Hello,
I'm trying to help a family member who cannot go out of state to any POTS expert due to insurance reasons. There is no POTS expert in their state. They need testing for Hyperadrenergic POTS. Therefore, a "local" cardiologist is trying to assist in the testing the best possible way and is willing to take guidance from myself and the family member. They are willing to order the labs with our suggestions since I've had the testing done myself. They won't fully know how to interpret the results, but I can provide them that information as well.
The local cardiologist is being extremely helpful with the tests, so I'm just trying to help the family member to be certain it is all done correctly.
It's been a while since my testing, and I can't remember fully how it's all supposed to be done. I had both catecholamine and metanephrine blood tests. I know that the patient needs to be supine for a period (I think mine was 30 minutes) and then have labs drawn. Then, stand/walk for a period (mine was 15 minutes) and have labs drawn again.
HERE'S WHAT I CAN'T REMEMBER:
- Do the labs for catecholamines and metanephrine need done as fasting labs? Or does it matter?
- The labs that are drawn supine, need to be drawn while still supine/flat, correct?
- Does the draw done after standing/walking need done while still standing and to not sit at all?
Thank you for any answers you can provide. Hopefully, they will help others too.
Beverly