POTs?

[Poppy96]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with this? I was ill with a virus back at the start of October. I have been off work sick since then with really bad fatigue that I can’t shift and also a fast heart rate and lightheadedness whenever I stand up or do any physical exertion. I saw my doctor in person yesterday and she took my heart rate and blood pressure when sat down which was normal with a slight elevated heart rate she then took both when I stood up and clocked that my heart rate went up to 160 and my blood pressure plummeted to the point where the electric blood pressure monitor couldn’t pick it up.

I was then sent to ambulatory care at the hospital where they did a blood test, ECG, chest x ray and all came back normal. They did my heart rate and blood pressure again but when I was sat down which my heart rate was at 100 and my blood pressure was also a bit low for being sat down but they didn’t measure it when I stood up.

I mentioned to them about POTs as I’d come across it when googling, she said she couldn’t say I had it and couldn’t say I didn’t as it was too close to me having the the viral illness. So they put it down to post viral fatigue. I’m now nearly 4 weeks from the illness and I’ve been off work since the 11th October. I have two weeks to wait to see if it calms down otherwise I’m off to cardiology.

I was just wondering if anyone else has gone through something similar?

[Sleepyhead22]

Hello,

I had a really thorough GP when I was getting diagnosed. She took time to read additional information about diagnosing people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue before my appointment and came across PoTS. She noticed my heart rate changed a lot when I was sitting and standing, had the ECG and x Ray too and was referred to cardiologist who told me my heart was healthy, my heart rate increased a fair bit but not high enough to be diagnosed. He recommended exercise that wasn't in line with guidelines for fibro and would have made my symptoms worse but he was only looking at things from a heart health point of view, so I ignored him and listened to my other doctors who knew more about my health conditions for exercise advice.

So I was never diagnosed with it but I was glad to have it checked.

My appointment started with getting more ECG stuff done by a nurse and then seeing the cardiologist who make me sit and stand a bunch while measuring my heart rate.

Hope that helps a little.

All the best.

[Cat00]

My friend has POTS she was in a car accident, she had neck injuries, her POTS seemed to start after that. They gave her a tilt test, I suppose they might give you that in time?

[Roo1972]

Sounds like POTS which is not uncommon after a viral infection. Sometimes it resolves, other times it doesn't so getting it checked out is definitely the best option.