POTS: Introduction to Invisible Illness

Receiving a diagnosis is half the battle, but sometimes it is the most difficult part. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a relatively new condition to the medical community. The symptoms of POTS overlap numerous other more common illnesses, causing the diagnosis to take more time than expected.

Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for conditions that affect the nervous system, which can cause anything our bodies typically do automatically to be extremely challenging. Finding a doctor who is familiar with dysautonomic conditions is important. After several appointments and a multitude of medical testing under the care of two neurologists, I had yet to receive a diagnosis. It wasn't until I found a neurologist who specialized in dysautonomic conditions that I was diagnosed with POTS.

Among my POTS symptoms, the worst was experiencing a shortness of breath I can best describe as debilitating, which is an understatement. My breathing felt exasperated sitting still. I also experienced trademark POTS symptoms: bradycardia and tachycardia (abnormally slow or fast heartbeat).

The following are all symptoms I experienced, listed in order of severity:

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue

• Blood pooling

• Migraines

• Bradycardia and Tachycardia

• Chest pain

• Swallowing issues

• Tingling/numbness in limbs

• Light sensitivity

• Heartburn

• Vomiting

• Bloating

• Dizziness

• Dry and watery eyes

• Increased sweating

• Dry mouth

• Fainting

Basically anything the body does automatically can be affected by POTS. Unless a person has experienced it themselves, it is difficult for people to understand the severity of it. With progress in modern medicine, POTS is becoming more medically recognized. Hopefully with time there will be more effective treatments available for us. These blog posts are important in spreading awareness of this invisible illness.