Had another appointment with Doctor Benditt today. He said the tilt table test.. Stress Test and Heart Monitor all show the same thing... I do have POTS. My body needs to relearn how to handle gravity. My blood pools in my legs and stomach. I need to do Tilt Training Protocol He put me on a half a dose of Metoprolol twice a day. That seems to be helping. I need to drink at least four servings of gatorade a day. And lots of water. My body is in a constant state of dehydration. I have to go back in two or three months. Or sooner if symptoms worsen.
The doctor ordered a heart monitor from Cadionet. I have to wear for 21 days It is hooked up through our phone line, I have to record my symptoms in a monitor. Three electrodes, a sensor that I wear around my neck and the monitor to hook to belt or jeans. On Sunday, after church (March 22) we went to walmart, I had tremors from the cold and standing in one place too long. The monitor started beeping Cardionet said to give them a call. They did a check of the electroids. I find out later... My Heart rate was high and that is why they called.I have had a lead come off at 3:30 am and the monitor starts beeping...Talk about a fast heart rate after that!!!!
Had to be at the hospital at 8:30 am No food or water.Took blood and my blood pressure. Hooked me up to an IV and give me two bags of fluid.Tilt table test started at 11:44 Baseline Blood pressure was 129/68 Heart rate 79 Laying down. He came in and did a Valsalva Test. I had to blow and keep blowing in a tube type thing. My Heart Rate went up to 125 and my Blood Pressure went up to 170/81. Had a lot of pressure in my head and it was pounding. Start the rest phase of test at 11:47 ,They informed me that no one would be talking to me (No stimulation) and the room would be dim light. They said to let them know if I would feel any symptoms.Tilted table 70 degrees at 12:25 at 12:37 My blood pressure was 115/78 and Heart rate 162. I let them know I was short of breath. The tremors start in, first my right leg, before I know it it is full body tremors. A little bit later nurses and doctors are all around me, ask me if this is how I feel at home, I said YES. They put the table down and let me know the test was done. I lay there until the tremors got better and walked back to my room. I feel very TIRED.The Doctor comes into my room and said....YOU HAVE POTS.. Your TREMORS ARE ALSO FROM POTS. I am the first case he has had with the tremors. He put me on Metoprolol 50 mg Twice a day. Told me to salt my food heavy and drink lots of gatorade. Make an appointment to see him in two weeks.FINALLY A TEST TO PROVE I HAVE POTSThe stress test started about an hour later.Within about five minutes my Heart rate goes up to 191 WALKING! I start coughing and gasping for air. The test is done. I finally get some water to drink. I have not eaten or drank anything all day and it is 3:30As we leave the hospital I get out side and it is cold (Minnesota) My muscles start to tremor and cramp. I am in the elevator (Full of people) in parking garage and get full body tremors. The door opens, I try to walk and take a few steps and my body freezes up. I can't move. PRAISE GOD! a wheel chair is sitting right by the elevator. Brian drags me to the chair. and wheels me up to the pickup. I am coughing really hard. After sitting and coughing awhile. My tremors stop and so does the coughing. I am exhausted!
