PoTs - Alternative Diagnosis Worth Exploring

[Artemis23]

Hi All!

So I posted here a year or so ago, thinking I definitely had reactive hypoglycemia. My symptoms were very similar to diabetic lows but without actually getting low blood sugar.

I've since been diagnosed with POTS, which is a type of orthostatic intolerance. In essence, when I stand, my heart rate sky rockets, and my blood pressure does as well (though most people have their blood pressure drop, there is hyper and hypo POTS).

The symptoms are pretty much match typical low blood sugar symptoms: racing heart, clammy, sweating, feeling weak, shaking, irritable, dizziness, etc etc.

It's also easy to think it's related to food, because symptoms are alleviated by high salt intake. Sweet, high refined carb foods tend to be lower in salt, so it's easy to see a pattern with higher sugar and more symptoms.

The test is simple. Using a blood pressure monitor, you check your heart rate and blood pressure while lying down for ten minutes or so, then stand up and test every minute or so for ten- fifteen minutes. (Google poor man's tilt table test for POTS for more directions).

I went to a cardiologist after seeing that my stats qualified me for a POTS diagnosis, and was advised to dramatically up my salt intake (it's caused usually by low blood volume and salt increases your blood volume). Since then (Nov 2021) I haven't had a single episode of those horrid symptoms.

Just putting this out there in the hopes of helping someone searching for answers like I was!

 

[jonathan183]

Thanks for sharing

 

[Lamont D]

Hi All!

So I posted here a year or so ago, thinking I definitely had reactive hypoglycemia. My symptoms were very similar to diabetic lows but without actually getting low blood sugar.

I've since been diagnosed with POTS, which is a type of orthostatic intolerance. In essence, when I stand, my heart rate sky rockets, and my blood pressure does as well (though most people have their blood pressure drop, there is hyper and hypo POTS).

The symptoms are pretty much match typical low blood sugar symptoms: racing heart, clammy, sweating, feeling weak, shaking, irritable, dizziness, etc etc.

It's also easy to think it's related to food, because symptoms are alleviated by high salt intake. Sweet, high refined carb foods tend to be lower in salt, so it's easy to see a pattern with higher sugar and more symptoms.

The test is simple. Using a blood pressure monitor, you check your heart rate and blood pressure while lying down for ten minutes or so, then stand up and test every minute or so for ten- fifteen minutes. (Google poor man's tilt table test for POTS for more directions).

I went to a cardiologist after seeing that my stats qualified me for a POTS diagnosis, and was advised to dramatically up my salt intake (it's caused usually by low blood volume and salt increases your blood volume). Since then (Nov 2021) I haven't had a single episode of those horrid symptoms.

Just putting this out there in the hopes of helping someone searching for answers like I was!

Yeah, thank you for that!
It is so interesting how many conditions have the same symptoms and some of my symptoms can be confusing, especially when my tremor disorder is the same as my old symptoms of RH.
One of these is the shaking, when in the morning until I get going, it can be very similar to low blood levels, but I knew before I was diagnosed as I had never had the shaking in the morning, only after food!
But, being the hypochondriac, everyone knows I am, I'm going to text myself now!
I hope it's not another condition to and to the list!

 

[Lamont D]

@Artemis23 Thanks for sharing this! I always had weird symptoms (since I was a child) that I used to think were related to sugar, I have even considered reactive hypoglycemia, but I've been looking at nervous system issues and came across pots some time ago, it seems to fit my symptoms better. I am hoping to get to a therapist who I can talk to about my concerns soon.
Really interesting what you say about the salt - I've always had a sweet tooth and never used much salt, but a couple of years ago I actually started adding salt to my food and I felt so much better for it, it's been really weird, because everyone always tells you to limit salt, and it has been hard to explain how it helped!

As part of a low carb diet, you have to add salt, and plenty of water!
For many reasons

 

[EllieM]

@NEOBAHAMUT I'm going to tag you in to this thread because I know you have been getting hypo symptoms at non hypo levels.... (I stress, I'm not suggesting you have this condition but in your position I'd be considering non diabetic possibilities as well as diabetic ones.)

@Artemis23 thank you for sharing your story.

 

[MrsA2]

It's Dr David Unwin who says salt was blamed for the harm sugar does

 

[NEOBAHAMUT]

Good evening.

