Adria

I would say that thyroid problems can have a substantial impact upon POTS. About a month before I was supposed to start law school my BP became dangerously low and if I even attempted to stand up I would immediately pass out. My blood pressure was 50/30 and my heart rate was about 160. I literally had to crawl to the door of my apartment in order to let the paramedics in. I thought that I was just experiencing an incredibly severe flare of POTS at the time but I could not figure out why it was happening. I had not had any medication changes, was staying well hydrated, etc. My primary care doctor hospitalized me, did a vast array of blood work, and determined that my thyroid gland was not producing sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones. He diagnosed me with hypothyroidism. He put me on synthyroid, synthetic thyroid hormones, and my blood pressure and heart rate returned to "normal" (well at least normal for me). In a matter of 2 days I was back on my feet. I had no idea that thyroid problems could affect BP and HR so dramatically. About a year ago, my thyroid started making sufficient thyroid hormones again and I was able to get off of the synthroid. The doctors still have no clue as to why my thyroid stop producing hormones especially since I have no family history of thyroid disorders. My recent labwork indicates that my thyroid hormones are on the very low side of normal and I am wondering if that could be the reason for my current POTS flare up. I have an appointment with an Endocrinologist next week so I am hoping that he is able to help me.

Hello Everyone, I am new to the DINET forum however I am not new to POTS. I was diagnosed in June 2000 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN by Dr. Philip Low after a positive TTT. I also had some additional autonomic nervous system testing conducted at Vanderbilt University in TN. I wanted to let everyone know about a supplement called Acetyl L-Carnitine. It's an herbal supplement that can be found at Whole Foods, GNC, or CVS. The supplement is often recommended for individuals suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. Acetyl L-Carnitine usually comes in doses of 500mg or 250mg. I have been taking the 500mg tablets for the past 2 weeks and I have experienced a substantial improvement in my concentration as well as my short-term memory. I have also noticed an increase in energy as well. The supplement helps your body to convert food into energy in a more efficient manner. I have been taking 500mg every morning on an empty stomach as indicated on the bottle and I am very impressed with the results and I have not experienced any side effects. I am planning to increase to 1,000mg next week. I know some POTS patients that are taking as much as 3,000mg but I plan to talk to my cardiologist before making a decision to take such a large dose. Dr. Grubb has also recommended a prescription supplement called Cerefolin NAC for treating brain fog. It consists of B-12 and folate. I have talked to other patients who have used this product and they experienced an improvement in their short-term memory and ability to concentrate. Some even experienced a more elevated mood. I plan to request this medication from my cardiologist, Dr. Abdallah, when I go to see him next week.