Dysautonomia, POTS, and the Natural Doctor

 

Ever since I was a teenager, I struggled with standing for long periods of time. That only happened occasionally. Lately I have been struggling with feeling dizzy, weak, and short of breath. It would get better when I would sit or lay down though. I recently completed a two-week Holter monitor test that tracked my heart rate, and I wrote down everything of significance that I felt during those two weeks along with the date and time. 

The results came back last week, and my doctor was concerned with how frequently tachycardia (fast heart rate) occurred. I mentioned how there was one point I felt pretty short of breath and tired when I was just putting on a coat to leave the house and when I checked my heart rate it was at 150. That was just from walking and standing. After I mentioned that, my doctor prescribed me propranolol, ordered me a table tilt test, and referred me back to the cardiologist for an echo. 

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

POTS is what I believe I may have. I mentioned it to my doctor, and they agree that it is likely that I have that. POTS is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. The extent of my knowledge of this condition is just what I have experienced: a massive spike of the heart rate when standing up that causes dizziness and it worsens when standing for a while. The table tilt test will determine whether or not I have this. From what I understand, the test for this will measure my heart rate as I am being tilted on a literal table. I recently started drinking electrolytes to help with the POTS like symptoms along with taking the propranolol. 

Propranolol

This is the medication that I started just this week. It helps slow down my heart rate, so my heart isn't racing all the time. I will say it is definitely doing its job, but I'm not a fan of the side effects. I am currently taking a pretty low dose of 20 mg of propranolol once a day in the mornings. My heart rate has been staying around the upper 60s to low 70s when sitting which is a huge improvement. However, the side effects make me feel even more dizzy and tired and give me an almost floaty feeling. I asked my doctor about this and was told that those are completely normal side effects but that I could cut the pill in half if need be. For now, I am going to continue the full dose and hope my body adjusts to the new medication. 

The Natural Doctor

A few months ago, I began seeing a natural for my Ulcerative Colitis. He has been helpful thus far, but man do I need to take a lot of supplements! I have been given B12, D-Mannose Powder, Boswellia, a new probiotic, Vitamin C, Pure Liver, and boric acid as supplements I need to have daily. I have lost count of how many pills I take in a day. But it works! I was having frequent UTIs and back pain for a while and the D-Mannose powder and Boswellia got rid of that. Everything else I am not sure if it is actually helping but those are the ones I have for sure seen results. 

Echo Heart Test or Echocardiogram

This is the test that I will have done next month. It will show if there is anything majorly wrong with my heart that is causing the shortness of breath and dizziness. 

All in all, I would say the main thing I've been struggling with is fatigue and dizziness. I'm hoping there will be answers in the near future though!