Katti

Instead of Reglan which I hated my gastro-doc prescribed Domperidone. It is a promotility drug like Reglan and it worked better for me although it wasn't perfect. The problem is that it isn't approved in the US any longer. I guess that women were using it to stimulate milk for breast feeding so they took it off the market. However, it can be legally prescribed and prepared by a compounding pharmacist. In other countries I don't think it's an issue, I didn't check to see where you live. Of course compounded medications can be more expensive and not really well covered by some insurance. Just a thought. Good luck. I remember the pain so well and it still comes back in force when my gastroparesis & or POTS symptoms are in full swing.

I get this big time and it's definitely gastroparesis with me. Check it out if you haven't already. Plus you have the bonus of getting one of the weirdest experiences in medical testing. Eating a radioactive egg sandwich. Yum! ;-) One of the things that helped me get through the worst of the gastroparesis pain was actually acupunture. Works wonders.

Hi Blue Sky! Glad to see there is one more person in the Northwest. I'm from Boise and have had no luck at all finding anyone who is qualified enough to diagnose POTS in the Northwest. The closest I've been able to find is UCLA. I have an appt on Tuesday there so I'll let you know how it goes and hopefully I'll get a diagnosis and some help. I also called several other places and Dr Grubb was scheduling over a year out. Mayo has an application process and I didn't want to waste time waiting for them but if you're more patient than me they would certainly be a great place to go. There was a doctor in Chicago who sounded promising but that is quite a trip (Dr Gilden?). I hope that helps. I am resigned to the fact that everyone here seems to have to travel a long way to find a POTS doctor. I know that isn't what you wanted to hear but I thought I'd pass it along. Best of luck to you and if you do find a POTS doctor in the Northwest somewhere be sure to post it. I'd like to stay closer to home as well. I guess at least California is sunny and warm if you have to travel somewhere. Keep your chin up!

Hello! I'm still new to this site. I've only posted once before and I'm currently in the process of getting a diagnosis. All the symptoms that I have point to a fairly mild version of POTS. I have an appointment with Dr. Yan-Go in UCLA on Tuesday but since I live in Idaho and will have to make such a long trip, Dr. Yan-Go reveiwed my files ahead of time and said if I got a TTT before I went she could probably take care of me in one appointment. Anyhow, I managed to get a doctor here in Idaho to do a TTT for me. He's one of only a few who can do that here. This doctor said that he wasn't really sure if it was POTS or not since my resting heart rate was so high to begin with. It is 100bpm while I am resting. Within a few minutes of being raised on the TT it went to 130bpm. I was thinking that was definitely POTS because of the increase in heart rate was at least 30bpm. I didn't think it really mattered that my resting heart rate was already high. This doctor has only seen 1 other case of POTS in his career so he is not and doesn't claim to be a specialist. So my question (finally!) is whether or not those of you with POTS have a high resting heart rate or if your resting heart rate is "normal". Any thoughts? I guess I should just be patient and wait to see Dr. Yan-Go but I'm curious. I also want to thank all of you for posting! Your advice has been invaluable to me. Hoping to feel better real soon!

I did acupuncture for Gastroparesis symptoms and it was a lifesaver for me. I had bloating and pain so badly that I couldn't stand for my kids to sit on my lap and lean back. The acupuncturist was a man from China who was an MD over there and I think that makes a big difference. Be sure to check on their qualifications as I've heard some practitioners are not very qualified at all. In my state for example it is common for Chiropracters to take a 1 day course and then start doing acupuncture. I quit going to him after a month because it wasn't covered by my insurance and the costs add up. However, it took me from constant agony to mild discomfort. I'd go back to him in a heart beat. I hope that helps! Good luck!

Morgan- I forgot to mention that while you were born and raised in Boise, I was born and raised in Moscow, not far from Spokane. Small world. And our snow is nothing compared to what you've got going on up there. Have you heard anything about the Seattle Doctor on the physician's list? Dr. Dolack? He's out of Swedish hospital in Seattle. I'm tempted to give him a try. My mother contacted his office and they sounded good to her. (Yes, I know, my mother is still trying to take care of me at age 38- so spoiled) Katti

Thanks for the input, I was afraid that would be the response. I would love to get the name of your doc in Colorado. That wouldn't be too bad. No matter what way I go I'm up for a flight. I'd like to avoid having to go clear back to Ohio if I can find any help closer to home. Compared to many on this forum, I have a mild case but it is nonetheless very debilitating to me. I keep telling my husband that it is not a problem, as long as I'm laying back in my La Z Boy all is right with the world. Now if only he'd work two jobs and take care of the kids and the house, we wouldn't have to fix me at all. I haven't had much luck with Cardiologists so far. Their responses are along the line of "It can't be Syncope because you haven't fainted" or "aside from Tachycardia, there's nothing wrong with your heart". Not sure where to go with that. Do you find that when you go to doctors in Ohio or Mayo or whereever that you need to get refered from another doctor? It doesn't matter for my insurance really. I just don't want to have to convince my doctors here in Boise that I have this condition, when they have never heard of it. Just one more step, and darn it, I'm TIRED!!

Hello! After searching for a couple of years I think I am nearly at the end of the "what's wrong with me" journey. I pretty certain I have POTS. I have the rapid pulse (> 40 bpm increase in 10 min) when I stand, the diziness, gastoparesis, fatigue, etc, etc. Anyway, I live around Boise Idaho and am having trouble finding a doctor who can diagnose and treat POTS. I think I will try to get into Dr. Dolack in Seattle and make the journey out there. Does anyone out there have any suggestions on other doctors in the West? For anyone who has had to go out of state for care, have they enlisted te help of their local doctor to help? How long have they had to spend at the out of town doctor to get treated? Any other words of wisdom? Thanks for your help. I have really gained a lot by reading your posts on this forum. I'm hoping to feel better real soon. Finally!! Katti