Autonomic dysfunction: POTS in MS

[supermum_ms]

Hey guys and dolls,

For those interested in autonomic dysfunction issues such as POTS, I just came across this and thought others might find it interesting. Its only a very small study but there doesnt seem to be a lot out there specific to MS, so its slim pickings.

Kanjwal K, Karabin B, Kanjwal Y, Grubb BP. Autonomic Dysfunction Presenting as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Int J Med Sci 2010; 7:62-67. Available from

http://www.medsci.org/v07p0062.htm

Cheers.........JJ

[AMO]

jj thank you for that aarticle,
even thouhg it was small grroup, it was good to see it validated.
i wonder in a large group of ms patients, what the number so would look like
and what % of ms have heart/pots

i have been 'lucky' that even when my cardiologists didn't have pos. test results(after months and many tests) to back up what i describe them happening, and treat me.
i have been on florinef for awhile and has helped  hypotension so have not have so hhave felt somewhat better with fewer episode  of presyncope.

i will have followup  cardiac appt soon and can print out this article, i know he will be intersted to read it
be well today, amo

[supermum_ms]

Hey all,

Autonomic dysfunction is a continual area of interest for me, i've always had the curiosity bug and this happens to be something i'm constantly compensating for, hence the interest. It started 7 years ago but after my big episode in 09, i'm still dealing with issues that fall squarely into the autonomic dysfunction box and no longer resolving. Its like my brain had a short circuit and now the basics dont want to even work right anymore.

I've mentioned before that i was dx with hypoglycemia, with out any diagnostic evidence to support it, unexplained fatigue, tremor, light headed, seeing stars, irregular heart beat etc this should of been investigated further when blood tests failed to yield any answers. How my dr missed this is not the point (i was dumb enough to keep seeing her), but if your patient is saying i stand up and see stars, i bend over and keep falling cause i'm suddenly light headed, sometimes i dont have the energy to hold my body up, one day i can run up 10 flights of stairs and another i'm dragging my self up cause my heart is banging in my chest.

I feel dizzy when i get up in the night to go to the loo and i feel like my heart is beating way to fast. To me i've been describing POTS not blood sugar drops, and if you've already dx blood circulation issues in that same patient because their feet turn purple, is it too big a leap to think that your patient might be experiencing a lack of blood flow to their brain?

When ever i feel strong and good enough to do anything physical i keep seeing blasted stars until i cool down and get my heart rate back to normal. Thats not even counting the stupid times the fatigue is so bad i'm flattened by it, everything stops working, i've said it before but its like my system is shutting down all it perceives as unnecessary functions to conserve energy.

I'm feeling odd today, not sure whats happening in my head, maybe i'll start another post called Do you freak out too?

Anyway cheers.......JJ

  

[jensequitur]

I had a bout of shortness of breath and heartrate elevation for about three months - the length of most of my neurological symptoms, actually.  After two months I decided I was tired of it, called the physician, and got scheduled for pulmonology tests.  The shortness of breath mainly went away, aside from the early-morning wheezies, before my appointment.  

The pulmonologist found that there was no physical reason for my shortness of breath.  So I don't know if the problem resolved itself before the testing, or if it was neurological in origin.

I think it was neurological, but without verification I would be irresponsible to call it such!

[tonyad]

  Hey there,

   I have made a post on this before and how Autonomic Dysfunction (Dyautonomia) and
MS are related.  Now that is NOT to say that everyone who has an Autonomic Dysfunction has or will get MS ...But rather If one has MS, it is not uncommon for them to also Have an Autonomic Dysfunction.

     I have a Diagnosed Autonomic Dysfunction of NeuroCardioGenic Syncope (NCS). At first they thought ot could be POTS then Innapropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST).
final Result....NCS!  Now you can also have more than one Autonomic Dysfunction too.
You would need testing by an ElectroPhysiologist for these dx as a Cardiologist is not a specialist for ElectroPhysiology.

     If anyone is interested I also posted some links on that particular post I posted. ...
Wow!  It feel like I said "POST" a lot ...Lol

Jensiquitur: Have you been tested or are they planning any testing for you
to address these issues?

~Tonya

[jensequitur]

Yup, I've had problems with heartrate and shortness of breath upon standing, but they've never stuck around long enough to show themselves to a doctor.

[essdipity]

Thanks, JJ. Even though this is a small study, it does have a lot of implications for MS patients. It's also very well-written and understandable to laypersons.

Don't know how many here have POTS problems, but a lot do seem to have autonomic dysfunction related to MS.

ess