Whether your doctor knows you have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) or are looking for a POTS diagnosis, the symptoms surrounding the syndrome come in a wide array and are almost impossible to know which symptoms are relevant. Most patients are diagnosed POTS via a tilt table test, but not all patients can be diagnosed based on that test alone, other symptoms need to come into play sometimes.
If you have POTS and your doctor is looking into seperate or comorbid conditions, the spectrum of POTS symptoms and can make that process very difficult for both patient and physician. Below, a categorized list of the less known or common symptoms of POTS to get familiar with and discuss with your primary physician:
Psychiatric:
- Anxiety symptoms
- Chronic or periodic hypervigilance
- Depression
- Panic Attacks
Cerebral:
- Brain fog
- Headaches
- Memory problems
- Lightheaded
- Blurred vision
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Syncope (fainting) or near-syncope
- Sleep problems
Cardiovalscular:
- Irregular heart rate
- Palpitations
- Generalized chest pain
- Irregular blood pressure
Generalized:
- Chronic fatigue
- Weakness
- Exercise intolerance
- Heat intolerance
- Muscle pain
- Tremors/twitching
Gastrointestinal:
- Diarreha
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Cramping
- General GI pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like symptoms
Respiratory:
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breating
- Asthma like symptoms
Genitourinary:
- Increase urination
- Difficulty urinating
- Nocturnal urination
- Slight to mild incontinence
Dermatological:
- Flushing
- Hives
- Tempurature regulation issues
- Sweating – increased or decreased
- Redness
- Discoloration
Extremities – Legs, feet, arms, and hands:
- Leg pain
- Weakness
- Edema
- Blood pooling
- Discoloration – red/orange and blue/purple
- Feeling cold
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS) like symptoms
- Nerve pain
- Neuropathy
Provide clear communication to your doctor
Know your body and the symptoms that are triggered from POTS. Everyone has a different affect to POTS and doctors are not as educated on the condition as you may think. Be mindfull of what symtoms can be separated from POTS and it will help make for an easier path to symptoms management and future treatment options.
Your primary physician may order extra testing should they hear something unusual. In the long term, your physician will be thankful that you offered a concise checklist rather than rambling on about non-essentials or freezing up and not being aware of what to say whatsoever. For instance, if your physician doesn’t recognize a fist-sized field of dullness left of your sternum, you could be tested for emphysema. If you’re getting nowhere with your present doctor, attempt to find a person who is a better listener.
You should say to your doctor, “I know we are on exactly the same page and just need to be sure I get the appropriate diagnosis.” Doctors are not just hearing your words, but they’re also observing you physically to begin their assessment approach. Before you pay for it, ask your physician if you want it. If your doctor is trying to define your symptoms as lupus, but you feel that is going onyou aren’t alone.
