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I've had cardiac issues with the m.e for a long time - when they started I'm pretty sure it was POTS as I had to go into hospital with a heartrate of over 200bpm on sitting/standing only. That was a few years ago and I was given beta blockers as cardiologist thought it was stress. These days due to careful pacing and a general stabilising of my condition, I don't get it that severe, but I still get significant cardiac symptoms. The reason I'm posting is that I'm not sure whether it's worth going back to the doctor and being investigated for POTS. I'm in UK and there's a real lack of understanding of m.e but it seems to be better with POTS and so I might be taken more seriouslty. I don't takr the beta blockers everyday but I always need some just in case. My main experiences are
Fast heartbeat on standing - usually an increase from 20bpm to over 30bpm so I don't strictly fit pots criteria all of the time
Feeling dizzy/lightheaded when stand up
Heart banging in chest
Fast heartrate on lifting my arms i.e to get dressed
Fast heartrate on any sort of movement/exertion but particularly repeated/sustained movement
Fast heartate after a meal
I also suffer from migraines, fatigue, bladder dysfunction and a lot of the stuff listed under pots.
I know I have m.e due to the terrible PEM that isnt part of pots - exercise is a massive no no for me due to the immune and muscular symptoms.
I'm not expecting anyone to say whether I have pots obviously, but just wondering if I should push for seeing a specialist or not? I feel that my cardiac issues have been written off as anxiety and apart from an ecg a few years ago, nothing has ever been done (partly my fault, as I haven;t been to the doctor that often to mention it). Not that much can be done I know, but I;m thinking along the lines of perhaps there would be a better understanding of what I'm actually dealing with.
If I did go, should I mention that my heart rate doesn't always increase to 30bpm or more on standing? I do think I have dysautonomia and I know some specialists in UK have researched this, but am concerned I don't fit the pots criteria all the time.
Any thoughts would be great thanks.
Fast heartbeat on standing - usually an increase from 20bpm to over 30bpm so I don't strictly fit pots criteria all of the time
Feeling dizzy/lightheaded when stand up
Heart banging in chest
Fast heartrate on lifting my arms i.e to get dressed
Fast heartrate on any sort of movement/exertion but particularly repeated/sustained movement
Fast heartate after a meal
I also suffer from migraines, fatigue, bladder dysfunction and a lot of the stuff listed under pots.
I know I have m.e due to the terrible PEM that isnt part of pots - exercise is a massive no no for me due to the immune and muscular symptoms.
I'm not expecting anyone to say whether I have pots obviously, but just wondering if I should push for seeing a specialist or not? I feel that my cardiac issues have been written off as anxiety and apart from an ecg a few years ago, nothing has ever been done (partly my fault, as I haven;t been to the doctor that often to mention it). Not that much can be done I know, but I;m thinking along the lines of perhaps there would be a better understanding of what I'm actually dealing with.
If I did go, should I mention that my heart rate doesn't always increase to 30bpm or more on standing? I do think I have dysautonomia and I know some specialists in UK have researched this, but am concerned I don't fit the pots criteria all the time.
Any thoughts would be great thanks.