Tips for Parenting a POTS Child

Parenting is tough anyway. But dealing with children afflicted with POTS can present challenges far beyond the norm. Among other things, there can be a vicious cycle between physiological and behavioral issues, one making the other worse, social pressures, negativity from other parents and more. From what we have gathered from POTS parents, there are a few things that can help alleviate a lot of the stress and make the journey to health a lot easier, such as following:

• Listen to your child and watch for patterns, what seems to help them, what doesn't and act accordingly.
• Consider adding an exercise program if they're not already involved with something--let them pick something they like.
• Keep lots of natural beverages on hand, juices, etc
• Keep a variety of salty snack food on hand, as well as any fresh fruit or vegetable snacks as these all help with electrolytes
• Meet with teachers, caregivers, etc anyone that is in regular contact with your child and make sure they're aware of the situation, what works and what doesn't.
• Listen to these teachers, caregivers, as well, since they are interacting with your child and might notice something you need to know about.
• Don't worry about days they miss at school due to POTS symptoms--focus on their recovery.
• If you're going to join support groups, get some reviews before joining and avoid the negative ones--negativity and complaining sessions isn't support.
• Consider counseling for you and your child, if you're getting to your 'wits end' and finding it hard to cope. The right counselor can really help.
• If you've been only seeing your regular physician for POTS help, consider also seeing a POTS specialist as they can often provide helpful alternative perspectives on treatment, prognosis, etc.
• Keep in mind that POTS can and does go away, so keep that hope and share with your child in a positive manner regularly.

If you looking for help with POTS, one of your best choices is Dysautonomia-MVP Center LLC in Birmingham, AL.  Dr Paula Moore and Dr Susan Phillips bring many years of effective experience with POTS and other autonomic disorders, and often help patients get better when no one else has been able to. Wherever you are, call for an appointment today at 205-286-3200. We're here to help you get better faster!

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC

Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results

2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243

http://www.mvpctr.com

(205) 286-3200

Mitral Valve Prolapse: Is It The Valve or Something Else?

Each time your heart beats, it fills with blood and then pumps the blood out, either to the lungs to get oxygen or out to the body after getting oxygen from the lungs. The heart has valves that allow blood to flow between the four chambers. When those valves don't work properly, blood doesn't flow where it needs to go and this causes a variety of issues.

One common problem when the mitral valve doesn't work right is called mitral regurgitation, backflow of blood through the mitral valve. In this case,  the flaps of the mitral valve fail to close together just right, allowing blood to leak backward into the upper atrium (chamber). Another common valve problem is stenosis.  Stenosis means that the valve tissue has thickened or becomes stiff, which also interferes with proper opening and closing, and can block or limit blood flow through the heart and to the rest of the body.

Both regurgitation and stenosis can lead to symptoms like lightheadedness, improper blood flow to and from the extremities, and other things, However, sometimes when there are symptoms of regurgitation or stenosis but it's not clear what's really going on, these symptoms get termed MVP syndrome or 'mitral valve prolapse syndrome'. This 'syndrome'  is often actually describing an autonomic disorder such as dysautonomia, in which a dysfunctioning autonomic nervous system is causing the improper blood flow, valve operation and other malfunctions.

On a positive note, many autonomic disorders can be treated with a variety of natural, non-surgical methods and often with very good results. So, if you're having symptoms of MVP, the most important thing to assess is whether the valve(s) are actually damaged or malfunctioning in a way that absolutely requires surgery--or is it something that is more related to the autonomic nervous system that needs to be addressed in a different way? In almost every case, if you have MVP syndrome or related symptoms,  it makes sense to get a second opinion from an MVP syndrome doctor before having the surgery. 

Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips at Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC Birmingham, AL are experts at helping accurately diagnose dysautonomia, POTS and other related conditions, and they can help you get that qualified second opinion that may keep you from having to have surgery and help you get better faster. Call today for an appointment at 205-286-3200. You'll be very glad you did.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Treatment for POTS & MVP Symptoms--What People Are Doing About It Now

POTS can be a really aggravating condition that adds daily doses of fatigue, insomnia, pain, depression, anxiety and of course, lightheadedness. Mitral valve prolapse, which can also have lightheadedness as a symptom, is often found to be the result of POTS and not an actual prolapsed or poorly functioning mitral valve. 

