are the PoTs symptoms

[Luna-24]

so I have these symptoms for ages and I have been tested for diabetes (type 1 as a child and adult) thyroid imbalanced and have confirmed endometriosis (second surgery in Dec).

I get the shakes regularly but have just assumed it’s my sensitivity for low blood sugar. In the mornings I tend to wake dizzy/heavy headed. There are phases when this worst and weeks where it doesn’t happen.

 Every now and then I’ll get an episode where I get hot flushes, shakes and dizziness all lasting 1-2 days. I have only just herd of pots but don’t know it’s worth bringing it up with a GP.

It got a lot worse after covid especially with exercise and any movements that involved going up and down. I am relatively fit and healthy and so this was not normal.

when I originally went back to my GP they tested for intolerance/allergies/CBC and he concluded it’s just one of those things I have. Low blood pressure has been mentioned regularly at pill check ups but never goes further.

[TracyAdmin Partner STARS]

Thank you for your post, some individuals go on to experience Long Covid after Covid. The symptoms of Long Covid are very similar to those of PoTS so it maybe that you are struggling with Long Covid. Low blood pressure can be a problem for some people.

If you would like to discuss your symptoms with STARS patient services, email us at: [e-mail] Booklets for Living with low blood pressure and PoTS are available on stars.org.uk

[kushami36]

You could ask your doctor to do a “lie, sit, stand” test (sometimes known as orthostatic vitals). You can also do this yourself at home if you have a way to monitor your blood pressure and heart rate.

There are a few slightly different versions. Search “active stand test” and “NASA lean test” for instructions.

If doing the test at home, be careful because you may feel faint. Position yourself so that you can sit or lie down quickly somewhere soft if needed, e.g. near bed or couch.

It’s also a good idea to keep a log of your symptoms and record your blood pressure and heart rate. Try to record at regular times each day, plus extra when you have an episode. Note any factors that may be relevant, e.g. meals, activity, weather.

If you feel low blood sugar may be involved, you can get a basic home meter and test when you are having an episode. (POTS and other types of autonomic dysfunction can cause post-prandial symptoms that feel a lot like low blood sugar.)

There are quite a few conditions that have similar symptoms to POTS so it is important to mention this to your doctor. Some possibilities your doctor can look at are orthostatic intolerance, your low blood pressure, vitamin and mineral levels, and reactive hypoglycemia. If they haven’t already, they will probably do a general check on your heart too.

In the meantime, have you tried supine exercise? Whether you have POTS or not, it can be a good way to get some exercise with less strain on the body. (Check with your doctor first and proceed cautiously.)