Dizzy

[lumterps]

I feel like I have done nothing but complain lately....but I have been feeling really bad! I go from a week or two of feeling great and then out of know where I'm dizzy, tired, have palpatations....and then my anxiety kicks in and I don't which gets the better of me! The POTS or anxiety! Does anyone ever get dizzy and tired but their heart rate and BP are controlled with meds? My rate is controlled, sometimes my BP is on the low side due to my beta blocker....but other than that it is just the fatigue and dizziness. I stay hydrated by drinking a TON of water and powerade. Any other suggestions? Does anyone else feel like this? I'm sure it doesn't help that I work on my feet for 12 hrs 3 days a week (sometimes 4) Could that be a factor? Any advice would be appreciated!!!!

[Heiferly]

You may want to ask your cardiologist about the possibility of trying a lower dose on the beta blocker or trying a different medication.  There are some patients with dysautonomia who (for whatever reason) simply cannot tolerate beta blockers, or cannot tolerate a certain beta blocker but have more success on a different one.  It is not uncommon for us to hear patients complain of being symptomatic at brady heartrates that would not ordinarily concern a doctor; it may be that we're more attuned to the finer changes in our bodies because of having to pay attention to our dysauto symptoms, or it may be that our bodies just respond more strongly to these fluctuations than a person without dysauto would.  You're definitely not the first person to remark on this, though!

Your pressures do sound to be in fairly good range, though; my yes, you're perfusing!!  (I wish I could get that going even when standing, LOL ... can I borrow some of that??)  If I had to guess, I'd say that it's the lower heart rate you're reacting to if anything of the things you've mentioned.  Perhaps one way to know for sure would be to see if your doc would let you "test" a change in the beta blocker (dosage/different med/whatever the doc things is best) to see if that helps the problem.  If not, then at least you've ruled that out.

(Yay, Dain Brammage Wonder Twins Unite!!!)

[lumterps]

LOL! No problem....it's my resting BP in the 90's. Standing is low 100's. Diastolic runs in the 50's with a MAP in the 70's (at least I know i'm profusing, Ha!) Nadolol and kapadex are my only meds....occasional carafate when my GERD acts up.
This morning I woke up and was dizzy while I was still laying in bed. I almost wonder if I'm becoming symptomatic to being bradycardic? My HR before climbing out of bed was 58. It can get as low as 52 but my cardiologist said he is fine with that as long as I'm feeling okay. I'm having a hard time distinguising my symptoms...POTS or something else related to my bb?
P.S. I had dain brammage before dx with POTS:)

[Heiferly]

Is that your standing BP or your sitting BP in the 90-100s systolic?  Where is your diastolic when you're feeling this way?  What is your pulse pressure?

Is the nadolol your only med?  (Sorry if I'm asking questions you've already answered elsewhere.  I've got short term memory issues.  It's the Dain Brammage game show if you don't mind playing along, LOL.)

[lumterps]

I take nadolol 10mg once a day. Whenever I feel bad I check my pulse and its usually normal....below 90. I have started taking my BP too and it is usually 90-100's. I KNOW my anxiety is my enemy right now. I get very nervous and when I have heart palpatations my anxiety spirals outta control. I don't have full blown panic attacks or anything....but I feel terrible and just have that "bad feeling" for hours! Right now my dizziness is better ( I am at home and off my feet) but my heart has been fluttering a good bit today. I'm well hydrated and haven't been in the sun or had any alcohol in a week... so unless last weekends fun is still lingering....i'm not sure why I'm feeling like this? I guess it is just the joy of having POTS and I must learn to adapt. What relaxation techniques do you use? I would love to hear what works for you!

[craigory1962]

From what ive read it seems as though standing can help reduce the effects of sitting all the time. Im sure though there is a point that could be considered over doing it. I seem to have spells where the terrible feeling comes and goes too. Can I ask how much beta blocker you take in a day? Also what do you consider "controlled"? When a person starts to feel terrible like this it is difficult to stay calm and not allow the anxiety to become overwhelming. I have been working on my relaxation techniques and have found it to be very helpful.