 

But what are people doing now to alleviate or at least improve the symptoms? A lot of physicians will prescribe drugs to alleviate some of these symptoms and some do work pretty well. Here's a short list of what a lot of POTS patients are taking for various symptoms:

Modafinil, Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine for Fatigue

Amitriptyline, Melatonin, Zolpidem for Insomnia

Tramadol, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen for Pain

Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Duloxetine for Depressed Mood

Alprazolam, Diazepam, Clonazepam  for Anxious Mood

There are quite a few other drugs that are commonly prescribed for POTS symptoms, but these are some of the most common, with measurable symptom improvements. There are other more natural POTS  approaches, as well, and other physicians will use these instead of drugs or in conjunction with them:

Diet and Exercise--can help with fatigue, insomnia, pain as well as mood management

 

Salt Shots--adding extra sodium to the diet can combat the common low blood pressure and help with lightheadedness, fatigue, etc.

 

Compression Stockings---these are specially-designed stockings that help prevent pooling of blood in the legs and reduce lightheadedness and other symptoms.

 

Vitamin & Herbs--there are various natural vitamin supplement regimens that can target possible deficiencies and reduce symptoms as the body's levels increase.

The best way to figure out which way to go, natural, drug therapy or a combination is to visit a POTS treatment center. Through proper testing, POTS doctors can figure out what is the best way to get you feeling better in the shortest amount of time. A great example of a modern POTS treatment center is Dysautonomia-MVP Center LLC in Birmingham, AL. 

Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips bring more than 40 years of solid autonomic disorder treatment experience to their patients on a daily basis, and often get results when no one else has been able to. Call Dysautonomia-MVP Center LLC for an appointment and find out today what is your fast track to feeling better!

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Compression Stockings for Dysautonomia? They Might Help!

Many doctors advise their dysautonomia patients to try medical compression stockings,  to help minimize common dysautonomia symptoms such as lightheadedness, fainting, low blood pressure, tachycardia, fatigue, and leg pain caused when blood pools in the legs. Compression stockings can also provide more endurance for daily upright activities.  Here are a few tips to help get the right compression  stockings, the right fit, how to use them to get the most benefit, and how to get them at a reduced price or even free with a doctor's prescription:

 

Compression stockings are measured in mmHg and most often, 20-30mmHg or 30-40mmHg waist-high stockings are recommended. Lower levels of compression or stockings don't go all the way to the waist can still help, but usually these don't give you the maximum benefit. Also, patients that wear knee-high and thigh-high stockings and have blood pooling in your thigh area have noticed a swelling above the top of the knee. Same thing with the thigh-highs. Waist high stockings are also recommended to prevent the not-so-cool thigh bulge created by thigh high stockings.

 

You'll also want to get open and closed toe versions of whatever compression stockings you choose. Open toes are good for summer, closed toe for winter, etc. Choose sheer stockings if they're going to be seen and opaque type if they'll be covered because they're more comfortable, less scratchy, etc. Medical compression stockings are fitted using measurements of your ankle circumference, calf circumference and the distance between heel and knee.  Take your measurements first thing in the morning since this will be the measurements with the minimum amount of swelling.

 

Cost usually isn't too bad, either. Compression stockings range from around $20 to $150. Don't forget to call your insurance provider and ask if they cover medical compression stockings with a doctor's prescription. If they do, you may have to use only certain medical supply companies as a source. If they don't require a certain supplier, you can get them online, but make sure you get quality--the cheap compression stockings don't usually last very long, don't fit as well and aren't as comfortable.

 

Chances are, if you've already been to or spoken with Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL., you already know about the benefits of compression stockings. If you haven't, give us a call and set up an appointment. Dr. Susan Phillips and Dr. Paula Moore offer more than 40 years of combined experience with successful dysautonomia and POTS treatment. We offer flexible appointment times and many options to help you get the care you need and get better--faster! 

