Aa
Not sure if POTS or just nothing
Hello everyone,
*I just posted a simlar question as an answer to another thread elsewhere in this forum*
I'm a 26 year old male, and recently I had a brief syncopal episode ( when i saw blood being taken out of my arm for a blood test). The attending physician said it's probably Vasovagal Syncope, and so did the neurologist who i saw later the same day. I do have a known trigger of feeling very uncomfortable and nauseated by the sight of medical procedures ( cutting, Injecting, etc... not the sight of blood)
Anyway, they have asked me to do a tilt table test to be sure. That test is to happen next week, and i was trying my own simple version at home, to see what may happen. Basically, I lie down for 10 to 15 mins, take my BP and HR readings during this time, then stand up, leaning against the wall, and taking the same measurements again.
What i recorded are as follows, from yesterday:
Rest readings:
115/ 75 HR 77
117/ 70 HR 72
Standing up:
117/90 HR 107.... ranges from 109-124 / 82-94 HR 94-107
After about 8 mins standing up:
114/92 HR 95
upon sitting down:
120/81 HR 74 almost immediately
I guess the only thing i did "wrong" is to end the test at around the 15 min mark, and sat down. Not because i felt uncomfortable, but just really quite bored. haha
Please also note that i felt no discomfort at all during this whole thing. No faint-ness, giddiness, sweating, blurred vision, etc etc. Totally fine, just really bored standing in one spot. I have also never had that kind of problem, where i feel faint upon getting up etc..
So, I'm a little confused if or not I do have POTS, because I've read that a spike in HR of 30 bpm is typical of POTS.
Seeking clarity from all your combined expertise on this matter, everyone. I'd be very grateful to know more.
Thanks a ton, folks :)
Cheers,
Mr Clueless
*I just posted a simlar question as an answer to another thread elsewhere in this forum*
I'm a 26 year old male, and recently I had a brief syncopal episode ( when i saw blood being taken out of my arm for a blood test). The attending physician said it's probably Vasovagal Syncope, and so did the neurologist who i saw later the same day. I do have a known trigger of feeling very uncomfortable and nauseated by the sight of medical procedures ( cutting, Injecting, etc... not the sight of blood)
Anyway, they have asked me to do a tilt table test to be sure. That test is to happen next week, and i was trying my own simple version at home, to see what may happen. Basically, I lie down for 10 to 15 mins, take my BP and HR readings during this time, then stand up, leaning against the wall, and taking the same measurements again.
What i recorded are as follows, from yesterday:
Rest readings:
115/ 75 HR 77
117/ 70 HR 72
Standing up:
117/90 HR 107.... ranges from 109-124 / 82-94 HR 94-107
After about 8 mins standing up:
114/92 HR 95
upon sitting down:
120/81 HR 74 almost immediately
I guess the only thing i did "wrong" is to end the test at around the 15 min mark, and sat down. Not because i felt uncomfortable, but just really quite bored. haha
Please also note that i felt no discomfort at all during this whole thing. No faint-ness, giddiness, sweating, blurred vision, etc etc. Totally fine, just really bored standing in one spot. I have also never had that kind of problem, where i feel faint upon getting up etc..
So, I'm a little confused if or not I do have POTS, because I've read that a spike in HR of 30 bpm is typical of POTS.
Seeking clarity from all your combined expertise on this matter, everyone. I'd be very grateful to know more.
Thanks a ton, folks :)
Cheers,
Mr Clueless
Best Answer
I have a vasovagal response to having my blood taken and shots. Every time I go I have to lay down and it was that it always had to be done on my left arm. Now my right arm is better. By better I mean I dont **** my pants, throw up, and black out altogether, maybe 2/3. I have tried doing the baby needle but it just prolongs it worse. If you have this response it is a bodily response I cant control. I can go in feeling great, no fear, like I am going to get this done like a champ and go home. Every time I go I tell them that I normally have a vasovagal response so they are prepared. Sometimes they will go and get the most skilled person in the building. I think I have this problem because I was help down and given shots as a little girl, 6 in the arm, the one on the forearm, and the finger prick. This lady had me sit on her lap like she was going to talk to me but instead she wrapped her arms around me while the other nurses gave me the shots. It could be that or not but thats just my take on it. I have never been good with needles.
be sure to check your thyroid by simply doing a free t4 blood test.
increased free t4 can give all hyperthyroid symptoms though your tsh and other thyroid values come completely normal. tachycardia (increased heart rate) is one among the hyper symptoms.
please quote the free t4 value with quoted reference range after doing it.
