Kara

Thank you so much Sarah. I am feeling fairly sure that POTS is a good possibility for my poor health for the past year and a half, but my family fears that I am grabbing on to something out of desperation for an answer. I get a heart monitor on Monday to wear for 48 hrs and do the tilt table test on the 13th. I have had many symptoms over the past year and a half. It started with shoulder pain. I thought I may have dislocated my shoulder. Then it seemed to manifest into chest pain on my left side. Feels muscular. Sometimes goes into my neck, jaw, down left arm. I will list below other symptoms I've had since. If you or anyone else has comments or similar symptoms, I would love to hear. Chest pain- feels muscular - on left shoulder pain on left neck pain for about a month I was extremely sensitive to sound- now the sound sensitivity comes and goes. Quick shooting chest pains from time to time Pain when I take a deep breath, seems like lung pain a feeling of wanting to cough when I take deep breath a feeling of pressure in my face- I have this a lot and it is very annoying found out I have silent reflux and a small hernia in all the testing that's been done burning or electric sensation on the sides of my toungue tingling on scalp extreme brain fog at times- can't think of certain words- sometimes the wrong word will come out. For example- yesterday I meant to say, "it was really easy" but what came out of my mouth was "it was really early" So strange!!! I am going to start journaling my heart rate. Last time I saw my cardiologist he took my Blood pressure and said he didn't think it was Pots b/c my blood pressure was ok and I didn't fall in the typical age perimater. I'm 41. I have had extreme dizziness when standing for the past 15 years. I don't seem to be sensitive to temperature when it's hot, but if I get cold I have trouble warming up. My hands, and feet are always cold. My heat rate this AM- laying down 73 standing- jumped around. Got up to 115, but 110 was what it seemed to be most of the time. As I said before, if anyone can add anything, I would really appreciate it. I would love to know if I'm going down the right path with this. Sincerely, Kara

I have been sick for about a year and a half. Have seen more docs than I can keep track of- many tests. All normal. I had a cardiac ablation for a fib about a year ago. Thought I would feel better..unfortunately not. It seems I've always had issues feeling dizzy when standing, and have to grab on to something to keep from fainting, but docs say I just have low BP. My question is- I have recently been testing my BPM w/ my phone. Many times, but not always it will exceed an elevation of 30 when going from lying down to standing. Does this have to stay elevated for a prolonged period of time to be considered POTS? Does this excessive elevation in BpM have to happen every time to be considered POTS? Thanks! Kara