If you've been reading my blog, you know I have been to both Mayo Clinic (Minnesota) and The POTS Treatment Center for help managing POTS. Most of my posts touch on all of the positives of each place. While I mentioned my personal struggles with getting through each program, I didn't really mention what I... Continue Reading →
“How would a doctor determine if I have Hyperadrenergic POTS?”: All About Catecholamine Testing in POTS
To find out if it a patient has Hyperadrenergic POTS, specialized doctors typically order an endocrine test called a Catecholamine Blood Test. I had my test performed at Mayo Clinic's Autonomic Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Want proof? Here is a glamor shot taken just prior to the test: Okay, time to get serious! The Catecholamine... Continue Reading →
Mayo Clinic’s Autonomic Clinic — A Guide
This blog wouldn't exist if I hadn't gone to Mayo Clinic's Autonomic Clinic and been lucky enough to have a lot of people who wanted to stay up to date. While I covered what it is like to go through the clinic, there are some basic (and important) questions I have come to realize I... Continue Reading →
A Chat with Mayo Clinic Doctor
It has been 14 weeks since I left Mayo Clinic. This morning I called Mayo Clinic because it had been nearly a month since I called asking if Dr. Fealey had any additional input. His secretary seemed horrified I had waited so long and told me Dr. Fealey would personally call me. I was so... Continue Reading →
Exercise Progress: Week 7
After two weeks of exercise I started a sticker chart. I just called the start of the sticker chart week 1 since the stuff I did up until then didn't really count as a workout. Like a little kid, it makes me happy to put a sticker on my chart. My exercise goals are to... Continue Reading →
The Anti-Catastrophizer
I went to the doctor yesterday to make sure I hadn't caught Emma's strep. Since my throat almost always hurts, I never know when I have strep. It has gone to my kidneys in the past because I didn't notice a difference. Luckily, I don't have it! I also talked to my doctor about my... Continue Reading →
What’s new since I’ve been home…
It is so nice to be home! The ride home made me very sick. By the time we got home, my heart was pounding so hard in my chest I couldn't ignore it and my lymph nodes were swollen. Still, it was so nice to arrive at home and sleep in my own... Continue Reading →
Mayo Clinic — Consultation & Radioactivity!
I'm alive! The picture above is from when I was waiting for my neurologist appointment Friday and my evidence of why I couldn't let everyone know how my day had gone. At this point, I had been up about 27 hours because Thursday night I didn't sleep a minute. For some reason, the Ambien I... Continue Reading →
Mayo Clinic Day 4
Hey everyone! I have some really exciting news -- I got to try on wedding dresses today!!!! It killed me and right now I feel the worst I have felt in about a month, but I must say, it was worth it. If you want to see the top 2 contenders right now and put... Continue Reading →
Mayo Clinic Day 3
Yay! I am done with all of my testing! I have to say all of the stuff all of you have written encouraging me really helped out. Today was the Tilt Table Test -- the test I have been dreading all week. Tilt Table Test POTS stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, if you break this... Continue Reading →