for ruling out thyroid problem simply doing tsh, free t4 and free t3 is needed and your cardiologist asking you to do holter, stress test all for this pots or simple increase in heart rate seems he is a very junior doctor and not have much experience so better change the doctor if needed as there is no need to do those for this problems.
increased free t4 can give all hyperthyroid symptoms though your tsh and other thyroid values come completely normal. tachycardia (increased heart rate) is one among the hyper symptoms.
please quote the free t4 value with quoted reference range after doing it.
for ruling out thyroid problem simply doing tsh, free t4 and free t3 is needed and your cardiologist asking you to do holter, stress test all for this pots or simple increase in heart rate seems he is a very junior doctor and not have much experience so better change the doctor if needed as there is no need to do those for this problems.
You're welcome :)
If you are troubled with racing heart when standing up, exercise could help solve it if you are deconditioned. It will strengthen the heart, and make it adapt to changes in blood flow by beating harder instead of faster.
If everything else fails, non-selective beta blockers (like propranolol or pindolol) can help, both by slowing down the heart and make the arteries constrict more in response to adrenaline. But I would definitely not go that far if I were you.
If you are troubled with racing heart when standing up, exercise could help solve it if you are deconditioned. It will strengthen the heart, and make it adapt to changes in blood flow by beating harder instead of faster.
If everything else fails, non-selective beta blockers (like propranolol or pindolol) can help, both by slowing down the heart and make the arteries constrict more in response to adrenaline. But I would definitely not go that far if I were you.
Hello is_something_wrong!
Thank you for the encouraging words, i'm worried sick here over this seemingly trivial thing blown way out of proportion!
Anyway, i do hope what you say is right, and as i mentioned above, I'll be going in for a tilt table test soon. Hopefully all turns out well there. the only fear is that initial spike in HR like i mentioned. it does settle down after a while.
and fainting on seeing blood today, that'd just make a lot of movies unwatchable! ;)
Thanks again, for the help! :)
Thank you for the encouraging words, i'm worried sick here over this seemingly trivial thing blown way out of proportion!
Anyway, i do hope what you say is right, and as i mentioned above, I'll be going in for a tilt table test soon. Hopefully all turns out well there. the only fear is that initial spike in HR like i mentioned. it does settle down after a while.
and fainting on seeing blood today, that'd just make a lot of movies unwatchable! ;)
Thanks again, for the help! :)
Hello des900,
Thank you so much, once again for very kindly giving so much information to a clueless chap like me. really appreciate it big time! :)
Good news is, I'm not on anything at all now; no meds, no treatment, nothing ( and just as well, I feel absolutely NOTHING! haha). What i'm concerned about is that my cardiologist seems overly zealous about the whole thing, and I'm scared he'll label me with something i dont have, due to a circumstantial anomaly.... I went in for a tilt table test today, which didnt happen in the end, due to some Admin / paperwork mixup, so now it's on coming Monday instead.
That's all fine, though. The real problem is, along with all that, he's asked me to do a 24 hour Holter, a stress-test, an ECG, and a bloodtest to rule out some thyroid thing. due to my nervousness, my HR was at 88 (instead of my usual 70's...and he's adamant that it's because of some thyroid problem). I also told him i'd already done an ECG recently (seconds after my syncope, in fact, and it's come out normal) but he insists that i need to do another one (what the hell!).
So yeah, long story short.. I'd hate to be labelled with somethig i dont have. Sure, there are things about my health I can improve, but i sure as hell don't want some unnecessary worry and costs now..
so anyway, thanks again for the inputs! Let's see how it goes. I shall update this thread again as things develop! :)
Thank you so much, once again for very kindly giving so much information to a clueless chap like me. really appreciate it big time! :)
Good news is, I'm not on anything at all now; no meds, no treatment, nothing ( and just as well, I feel absolutely NOTHING! haha). What i'm concerned about is that my cardiologist seems overly zealous about the whole thing, and I'm scared he'll label me with something i dont have, due to a circumstantial anomaly.... I went in for a tilt table test today, which didnt happen in the end, due to some Admin / paperwork mixup, so now it's on coming Monday instead.
That's all fine, though. The real problem is, along with all that, he's asked me to do a 24 hour Holter, a stress-test, an ECG, and a bloodtest to rule out some thyroid thing. due to my nervousness, my HR was at 88 (instead of my usual 70's...and he's adamant that it's because of some thyroid problem). I also told him i'd already done an ECG recently (seconds after my syncope, in fact, and it's come out normal) but he insists that i need to do another one (what the hell!).
