Jump to content

smiles

Members
  • Posts

    114
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Contact Methods

  • Website URL
    http://
  • ICQ
    0

Recent Profile Visitors

2,158 profile views

smiles's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/14)

0

Reputation

  1. My Autonomic Dr. is no longer going to see autonomic patients. So I'm on the hunt for a new one. I live in Phenix City, AL. So Columbus, GA; Montgomery or Auburn, AL; Atlanta, GA.... Anyone have suggestions?
  2. Can you have just a slight case of EDS or is it an all or nothing type of diagnosis? Cuz I don't have many symptoms of it. No I haven't been tested for autoimmune diseases.
  3. Buffrockchick, I am still on Lamictal. Been on it for years now...(8 years maybe?) It keeps my seizure under control and I've never had any strange symptoms from it. So my assumption is that it is not that. But I'll definitely keep that in mind though. Primary Orthostatic Tremors effect the legs while standing. My legs are not effected. I've not started on any new meds and the Drs. say it's not a side effect from anything I'm currently on. DizzyGirls, I've wondered about EDS. I do not have the typical symptoms of it. I do however have issues with my right side and especially my right knee. The top part of my right knee will get swollen and painful when I do the slightest of exercise or different movements. Driving a car even sometimes bothers it. It's bad enough that I often wear a knee support while driving, exercising... It helps keep it supported which helps prevent an issue with it. So it does seem loose. I also have occasional swelling, pain, and redness in other joints that comes and goes. I may not have it for months then it may flare up and then go away. I've been told by Drs. that it is just part of getting older - I'm 55. But it's been going on for 10 yrs. About 15 yrs. ago I was tested for rheumatoid and I didn't have that. If I do have EDS it's a very slight case of it. I was trying to do exercises to try to strengthen my neck and upper back but haven't recently. Need to start that again to see if it helps. If it was a slight case of EDS who could help diagnose it or help with it?
  4. I've had dysautonomia for about 12 years and have recently been as stable as I've ever been. Then out of nowhere, new symptom! Upper body tremors. Mostly in my head but it affects my arms if it keeps going. They are quick, rhythmic, uncontrollable movements. It is only if I'm standing or sitting. So it's postural related. It's not all the time. Happens more in the mornings, less in the afternoons and evenings. (My mornings I don't function well anyway and by afternoon and evenings I'm walking and functioning pretty good.) It stops (or I don't notice it) when I'm moving. So if I move or change positions I can sometimes get it to stop. They also stop if I lay down. I have no other autonomic symptoms associated with them, therefore my autonomic Dr. doesn't think it's related to dysautonomia. I went to a neurologist and she said it's enhanced physiological tremors. They are what everyone has that is usually so minor that no one sees it. My tremors are getting worse and I'm not sure that is really what it is. I thinking more autonomic since it only happens when I'm upright. So, anyone have any ideas?
  5. At first I didn't have anything to add until I thought about the timing of her muscle/cramping issues. I had issues with my legs (and once in a while my arms) literally jumping and moving when I'd lay down to get ready to sleep. I had no pre sensation. They just moved. My muscles would tighten and move, then release. I'd had seizure type issues in the past but these new muscle jumping things were not seizures. They finally diagnosed me with restless leg syndrome even though I didn't fit into the symptoms you hear about on tv. Her symptoms are not the same but the timing sure is. I went through a series of trying meds (after trying every herb, homeopathic remedy,... I could find) and finally ropinerol (I think brand name is requip) stopped them and I finally got some sleep. You may be able to see if it is an issue similar to that by having her exercise the muscles that seem affected the most at the first onset of the muscle issue. For instance if it was my right leg that was starting to move I could exercise just that leg and it would relieve the symptoms until I stopped moving it. If I tired it enough, sometimes the discomfort and the spasms would stop altogether. This may be totally unrelated but it's my feeble atempt to help in some way.
  6. Anyone else going to the Dysautonomia International Conference in DC this weekend? I'm going.
  7. Most of the case studies I've read about involve being helped by a pacemaker. I do not qualify for a pacemaker. My heart doesn't skip a beat and I don't have a heart condition. It is purely autonomic involving a hypersensitive vagus nerve. I'm on one med for it that has helped for years. Obviously it is not working as well now. Years ago I contacted one of the doctors that did a case study in CA and he said he'd only seen one case and that was the one he wrote about.
