JenniferInOhio

Trying to figure out what happened today. I was sitting with my daughters helping them with schoolwork (we homeschool) and I had this floaty feeling in my head almost like a boat on the waves. I thought I was imaging it and then I had another big "wave." I knew something was not right at all. Then I felt warm? and a little tingly in my chest/upper body - like I might go down. Something was definitely happening. I moved quickly to the couch to lay down and put my feet up. I felt better almost immediately and took my bp - 90/54. Nothing unusual for me. I've never fainted so I don't know how it feels right before. Does that sound like a sudden drop in bp? I was sitting most of the morning with a few breaks to get up and do laundry and fix lunch. I had only drank one glass of water in the morning and had a bowl of cereal. There was nothing good for lunch so I didn't have anything until around 2:00 (oatmeal and milk) and it happened about 15 min later. After my episode, I had a salty snack and a couples glasses of water. I felt ok the resf of the day - maybe a little shaky - from nerves possibly. Anyway, it seems weird that it happened while sitting. Is that strange?

I have irregular beats all the time. Missed beats (pvc's) and SVT and non-sustained v tach.

I just wanted to say that you have an AMAZING attitude! Your story is so heartbreaking. I hope this forum can help you in some way.

I'm 39 and I've had pots for 20 years. I'm functional, and I thank the Lord above. I'm able to do pretty much anything except for a lot of physical exercise like hiking, running, anything in the heat. I'm on a low dose beta blocker as I have svt and non-sustained v tach.

I wouldn't say I have burning "pain," but I do occasionally have patches of skin that have a burning feeling.

Thanks so much! My Dr. mentioned glucagon - but I assumed it would be administered in the hospital. I'll ask him what he thinks about a glucagon kit. By the time you call the paramedics and actually get to a hospital, it would probably be 30 minutes or more before you received the meds.

Epi is for tree nuts, peanuts and shellfish.

Just wondering if there were any other people out there who HAVE to be on a beta blocker, and HAVE to carry an Epipen for anaphylaxis? Have you ever had to give yourself the Epipen and did it work ok with your beta blockers? Everything I read about beta blockers and epipens is not good...that if you need an epipen, you should not take bb's. I have SVT and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in addition to POTS, so I've got to have that BB. I have allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, and shellfish.

Thank you for the advice. I'll ask my doctor for another stress test - I just had one a couple of months ago. I'm also going to suggest a longer holter monitor. I only had a 48 hour holter done (since I don't have a home phone line) and it caught the one instance of NSVT. I had a stress echo last year.

I haven't been here in a really long time as I've been doing great with POTS:) !!! I also deal with SVT, PACs and PVCs a lot of the time. Most of the time, they are just annoying and I don't think much of them. Recently, I've been having little episodes where I feel a little faint (not a typical Pots symptom for me). My EP Dr. put me on a holter monitor and a 3 beat run of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia showed up. I did not report any symptoms during the nonsustained vtach so I didn't even notice it. He also said that 3 years ago, my holter monitor showed a nonsustained vtach run. He is concerned; therefore, I am concerned. He asked me if anyone suddenly died while young in my family. Of course, this really scared me. I've had stress tests, and echos over the years and dr. has assured me that my heart is structurally fine. Does anyone else here have nonsustained vtach? How would you describe the feeling? Now, everytime I have a palpitation, I wonder if it is my good 'ole standbys of svt, pac, or pvc or the scary vtach..!!! I just had a quick succession of 3 little beats (didn't seem to feel these fast beats as I was searching for pulse) and then a big thump. Is that vtach? Also, my dr. put me on the beta blocker nadolol. Will that help with vtach? Thanks so much for any input!

I am very pale and I see A LOT of veins particularly on my chest and legs. They seem so big and blue against my white skin. Is anyone else veiny like this??

How high did your heart rate go? I've been doing them and get up to 150ish. Did your bp drop or elevate?

After 3 years of being scared to do any exercising for fear of having a heart attack or POTS crash, I have finally started going to the gym. I am working with a trainer who is having me lift weights and I walk on the treadmill. I wear my heart monitor and we keep a close eye on it, not letting me get over 160. I feel good and so far I haven't had any negative Potsy reactions. Just a little positive post for you all.

I feel best with 10 hours of sleep.

Hi Ernie - thanks for sharing your story. 15 months of no syncope- that is GREAT! My birthday was Sunday too - hope you had a great day!

Hi Richard, I wouldn't worry about a pacemaker just yet. I think there are a few on the board here that have a pacemaker, but most don't. I would definitely see an EP - it sounds like this doctor wasn't very well versed in POTS.

Meg - I don't think it has to do with POTS - I think it is pretty common among the female population.

Yes, I had about ~25 UTI's within a period of 2-3 years before doctors found out what was going on with me. Mine was caused by sex. Not every time, but every other time or so I had sex with my hubby, I would come down with a UTI. They put me on Macrobid - I had to take before or right after sex. Fun. TMI...bacteria was getting trapped behind a semi-broken hymen. Anyway, they found the cause when I was 6 months pregnant with my first child. They wanted to do surgery...but said I could also wait and see if the baby ripped the rest of the hymen away. The baby cured me I only get occassional UTI's if I don't pee after sex. More than you wanted to know, right?

Hi, I had 2 TTT. The first, I passed - it lasted only 20 minutes. The second, I did not show signs of POTS until about 30 minutes into the test. At that point, my heart rate started going higher and my blood pressure dropped too. High enough for a definite POTS diagnosis and also orthostatic hypotension. Maybe you needed to be tested a bit longer. I did not have meds. No way they were injecting that stuff into me

Thanks Morgan. As my hubby says, I'm a medical marvel. There's always some weird thing going on with me that doesn't make sense

Oh, who knows? Yes, I know it's not normal to have white nails with no moons and before I think I have some sort of disease, I wondered if it was POTS related. On another note, does anyone know what cause bright red fingers and knuckles? Looks like a sunburn almost. My hands are always ice cold so you would think they would be pale or blueish, but they are bright red.

Nailbeds I guess. Mine are white with no moons. Pink band across some of the tips.

Normal or not so normal? As far as color...

I sleep 10 hours per night.

Hey - thanks Melissa. I asked my hubby what they were a week or two ago and he said they were like a colonoscopy bag?? He was way off wasn't he?