Hi, I was wondering if some of you could help me decide if I should be tested for POTS. I have been having symptoms for 12 years. I had an abcessed gangreene appendix that was misdiagnosed and I carried it for 5 months before having exploratory surgery to see what was going on and finally having it removed. During all this I was in and out of the hospital several times and given IV antibiotics. This was when my symptoms started out of the blue. I have been to 5 cardiologists and had an echocardiogram, EKG, treadmill, 24-hour monitor, and was diagnosed with inappropriate sinus tachycardia. I accepted this diagnosis until recently. I read the description of POTS and a lot of it sounded familiar. Here are a list of my symptoms: *tachycardia, woozy and weak after meals (breakfast and lunch are worst)- sitting or lying down helps; being active or even standing makes me feel awful *tachcardia and woozy when I have fever (heart rate goes way up) and in hot tub or hot shower (ex: pulse 120-135 with fever just sitting still) *caffeine, albuterol (for asthma), alcohol, all make symptoms worse *symptoms worse after ovulation (from body temp. increase?) *when tachycardia hits I feel short of breath *viruses (nausea) and colds make symptoms worse *coughing a lot (I have asthma) makes me feel like I could pass out *after exercise my heart rate doesn't come down as fast as it should *tingling in hands occasionally *sometimes my heart rate goes up fast when I stand * heart adds a beat occasionally when I bend over *anxiety makes symptoms worse My symptoms were worse during my three pregnancies. I have never passed out but I do have tachycardia and this weak, woozy feeling in response to the above situations. So do you all think I should be content with the IST diagnosis or should I get checked for POTS? Thanks so much for reading this and for any replies!
