fast and slow heart rate

[nfeaster]

i was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome a few weeks ago . but i am not convinced i have it. My symptoms don't come when i stand up. They come randomly throughout the day. My cardiologist put me on beta blockers for the fast heart rate which made my low heart rate even worse to around 30. I had also gained ten pounds in 3 days while on the beta blocker and my legs and ankles swelled up so i stoppes taking it. When i told him about this he kind of blew me off and said that all my pot syptoms had seemed to go away.I get bad chest pain and shortness of breath when i get both tachy and brady.  When my heart rate gets low At rest my heart rate goes down to around 40 but during the day my heart rate can spike to over 160 at rest. Also just walking up the stairs my heart rate goes from 45 to 180 then it drops right back down. Also my blood pressure is normally 90/60 but for the past month it has been consistently 140/110 with occasional readings of 200/150. when my blood pressure gets above 150 i start getting bluried vision, ringing in my ears and a bad headache. Sometimes i get crushing chest pain to.  I am only 17 and i dont know what to do. should i see another doctor? What could it be and how can it be fixed. Also some past medical history within the past 2 years i have been in septic shock twice, 2 DVTs, pulmonary embolism, chronic osteomulitis in my foot and 21 surgeries to get rid of it, 2 collapsed lungs with chest tubes, went into respitory arrest after a foot surgeryand 2 picc line infections. Could my past history contributed to the problems i am having now?

[Mom2four85]

I found info on the NIH, I see they only do clinical trials - is that correct?

I am searching for facilities that do full autonomic testing which all ANS patients should have after a diagnosis =)  Trying to compare Vanderbilt to other places to decide if a week's trip is worth the drive and expense  vs. Cleveland Clinic near me here in FL.

[Mom2four85]

Does the NIH in Bethesda have a full autonomic testing center? I would love some more info on it if it does.

[relp]

If I were you I would go to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD since that is the nearest great facility to you, and I wouldn't waste any time doing it.  Good Luck.

[Mom2four85]

Oh my you have been through the ringer haven't you? I feel so bad for you :(  at a young age when you shouldn't have to be worrying about anything other than school.  It could be the septic shock that was a contributor to your problems, I think that's what happened with me but when I was 29.

Have you seen an autonomic specialist? I think you really should and get complete testing such as Vanderbilt, Mayo or Cleveland clinic.  They will check for everything in your ANS system such as Is_something_wrong has recommended.

I have ANS dysfunction and my bp/hr rides rollercoasters daily; it's crazy and I can go from 60 (my pacemaker is set at that rate) to 195 in a blink....most of us with ANS problems are this way...there really is no set in stone thing for ans issues; only what some may experience - you could have a mix of POTS, NCS, OI etc plus some auto immune stuff thrown in there such as I do.

here's some info on Autonomic Nervous system - http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Autonomic-Dysfunction-FAQ/show/181?cid=196
and dr's in your area who can diagnose & help treat you -http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Dysautonomia-Specialists/show/717?cid=196

I do see the children's heart institute in VA near you that does testing - they have quite a few locations in VA, so you may get some help there http://www.childrensheartinstitute.org/

[is_something_wrong]

Hi,

You need to check if you have elevated catecholamines in your blood. One condition causing this is pheocromocytoma.

Symptomes of this disease is occational extreme hypertension, along with postural hypotension/POTS.

Go to your doctor and get some blood tests done.