POTS Syndrome, or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, is a complex disorder that can be tough to diagnose. Every patient's symptoms are a bit different, and every case responds a bit differently to various treatments. As such, the process of getting diagnosed and treated for POTS can require several visits to the doctor and a lot of ongoing dialogue. What can you do to simplify the process and make your discussions with your doctor more productive? Here are a few ideas.
Keep a diary of symptoms.
The symptoms of POTS are highly varied. The main symptom is dizziness upon standing, but many patients suffer a wide range of other symptoms that they do not always realize are connected to POTS. To ensure you don't miss any key symptoms when describing your ailment to the doctor, try keeping a diary of symptoms. Whenever you feel anything unusual or less than ideal, write it down — along with the date, time, and details about the severity of the symptoms. Some symptoms that are often missed, but that can be due to POTS, include:
Mention any remedies or treatments they have tried.
If you're like many patients, you have tried some home remedies or treatments for the symptoms you're experiencing before making an appointment with your doctor. Share these with your doctor! Knowing what you tried and how your body responded can help your doctor narrow down what's wrong and deduce which treatments are best to try. Be especially sure to mention any changes to diet and exercise routines you've made in an attempt to manage your condition.
Most POTS patients are advised to make some exercise and dietary changes, even if they are also prescribed medications, so knowing what you've already tried in this regard can help your doctor make the most effective recommendations in this regard.
Mention any previous conditions that could be contributing to POTS.
Sometimes, POTS is brought on by a previous condition. Lyme disease, adrenal disease, anemia, and various tumors can all lead to POTS later on. If you've ever been diagnosed with any of these, be sure to mention it to your doctor. It should be included in your medical file, but sometimes doctors overlook things, so it's worth bringing up.
By following the advice above, you should be able to get more out of each appointment with your doctor and move more swiftly towards POTS diagnosis and treatment.
For more information, contact a POTS syndrome doctor today.
Share25 March 2021
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