sue1234

It says < or = 28. I don't know if 3 is too low, but I'm sure I'd rather be closer to midrange. But I'm wondering if 3 is low enough in range to cause all the POTS symptoms I have.

I had that tested over a year ago, and the few doctors(non-specialists) I asked about it said it was fine. Is it??

I am the end of my rope! I have been to sooo many doctors that just do a lab test and say it was o.k., but then don't get a game plan. Any personal recommendations for Houston, or Texas area, doctors that will see the problem through???

That's amazing how one vitamin can make such a difference! Look at what vit. D is doing this past year--it has really made mainstream reading on how important it is. I was reading in Woman's World the other day, and a lady in there talks about how out-of-energy she had become. Tests all looked normal. She said test some more, and they found her vit. D was like 10% of what it should be. She supplemented with prescription doses, and a few weeks into it started feeling like her old self! One vitamin, such a huge difference.

Thanks to all who let me know their thyroid and/or autoimmune status! I myself did not know I had autoimmune thyroid disease until a fine needle biopsy. I had had a small goiter for about 15 years, and had my thyroid labs monitored yearly, along with all the antibody labs for thyroid and they never said I had a.i. disease. Then, about 3 years ago I had one nodule pop up on my thyroid ultrasound, and it had to be biopsied. It showed I had Hashimoto's, but none of my labs had ever showed it. I however DO have Grave's antibodies this past year that are hanging dangerously close to their upper normal limit. However, my labs never show that I would be close to having Grave's. HOWEVER, my symptoms say it all the time, because of my heart rate, heat intolerance, get SOB with activity. And the fact that when I take iodine-based tests, my symptoms get worse. So I was thinking, for me, I am in an autoimmune situation, but waiting for the labs to catch up to the biopsy diagnosis. So, I was just seeing what other peoples histories showed. Thanks!

Please keep us posted on the whens and wheres it might air!

I am by no means trying to say every POTS, etc. is related to thyroid. I just wanted to see how many people had thyroid issues along with it. I mentioned that I had a hard-to-treat thyroid case, and was just thinking that for SOME like me it could possibly be connected. That is all.

Thank you Beth, that is interesting. I know if you have one autoimmune problem, you have a higher likely than average to have another also. But that doesn't necessarily mean everyone with one a.i. will get another. That's what I'm trying to see if POTS could be somehow related to my autoimmune thyroid problem. With the right treatment in a.i. thyroid, you can lower the antibodies, and symptoms. That's what I'm wondering, if there is this kind of angle to POTS somehow.

You might want to check on supplementing his regime with vitamin D, as, after a year of staying mostly indoors from POTS, my vit. D went way below range. Before that, I was outside alot with my kids sports. So I know it can drop kind of fast being inside. The vit. D helps with so much, and he just might find it helps in ways he didn't expect!

I have had Hashimoto's for many years, can't treat it as I'm sensitive to meds, now have nodules. Just within the last two years I've developed POTS. I firmly believe it is some component of thyroid problems, at least with me. Mostly because I have a hard to treat thyroid case. Anyone else? Do you know if you have autoimmune thyroid disease?

This is pitiful that I actually knew what a dungbeetle was before I read the interesting article posted by Amy! We live on a sustainable farm, and disappearing manure piles is how my farmer husband gauges that we actually have enough dungbeetles. To actually let you know how "organic" they are, and how much they contribute, they break down the manure so that the fly eggs laid don't have a chance to turn into larvae and become even more flies! It is a natural pest control! There, I may not have any other answers for this board, or even for my own health issues, but I can at least answer about dungbeetles!

I would be interested in hearing how it helped. I'm to the point that I'm wondering if a good psychiatrist(I'm meaning this in a GOOD way) could decipher my symptoms and relate it to the right chemical that's altering my system. Then, whether it's to lower noreipinephrine or raise something else, he would know which anti-depressant would work the best for me and my symptoms. I definitely wouldn't be using it for depression, because that is the only problem I don't have--thank goodness! My endos say it must be a heart problem and the heart doctor says he's sure it's an endocrine problem. I myself believe it either has to do with my Hashimoto's, that's unstable, or my female hormones messing with my body in a horrific way.

I'm a D-eficient person also! Last January I found out by accident, through a BATTERY of tests, that my D was at 19(30-?). I got on the prescription 50,000 IU/week, and only lasted 3 weeks. It made my heart race faster, made me extremely thirsty, and worsened my insomnia. At least my levels got back in the low end of range. It's probably back low, as I don't tolerate calcium/D very well--it bloats my stomach sooo bad I have no room for my lungs to breathe! So I just drink some milk, but I know it's not enough.

Twenty years ago my 1 year old had bloody diarrhea, and it turned out to be salmonella. But, assuming with your PICC line in, you already had antibiotics, so that would have taken care of that. Did they do a stool analysis??

If I'm thinking correctly, the urine cortisol/catecholamine levels are really only good to measure HIGH levels, as seen in cushing's disease and pheochromocytomas. The plasma cortisol can give an indication either way for low or high cortisol. Of course, an 8 a.m. cortisol is the best to check on Addison's and a midnight cortisol is best to check for Cushing's.

I am a 47 y/o female, RN degree, but don't work(explained on the "what work do you do" post). I work from home in our new business. I have an 18 year history of thyroid problems, recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's. Don't take meds for it, as all meds make me HOT and my heart races. Two years ago I developed POTS, just out of the blue. Went to a few doctors, no help. Then a cardio did a TTT, and my HR shot up over the 30 points. Day to day, I can stand about 20 minutes(moving only!) before I feel like I'm gonna pass out. I feel the blood pooling, lightheaded, increased HR, and if it's hot, I start swelling in my hands. That brings me to the question-I was reading on this site about possible causes of POTS, and of course, my autoimmune hits me first as an idea, possibly with adrenal problem. I've had a stimulation test and passed, but still I wonder. The other thing is I was reading about the Mast Cell problem, with the histamine release. That sure all sounds like me-if I get the slightest bit hot(big trigger for me!), I start swelling and my lovely red, patchy arms and legs turn bright red. And, I NEVER get a cold! I haven't gotten a cold in about 10 years! I am the healthiest ill person I know! Anyone with mast cell part of this, and how did you find out?

I'm new, but would like to add my two cents! I have an RN degree, got it back in 1990. I worked all of 9 months and had to quit because of anxiety/panic issues. If I didn't work, I didn't have problems. I loved my nursing job, and miss it, but not the stress. I think, for me, it was the normal work, then EMERGENCY!, then back to normal patient work, then EMERGENCY! again, that did me in. My body got to the point that sometimes small things in my personal/work life would make my body react like EMERGENCY! again, and has maintained that for the last 17 years. I was not like this before-I was a pretty laid back, do anything fun kind of person. Anyway, 2 years ago I developed POTS, and it is life-limiting for me. All I have is the diagnosis, but the one b/p med my cardio said to try made me have the energy of a ragdoll. I already have Hashimoto's thyroid and don't tolerate thyroid meds, so no energy, ever. So, my husband is a farmer, and years ago we started moving in an organic nature, and now have a natural product that will hit the shelves in a major national health food store chain, in our state only. My husband does all the farm work and the one-on-one PR work, and I am the producer behind the scenes. I can talk on phones, do all the research for our markets, etc., but DON'T put me face to face with someone, or I'll pass out. But, of course, first I will flush, burn up, feel dizzy, get SOB, and then I'll make a scene. So, I tend to stay home most of the day, and get out occasionally. I miss all the hustle/bustle of ordinary life, but at least I can contribute to our business from the home front.