Is daysautonomia an autonomic immune disease?

[DesperateMom1214]

My daughter has been struggling with dysautonomia for the last ten years. She is now 20 and is only barely better then her worst days.  It seems that we have been on hundreds of meds, but can't find the right combination.  We have been to several cardiologists, but no neurologists.  Shouldn't neurologists be the lead on this disorder?  We are desperate for some help.

[DesperateMom1214]

Thank you very much for your response.  We have done so much trial and error, we feel like my daughter is a guinea pig.  I do feel that only symptoms are being treated and no one seems interested in why or how she became daysautonomiac.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
I am sorry to hear about your daughter. Dysautonomia is the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which is not under our conscious control and regulates things like heart rate, movement of the gut (peristalsis), respiratory rate, sweating, bladder contraction, etc. While it is not an autoimmune disorder, it can be the result of an autoimmune disorder or a combination of them. It can also be a genetic problem or a result of diabetes, or degenerative neurological diseases (eg. Parkinson’s) or connective tissue disorder (again an autoimmune disorder), or spinal cord injury.
First the cause has to be found out and the symptoms have to be properly understood. Then a combination of drugs have to tried by trial and error to find which works the best. Yes, a neurologist can help you. However, it is best to work with a team of cardiologist and neurologist working together. Also, there is no easy solution to symptoms. It has to be by trial and error. Also, it is important to find out whether she has an autoimmune disorder or diabetes and to treat them if she has. Treating the disorders can also bring a lot of relief to her symptoms. Take care!