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I Have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

POTS

By: ntyvsem
Written on May 27th, 2009

2 years ago I began to have odd symptoms. I would feel dizzy and had mulitple collapses. I went to see my GP on many occassions who said I was stressed, one even said that this was normal for females of my age. I tried to ignor the symptoms. Until it was effecting my work. I am a staff nurse so as you can imagine collapsing was not that safe in my area of work. All my colleagues kept telling me to go back to the doctors as this was not normal. I finally ended up being admitted to my own hospital following a bad collapse on the ward. The consultant I was under carried out many tests which all came back normal, however they commenced me on antihypertensives and told me to buck up my ideas.

I continued to have symptoms, but tried to cover them up as felt that I was going silently insane and that everything was in my head. Finally I changed my GP and moved area and thankgod I did because he sent me to see a cardiologist. After a tilt table test I became increasingly unwell I could not stand Up with out collapsing. I was admitted into hospital for 10 days and was on a monitor which recorded a pulse rate in excess of 170bpm on standing. Finally I had a diagnosis and he commenced me on medication. I thought that that would be it but have now struggled to get back to work and to come to terms with the fact I can not do some of the things I could do before.

My managers have been very supportive but I want to know how I can get my life back. I don't want to be the "Sick one" anymore!!!

By: ntyvsem
Age: 26-30
2,213 people have read this story

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4 responses
  • jellon
    jellon

    You're not alone. I know how you must feel. I can't do the things I used to either. I remember the frustration when after 4 days in the hospital and multiple tests they were going to discharge me without a diagnosis, because all the tests came back normal. I too have been out of work for quite some time. I'm hoping to go back soon, even though I don't know how well I'll be able to handle it. This sort of thing can make you feel alienated, especially when you family doctor doesn't understand you diagnosis well enough to not deny that you have it. I hope you ave good support in you life like I do.

    Mar 21
    1 like
  • nikitaphelan756
    nikitaphelan756

    In my job i just get people turning their back to me that claim to be first aiders, i dont feel safe one bit and they just shove me outside by myself even if i have told them im going to faint i feel like they dont care and i just wanna be the normal one too not the sick one :(

    Apr 7, 2011
    1 like
  • ALWAYSFATIGUED
    ALWAYSFATIGUED

    I too struggled with the same problems as you. I am a nurse in a clinic and was exposed to many viruses, one after another. Shortly after that I ended up with POTS. I see a cardiologist at Stanford that suggests lifestyle modifications and sent me back to work 3 months after my diagnoses. I live to work. Everyday after a full shift I would go home and sleep just so I could have the energy and strength the next day to go back. Almost a year later after going back to work I ended up in the hospital again because I have been exposed to numerous flus and viruses. This time my POTS attacked my nervous system and I had uncontrolled facial twitching, eye problems, and body tremors. Now in order to go out to a store I sit in a wheel chair or I feel the need to pass out. As a nurse, I completely understand your position. We live to help people get better, not to ask for help to get ourselves better. Please listen to your body and be careful in your work environment. It can cause your POTS to take over your body and unfortunately your mind.

    Sep 27, 2009
    2 likes
  • JV06
    JV06

    I was a PCA in an ER aspiring to be a Trauma nurse like my mom. I fell out one day and had everyone crowd. So began my life with POTS. I know what you mean by wanting to go back to work and not be the sick one. Not to be held back by something that you cant even begin to understnd. I haven't gone back to work since my diagnoses. I would like to think I will be able to. I hope you will be too. Don't worry about gettng back before you figure out your limits and just work around those. I think even though we were diagnosed with such a messed up syndrome disease disorder whatever I think we should still be able to live a life that we want to not that we have to.

    Aug 13, 2009
    1 like