I’ve been having the same symptoms for a few years now….shakes, nausea, weakness, tremor, fatigue, breathless and palpitations. My blood sugars always remain in the normal range generally. Now when this first started about 4 years ago I came on here thinking it was diabetes. I have had all the tests at the GP and also been under endocrinology department and they have also confirmed I don’t have diabetes.

I am currently booked in for an appointment in the next couple of weeks for a tilt table test at the hospital (as I’m now under cardiology)….

we will see what comes of that.

@EllieM thanks for tagging me….. I’ve only just logged back in to the forum as I saw this thread… didn’t realise that you had tagged me. But thanks very much for this. As I’ve said above since my last set of posts I’ve pushed and pushed for this so hoping this test confirms…..

I’m still struggling to control my symptoms.

 

[EllieM]

@NEOBAHAMUT I will keep my fingers crossed for you that you achieve some sort of diagnosis and a resolution of your symptoms. (I must admit it would be awesome if just taking more salt could improve your condition .)

Wishing you lots and lots of luck.

 

[SarahTee]

Good evening.

I’ve been having the same symptoms for a few years now….shakes, nausea, weakness, tremor, fatigue, breathless and palpitations. My blood sugars always remain in the normal range generally. Now when this first started about 4 years ago I came on here thinking it was diabetes. I have had all the tests at the GP and also been under endocrinology department and they have also confirmed I don’t have diabetes.

I am currently booked in for an appointment in the next couple of weeks for a tilt table test at the hospital (as I’m now under cardiology)….

we will see what comes of that.

@EllieM thanks for tagging me….. I’ve only just logged back in to the forum as I saw this thread… didn’t realise that you had tagged me. But thanks very much for this. As I’ve said above since my last set of posts I’ve pushed and pushed for this so hoping this test confirms…..

I’m still struggling to control my symptoms.

@NEOBAHAMUT

I saw your post and wanted to say that I have had a similar path. For years I thought I must have a blood sugar problem, but in the end, it turned out to be an autonomic disorder. (At least, that is my current diagnosis, and my specialist seems pretty sure about it.)

How did your tilt table test go?

 

[SarahTee]

Hi All!

So I posted here a year or so ago, thinking I definitely had reactive hypoglycemia. My symptoms were very similar to diabetic lows but without actually getting low blood sugar.

I've since been diagnosed with POTS, which is a type of orthostatic intolerance. In essence, when I stand, my heart rate sky rockets, and my blood pressure does as well (though most people have their blood pressure drop, there is hyper and hypo POTS).

The symptoms are pretty much match typical low blood sugar symptoms: racing heart, clammy, sweating, feeling weak, shaking, irritable, dizziness, etc etc.

It's also easy to think it's related to food, because symptoms are alleviated by high salt intake. Sweet, high refined carb foods tend to be lower in salt, so it's easy to see a pattern with higher sugar and more symptoms.

The test is simple. Using a blood pressure monitor, you check your heart rate and blood pressure while lying down for ten minutes or so, then stand up and test every minute or so for ten- fifteen minutes. (Google poor man's tilt table test for POTS for more directions).

I went to a cardiologist after seeing that my stats qualified me for a POTS diagnosis, and was advised to dramatically up my salt intake (it's caused usually by low blood volume and salt increases your blood volume). Since then (Nov 2021) I haven't had a single episode of those horrid symptoms.

Just putting this out there in the hopes of helping someone searching for answers like I was!

This could be my story, although I was diagnosed with chronic orthostatic intolerance. (Similar to POTS, but without tachycardia.) Mine doesn’t show up on a tilt table test, but luckily I was referred to an autonomic specialist who was able to diagnose me.

I’m so glad the extra salt and fluid is helping you.

 

[SarahTee]

Here is a link to a good source of information on POTS symptoms:

Symptoms - PoTS UK

Orthostatic intolerance is a term that is sometimes used to describe symptoms of PoTS. It means symptoms that occur on standing and are relieved by lying down. In addition to heart rate and blood pressure, other bodily functions that are regulated by the autonomic nervous system can be...

www.potsuk.org

There are other conditions that come under the same umbrella as POTS, but without the tachycardia on standing. Some of these involve abnormal blood pressure responses, such as orthostatic hypotension. Some of these don’t show abnormal blood pressure or heart rate, but can still be diagnosed by an autonomic specialist.