Anyone have any info regarding POTS syndrome?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

Hey all! Haven't started a thread in a while, but was watching something on tv and saw something I wasn't familiar with. Went online but didn't help. Any info is welcome. If u have had a pt with this in the past, ect would love ur input. Thanks

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ICU.

i think it is an extrapulmonary tuberculosis... it affects the bones...

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Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome... what are you looking to know??

If this is what you're referring to, it's not really a condition that is handled inpatient.

It's defined as a rise in HR >30bpm upon standing. Some common symptoms are a feeling of a blackout (not actually fainting) or a headrush, GI discomforts. Tilt Table Test can be used to diagnose. Treated similarly to Orthostatic Hypotension. (compression stockings, increase fluids, increase salt, slow position changes) It can also treated with a combination of medications. Doctors have various beliefs on the cause of it which reflects the various types of treatment. It's not a life threatening condition...

Helpful? What else do you want to know?

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

Our electropsyologist (sorry if I spelled it wrong) prescribes lopressor and ted hose...but there's no real consensus on how the beta blocker helps. I see it sometimes as a differential diagnosis in syncopal pts. I've heard the tilt table test sucks if you have it...basivally the goal is to have you upright until you have rhythm changes. There's decent info out here if you have the time to sift through it.

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Specializes in Current: Nursing Informatics Past:ICU.

If you google there is a whole forum related to dysautomonia and POTS. my gf was dx with dysautomoniaa, POTs and EDS just over a year ago. That is after having spending her whole life with headaches that put her to bed. She had doctors tell her she was lazy, this was in her head etc... (by the way, she has a JD from a top 10 law school that she attended on accademic schalorship, point being she is not a lazy person).

Anyway, by an odd twist in her life she moved to Nashville (one of the few places with a clinic dedicated to this). Well she was at work and they found her on the bathroom floor and sent her to dr. Because of where she lived and the medical focus in the area they diagnosed her within an hour.

We have spent a year of trail and error things to help. The biggest thing is salt loading. Because there body uses salt differently they require lots and lots of salt. Labs always come back low noraml Na but she eats and craves salt. She drinks piedalyte (dr recommended it) and adds salt to that. Then we started the beta blockers.

Also, avoid heat. She cannot be out for more than a few minutes when the temp is above 75 without feeling bad.

It has been a year but, we are starting to figure this out and what to/not do. I will be happy to share more if anyone is interested.

Matt

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Google it...

http://tinyurl.com/5u999n9

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