So yeah, long story short.. I'd hate to be labelled with somethig i dont have. Sure, there are things about my health I can improve, but i sure as hell don't want some unnecessary worry and costs now..
so anyway, thanks again for the inputs! Let's see how it goes. I shall update this thread again as things develop! :)
even if they label you have pots there is no treatment available and you won't be prescribed any medications for that so no need to worry.
actually these kind of diagnoses need to be abolished as no treatment there, simply doing to collect money from patients.
regarding dizzy, lightheadness etc care need to be taken to raise your head when sleeping.
also these kind of pots symptoms can come and go, also it can be due to some medication, diet etc so nothing can be said whether it will stay like this or not.
if you are taking any needless medications, supplements etc on a daily basis it will be worthwhile to stop based on doctor's recommendation (if he prescribed you those) for some months to check if pots is coming due to it.
actually these kind of diagnoses need to be abolished as no treatment there, simply doing to collect money from patients.
regarding dizzy, lightheadness etc care need to be taken to raise your head when sleeping.
also these kind of pots symptoms can come and go, also it can be due to some medication, diet etc so nothing can be said whether it will stay like this or not.
if you are taking any needless medications, supplements etc on a daily basis it will be worthwhile to stop based on doctor's recommendation (if he prescribed you those) for some months to check if pots is coming due to it.
Actually, what I meant was, I have no physical difficulty (never have) when it comes to feeling faint when standing up, etc. It's only that I have noticed a momentary spike in my HR when i stand up at times..
Having said that, my question basically is, is it possible for someone to be diagnosed with POTS on a tilt table test, due to my readings(the HR spike i mentioned), but with no actual physical symptoms / history of them. In other words, is this situation a) possible at all? and b) would that be a misdiagnosis?
Thanks again! :)
Having said that, my question basically is, is it possible for someone to be diagnosed with POTS on a tilt table test, due to my readings(the HR spike i mentioned), but with no actual physical symptoms / history of them. In other words, is this situation a) possible at all? and b) would that be a misdiagnosis?
Thanks again! :)
pots will not be found in ecg, echo etc as its just a spike in heart rate when standing or changing position. this is why they doing table tilt test, in which your heart rate during sitting and standing is found out along with blood pressure numbers.
when sleeping make sure your head is raised, for that use a firm pillow. the reason is that make sure proper amount of blood flow is taking place to brain. thus when you suddenly come out from bed blood flow not be much reduced.
sleeping without pillow is dangerous for those who have pots as chances of getting dizzy when wake at night is high.
when sleeping make sure your head is raised, for that use a firm pillow. the reason is that make sure proper amount of blood flow is taking place to brain. thus when you suddenly come out from bed blood flow not be much reduced.
sleeping without pillow is dangerous for those who have pots as chances of getting dizzy when wake at night is high.
@Des900
Thank you so much for the information. :)
So am I right to say that it sounds like there is pretty much nothing wrong? I sure hope so.
And also, at what point does this sort of thing get ruled too dangerous for things like driving, etc? because i feel absolutely nothing. in other words, is it possible for someone to be stamped with a positive tilt table test, with "positive" readings on ECG etc, but with no physical symptoms?
Thank you so much for the information. :)
So am I right to say that it sounds like there is pretty much nothing wrong? I sure hope so.
And also, at what point does this sort of thing get ruled too dangerous for things like driving, etc? because i feel absolutely nothing. in other words, is it possible for someone to be stamped with a positive tilt table test, with "positive" readings on ECG etc, but with no physical symptoms?
you seeing an increase in heart rate because your systolic bp is not increasing (first one) and due to that blood flow is reduced. and to compensate it your heart raises the heart rate so the new blood flow is increased heart rate x low blood volume pumped = normal
when you sitting blood flow is normal heart rate x normal blood volume = normal
so the reason is nervous system taking time to respond to contract the blood vessels, doctors call it pots or posterial orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. many people have this in various degrees and this not give much problems and ignoring is best. also no treatment available either.
when you sitting blood flow is normal heart rate x normal blood volume = normal
so the reason is nervous system taking time to respond to contract the blood vessels, doctors call it pots or posterial orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. many people have this in various degrees and this not give much problems and ignoring is best. also no treatment available either.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Community
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Your heart rate probably increase somewhat by your expectations and fear of POTS.
The fainting when seeing blood or other harm is actually kind of neat. It's a normal response from old times. Seeing our own blood or harm to the body (like when we are hurt) should trigger a response where blood pressure drops, to prevent us from bleeding to death before we could get help. In 2015, this response is often a bit useless.