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Diagnosis

I finally have a diagnosis...POTS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postural_orthostatic_tachycardia_syndrome
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/postural_tachycardia_syndrome/postural_tachycardia_syndrome.htm
http://home.att.net/~potsweb/POTS.html

Thankfully my case does not appear to be as severe as it could be and the dr doesn't know what set off my symptoms so quickly, as he said I have probably had it all along.

For now, the treatment plan is to increase my sodium intake to 5000-6000 mg a freakin' day!!!!!!!!! I recently realized I was probably borderline hyponeutremic as I have always had over a gallon of water a day, but starting with my allergy diet in the fall and even moreso since the start of the new year, I have been averaging way less than 1000 mg of sodium a day.

I also am supposed to wear compression socks now for biking and running. I will be one of those people. I just wish I could get some printed with "I have a heart problem" so people don't think I'm some tool out plodding along at 13 minute miles at the park wearing $60 compression socks.

If my symptoms don't improve, there are a few drugs they can try to make my kidneys retain salt in a better way, and beta blockers. Beta blockers are apparently total hell to be on, so I'm crossing my fingers that I do not have to go down that route. (also secretly hoping 5000-6000 mg of sodium doesn't completely wreck my status in the Biggest Loser challenge at work!).

I also finally have my doctor's email address so no more week long phone-tag escapades either. I am supposed to keep him posted on how things are going and will continue to closely monior my heart rate. Ideally I would monitor blood pressure too, sitting and standing, but he said I need a good monitor to do that and they are pricey, so we will see about that one.

Funny enough, one of my biggest issues right now is how in the world am I going to mix my injinji socks with compression socks? The ones without feet are worthless, so that is not the answer. I could wear the compression socks over the injinji's, but that may get weird too. Hmmm... But wait!!! Just as I'm looking at injinji.com to provide a link to those who have no idea what I'm talking about, I see that they now have their own line of compression socks!! How awesome! I bet they do not have as high of a compression grade as my Walgreen's specials, but it may be a good compromise.

Comments

Anonymous said…
psst...Zoot compression socks at Lukes $50...and on thursday from 7-9 its Tri night and you can get 20%off of that...Tell them June sent you!! I leave at 6:30 that night!!!
KCWoodhead said…
Awesome - already had plans to be there Thursday night!
ss_luna said…
yeah, check out cvs, futuro compression socks, i like them better than my 2xu's and i can get 3 of them for the price of 1 2xu. i will have to check out the injinji's, i love my trail ones.
KCWoodhead said…
I slept in the futuro's last night! I had white ones already and bought the black ones last night at Kroger for $11 something. I just need to add some flare.
CoachLiz said…
Holy Smokes!

Be careful going from the swim and running into transition. What about being down in the aero bars and then popping up to get on the brakes?

It does sound like a lot of my symptoms.

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