  8. I have swallow syncope and it has recently raised it's ugly head again. I haven't been on here in years. Need some help now. Anyone know of any resources for me or know of anyone else who has it?
  9. Hmmm? Let me count the times? No, lets not! Too many! GI infection initially for almost 3 weeks and was treatment resistant. Anemia. Uncontrolable seizure--maybe 5 different times at 3 different hospitals. Swallow syncope. Surgeries for central line, groshong, power port, heart monitor, and urethra widening. Blood infections. Low blood volumn. Blood transfusions. Kidney flushing. And some just to try to figure out what my crazy body was doing and lack of knowing what else to do.
  10. I have hyperadrenergic POTS dx from vanderbilt university autonomic clinic in TN. Hasn't really changed my meds cuz meds had bad side effects. It does help my docs understand better what is going on though.
  11. I have been a victim of this crazy peeing phenomenon. I would get so thirsty during an episode that I would drink and drink. Problem was I then peed it straight out and more. This in turn would make my symptoms even worse. Mine was so bad that sometimes it would send me into seizure type activity. By the time I'd get to the hospital and they emptied my bladder by catheter, I had 900-1500 ccs of urine flow out of my bladder--which they said was what prompted my seizure. My seizure would stop once they emptied my bladder. Go figure! It's called kidney flushing. Your bladder usually holds 300 to 400 ccs. Over time (years) My doc and i have found things to prevent this most of the time. He put me on Thermatabs (or Thermotabs, can't remember which spelling) which are salt and potassium tabs. Then he also told me to drink 64 oz of gatorade, powerade or other hydrating drinks. Both the salt and the gatorade help retain the fluids instead of them going straight out of your body. Now they have come out with 1 gram salt tabs. My pharmacy orders then for me. Vanderbilt University Autonomic Center now recommends taking at least 3 grams of salt a day and up to 8 grams. This has made a tremendous difference for me!! On a good day I take 3 and on a bad day I take at least 6. Sometimes they can upset your stomache. If I take it with a whole glass of water or with a few bites of food it prevents that. If I take 2 grams before I go to bed I do not have to get up and pee at night even if I drink alot before I go to bed. I'd start with 1 gram though and see how it does for you. I hope that this helps some of you fellow mega peeers. ps. I'm also on a volume building med, yohimbin, and phenobarbital to increase cell permeability. and a multitude of other meds to help with other symptoms.
  12. I have a cardiologist. Took me 3 yrs to find a doc that would stick with me and really try to help me. I've had him for 3 yrs now and he has helped me a lot. He is good at so many things. I can't even guess how many drs couldn't help me before I found him!
  13. Odd symptom. I feel like I'm still half asleep when it happens. My hands shake, usually both of them, just for a few seconds. My hands are together against my upper chest when it happens. It kind of awakens me more but sometimes I go right back to sleep. Usually happens only in the mornings. Don't have symptoms like this any other time. What do you think?
  14. I have POTS but also have many other autonomic conditions. I am a rare bird! Mine at times are so bad that I have been home bound for months or in the hospital for 2-3 wks at a time. I have Neurocardiogenic syncope, swallow syncope/deglutition (there are only 10-30 people in the US who have this one), exaggerated sympathetic vasoconstrictor and vasopressor responses (as dx by Vanderbilt autonomic clinic) mitral valve prolapse (which has been almost non existent for me the last 3 yrs), sluggish colon, convulsive like muscle spasms, kidney/ bladder flushing (now controlled by 4-6 grams salt tabs a day), pre menopause, slurred or absent speech during flare ups..... I know when I was hunting for support this was one of the first sites that I came to. It was good but at the time my symptoms were so severe that I felt a bit out of place. Now that I have more accurate dxs and more understanding of what is going on in my body it is easier for me to cope with. So I know how you feel, even though I also have POTS. POTS is one of my lesser conditions and causes less symptoms than other things.
  15. Hello, Haven't been on in a long time. I've been doing really well for me. I attribute part of it to my increase in salt tabs. I used to use the therotabs--about 4 to 5 a day. They have in the last year come out with 1 gram salt tabs. That is a higher amount than the thermotabs. I take 4-5 of those a day and it has helped me tremendously. It helps me to retain the fluids I drink. I had a real problem with fluids going straight thru me. I drink at least 8 oz with each tab and that helps me retain it and helps me get enough liquid intake also. My doc goes by what Vanderbilt University autonomic clinic recommends. They recommend up to 8 max grams of salt tabs a day. You can ask any pharmacy to order them and they will. They are rarely on the shelves. Try it you'll like it.
×
×
  • Create New...