another one. TAKE YOUR OWN WATER, and DRINK IT ALL. The air on planes is very dry, and we all know how dehydration affects us. So drink up!

Amy

So late? Wow, Mighty Mouse, I didn't know that you were 98 years old. You look great!

Seriously, though, even if you were 98, you still might be interested in knowing why your body doesn't work like everyone else's does. And getting an answer to your specific quirks. There's a HUGE amount of comfort in having an explanation.

That doctor is clueless. She should have become a mechanic. Not to belittle mechanics. But bedside manner is less important when you're working on a Honda.

Amy

OK, so I've had pretty bad diarrhea since September. Why, I don't know. Going to the gastroenterologist on Monday.

I've also had a worsening of my POTS symptoms since then. It's almost like I'm not taking my "wonder drug," Paxil, which has been all I've needed to control my symptoms.

Do you think it's possible that I don't feel like I'm taking my medicine because I'm not? Could severe diarrhea prevent someone from absorbing a medication?

It would be nice if that were the case, rather than Paxil all-of-a-sudden not working, or my POTS all-of-a-sudden getting worse.

Whaddya think?

Amy

I'm lucky, lucky, lucky in that flying doesn't seem to bother me too much. It might bother me less than riding in a car, actually, where the stop-and-go "lurching" feeling makes me feel really "ugh."

Amy

My blood pressure, though on the low side (it's always been lower, even before POTS-no change there) is not my main problem at all. It's the tachycardia. Isn't Florinef mainly to help blood pressure? I'm not sure how I'd benefit from florinef..

Hey Maisie! I'm glad that all these friendly messages have helped you!

I'm not a drug expert, but I think that Florinef does help with tachycardia because it helps the body retain water. Not having sufficient blood volume can cause tachycardia, if I'm not mistaken. Like the heart's trying really hard to pump the blood around, but there's just not enough of it.

Amy

D.C. here. What is it with the East Coast? We have all the people. Why don't we have the good doctors?

Boo!

Amy

It's a pain, isn't it? It's hard to tell, since dysautonomia can cause such a wide range of fun reactions.

I think it's all in the correlation. If you get a weird symptom right after starting a new medication, it's certainly suspicious. If it goes away after you stop the drug, it's even more suspicious.

I think it's a lot of trial-and-error. Which stinks.

Amy

Can people buy enough Sudafed to be useful, given that it's so tightly controlled now thanks to meth cooks?

Just curious.

Amy

STANDING. Bleah.

Amy

Maybe those bulging discs are getting worse or the bone spurs bigger--I have radiculopathy and it has been gettng worse since 1999. Don't you love heredity? I am thankful to have a good doctor who is working on putting all the pieces together.

Bulging discs can DEFINITELY cause numbness and tingling. It happened to my mom. Luckily, hers improved with physical therapy.

I'm glad you like your doctor, and I hope he figures it all out and helps you heal!

Amy

There will always people who have it worse than me and those who have it better--all I want is to be accepted and loved.

Becky

WE accept you and love you -- and don't forget it!

Amy

Ramakentesh,

You are a resident expert on hyperadrenergic POTS. Can I ask a question? Does it always cause hypertension, or is it possible to have hyperadrenergic POTS with hypotension?

It certainly seems like I might have hyperadrenergic POTS. All of the symptoms fit, except for blood pressure. Mine is low. Very low, sometimes.

Thanks!

Amy

Hi Tessie,

I haven't been to Mayo, so I don't know how it compares. I think it's probably a good thing that Dr. Thai used to work there, though. I would think that means he knows WAY more than most doctors.

I'm always thirsty, too. Unfortunately, I also sweat like crazy. Yuck.

Amy

Becky,

Healing thoughts going your way! I understand why you're scared -- I would be, too! But keep in mind that maybe you'll get some answers, and that might make it worth it.

I had tingling in my feet and hands. An MRI ruled out MS, so I was happy about that. But I know how scary it can be.

I hope you feel better soon, and get some answers!

Amy

I've been feeling worse since September, so I understand. It bites. Bleah.

Yay!

Don't mess with the meds. Just enjoy it for a while! It will sort itself out eventually, and you'll figure out what works. But for now, have fun!

Amy

If by Adie's pupil you mean unequal pupils, I have had that at certain times. They usually even out eventually. I also have the weird reaction that if I have to have my eyes dilated, they stay that way for a long time. THREE DAYS last time. I looked like I was on drugs! My eye doc said he runs into people that happens to once in a while. Yeah, probably people with dysautonomia!

Amy

My coworkers don't know that anything is wrong with me, because all I've ever said is that I have low blood pressure and can't handle the heat. So I was somewhat amused the other day when I said something about getting swine flu, and one said, "You'd be fine, you're young, you're healthy."

Yeah, right!

Amy