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Testing for POTS and Dysautonomia is Helpful--But What About Underlying Causes?

Dysautonomia is fairly general medical diagnosis that describes any malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. There are many other diseases and conditions, however, that can lead to a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. So, if you've had a postive POTS test, you may want to ask your doctor about this list of conditions and possibly futher testing to see if the root cause can be pinpointed and thus lead to real relief:

 

Amyloidosis - if harmful amyloid proteins are deposited on the heart or the peripheral nerves, it can cause symptoms of dysautonomia / POTS.

 

Antiphospholipid Syndrome - this condition is less well known to physicians, but APS causes"sludging" or thickening of the blood that may manifest as headache, memory loss, word finding difficulty, trouble with balance, multiple sclerosis-like syndrome, neuropathy and disorders of the autonomic nervous system (most commonly POTS) and neurocardiogenic syncope).

 

Celiac Disease - this is a common autoimmune disease in which the small intestine is the primary tissues that are attacked.  Various neurological disorders have been thought to occur in 6-10% of people with celiac disease.

 

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease - CMT includes a group of disorders where genetic mutations impede normal function of the peripheral nerves (nerves not inside the brain or spinal cord), and often the autonomic nervous system.

 

There are many other conditions that can lead to dysautonomia or POTS symptoms--to read about more of these conditions, see this link.  If you think you have dysautonomia or POTS symptoms, the first, best thing to do is to visit an autonomic disorder treatment center and ask if the doctor can do a dysautonomia test.

 

Again, if that or a POTS test is positive, you may want to investigate other conditions to see if they are the cause. On the brighter side, many times simple lifestyle and dietary changes can greatly improve dysautonomia symptoms. 

 

Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips at Dysautonomia MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL bring more than 40 years of autonomic disorder expertise and they'll be able to quickly shed some light on your concerns and get you on the road to recovery. Call for an appointment today at (205) 286-3200.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Diagnosing POTS: Do You Need a POTS Doctor?

POTS or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome can be a difficult thing to diagnose. This is mainly because of the list of symptoms that can point to a variety of other conditions. In some cases, your family doctor will have heard about and recognize POTS as a possible diagnosis, but many physicians still do not recognize POTS as a legitimate condition on its own. 

 

For that reason, if you’re experiencing symptoms like lightheadedness or fainting when you stand up, racing heartbeat when you stand up from sitting or lying down, it can definitely be to your advantage to seek out doctors that specialize in POTS syndrome first to at least rule it out.

 

Better yet, simply call Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama.  Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips are widely known as some of the most knowledgeable doctors that diagnose POTS, dysautonomia and related autonomic disorders. If it turns out through POTS testing you don’t have POTS, then at least you can move on to your regular physician with far less worry about being misdiagnosed.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Testing for POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

POTS is a disorder that is often overlooked or misdiagnosed, with some patients dealing with symptoms for years without knowing what’s really going on and usually without relief.  The reason postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is sometimes misdiagnosed is because of the variety of symptoms that accompany this syndrome and many other conditions. The most common symptom of POTS is patient intolerance of going from lying down to standing (usually with lightheadedness or fainting, low blood pressure) and racing heart rate.

And since POTS often affects blood pressure and heart rate response to upright posture, POTS doctors employ tests such as the tilt table test to begin with.  With this test, a patient is strapped to a mechanical table, which will tilt them upright at an angle of at least 60 degrees. Measurements of heart rate and blood pressure are taken while lying flat and then again at intervals while tilted upright. The degree of differences in the numbers and patient response will guide the physician either toward a POTS diagnosis or toward something else.

 

There are a variety of other tests that help doctors determine if POTS is present, as well, such as a POTS stress test (measuring exercise tolerance), MRI's, EMG (electromyography), catecholamine tests and others. If you think you have POTS, the best thing to do first is to call Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL.  Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips are widely known as some of the most knowledgeable specialists in the areas of POTS, dysautonomia and related autonomic disorders. Call and make an appointment today and get to the bottom of your symptoms!

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200