POTS and blood pressure

[Teddybear556]

I was dx'd with POTS 2 yrs ago when I began having fainting spells.  I also had a severely compressed spinal cord which required a 7 cervical fusion 1 yr ago - which seemed to help in stopping the fainting spells.

Well, the spells are back to the point of passing out - just recently I had a 48hr heart monitor results should be in 7 to 10 days.

I was told to get a heart monitor to keep an eye on things - I am to use it  sitting and standing - What is the best way to use it meaning:  do I sit for 10 mins test then immediatly stand and test again or do I have to wait?  My Drs were not clear on that do you know?  Thanks for your help.Deb 56yrs old.

[Teddybear556]

Hi I asked that very question - no one seems to know - chances are I had POTS since I was a teen - had many episodes of passing out but they did not know why.  Now I am finding out that my many surgeries I have had in the past couple of years could have re-established the POTS.

2 yrs ago They tried to put me on a beta blocker and at that time my blood pressure was only 90/60 with a heart of 85.  On the blocker my BP dropped too low to often they took me off it.  Maybe now I would benefit from it - we'll see once the results of the heart monitor comes in.

I will be going to Mayo Clinic in June so maybe this and a few other things can be addressed we will see.

[LivingInHope]

It reminds me of an internist suggesting a beta blocker might actually help my heart beat more effectively and actually raise, rather than lower, my blood pressure.  I wonder if the POTS actually brought on the CHF (along with your heart condition)?  That is a perplexing state of affairs, to have POTS and CHF!

[Teddybear556]

Low sodium, limited amounts of fluids and water pills everyday because if I don't I gain up to 10 lbs of fluid a day.

It is hard to juggle all my illnesses because  with POTS they wanted to give salt pills and more fluid then we found out about the CHF.  With POTS the treatment requires one to not be taking water pills.  So I am in a catch 22 right now.

[LivingInHope]

Wow, I'm sorry you are in congestive heart failure!  How are they treating you for that?

[Teddybear556]

I have had MRI done in Dec. last year before I had my C7 shaved down.  I was told everything looked fine.

My PCP is thinking seizures or my heart because I have CHF right now.  So I am going to Mayo in June to try to put a name to all that is going on.  

[LivingInHope]

Well, because I am wondering if there is a connection in your situation- I know the top two cervical disc situation and the spinal cord up there are critical to things like breathing, for example, and after you had a surgery, you said your fainting spells stopped for a time.  The fact they are back now made me wonder if something has gone wrong again with your neck.  Do you have metal in your neck that makes an MRI impossible?  

[Teddybear556]

Hi and thank you for the reply I will keep that in mind when I do my blood pressure readings.

I have xrays done every 6 months.   The last one was in March not scheduled for another until Sept.  Why do you ask if they took picture since my spells are happening again?

[LivingInHope]

You might try it after you've been sitting for ten minutes, then you need to be standing for AT LEAST a full minute to give your body the normal time the average person needs to adjust to a change to standing.  An internist I used to have back in another state wanted me to stand two to three minutes to give my body time to normalize before re-taking my blood pressure and pulse.

Also, have they taken any pictures of your neck since the spells have begun again?