I have no idea! Im 33 years old dx w/ pots. I have never had any symptoms or major illnesses. One day at work (june 7 th) started to feel dizzy, got real hot, chest palpitating, fingers and hand got numb. I thought i was having a heart attack.Then i passed out for only a min though. I work in a hospital so they took me to ER. They sent me home said i was fine. Next day ended up in ER again, and again they sent me home i was fine. For three days i laid and did nothing. I then decided im living my life. Went shopping with my husband, not a good idea. I almost passed out again, I had to lay on the ground. Later that night i must have pushed myself. I thought i was gonna dye. My heart was pounding.

I called 911, they admitted. I stayed 3 days. Failed tilt table test in 2 mins. They put me on Florinef for a week, no success. Atenolol (beta blocker) for two weeks, kinda scary b/c my bp is low to begin w/ 95/65. It get down to 85/58at times. It did lower my heart rate from 115 standing to 85-90. However, it did not solve my problem. I still get the chest and throat tightness, dizzy and lightheadedness, brain fog and confusion all w/ standing only. Im fine laying and ok for the most part sitting. I just cant have my legs hanging. No symptoms until my legs are in a standing position. Does it take awhile for the beta blockers to work? They just changed my meds to nadolol (a non selective beta blocker) and added a salt tablet. Or maybe i need to try Midodrine (a vasoconstrictor) blood could be pooling in my legs. Did you try Midorine before. I feel like im not getting blood to my head and tht would explain my symptoms. I went to another doctor he changed my atenolol to nadolol a non selective beta blocker. My heart rate seems to be higher now. (maybe it takes some time) I also take salt tablets.

I am so completely confused and sad. 6 weeks is a long time for me to sit and do nothing. I went from full time job, part time school, being a mom and wife--------to sitting and doing nothing. Where is the cure, research, help? Sorry had to vent.

What meds have you tried? Does it get any easier? Why cant they fix this? Do you work or drive? Do you have POTS? Do you know what caused yours? How long have you had this?
Sorry I have a million questions.
Thank you for listening. I keep praying everyday!

I have neurally mediated hypotension, which causes the BP to drop. I too failed the tilt table. It is a natural response for your heart rate to increase in order to compensate for the low BP. This 'might' be why your HR is high while your BP stays low. I take both florinef and midodrine along with a high sodium diet. It's not perfect but I can function, drive, etc.

Autonomic dysfunction is a form of neuropathy and can have many causes. Mine is caused by the autoimmune disease, Sjogren's. In many cases, autonomic dysfunction not limited to just tachy rates & BP. Mine also involves other heart rates/rhythms, temperature regulation, gastric motility, balance, and even vascular spasms. The treatment is specific to the effected system. Treating the underlining disorder (if you know) can help the autonomic dysfunction. Have you been worked up for causes of this? If so, what tests?

I would contact your doctor about finding a better combination of meds so you can function more normally.

research "dysautonomia". There's a high-traffic site for this on the web, with a lot of information. I have experienced what you experienced, and it IS scary!!! I still don't have answers, though, so can't help you with that. VERY few doctors understand dysautonomia, so what you are finding with docs is not unusual. Neurologists specialize in central nervous system disorders (with a few exceptions), whereas endocrinologists for the most part specialize in diabetes (with some exceptions): the money-making areas. A cardiologist was the person who diagnosed my friend who had the heart-racing kind of dysautonomia. I'm like you, I have normally low bp. I'm afraid of taking medication that lowers my heartrate. Before I started having significant autonomic problems, I used to take xanax for autonomic-like seizures, but one time when I did that, I felt like my heart was going to stop, it felt so slow. I actually made my dh stay up while I tried to fall asleep because I was afraid I was gonna die in my sleep, I was that afraid! I haven't taken the xanax since.

Sorry, can't help you. I'm still trying to find answers, and I've been experiencing problems for nine years! I see a neurologist for central nervous system problems, and an endocrinologist for adrenal insufficiency and Hashimoto's. Kind of a "feeling the elephant in different places" approach but I haven't been able to find a doctor who could integrate it