Natalie

Hi I’m Natalie. I’ve been showing symptoms of PoTS on and off since my teenage years, going dizzy on standing, feeling faint and having palpitations.

I went to my primary care provider multiple times and they always brushed it off. I started to notice a big difference in symptoms becoming more regular and debilitating in my mid 20’s. This lead to a diagnosis of anxiety. I became more aware of PoTS through social media, and all the symptoms resonated with me. I pushed for a cardiac monitor which showed Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST). This lead to a cardiology review and diagnosis of PoTS. This process has taken 10 years to get any answers. 

PoTS has had a huge impact on my life. I used to be full of energy, worked in a busy hospital as an Emergency Department nurse on my feet all day, loved to travel, work out and go on long walks. Some days I struggle just getting out of bed now. One of my biggest challenges has been giving up my busy, fast paced career and moving to a more relaxed working environment, as I loved the chaos and business of emergency medicine. I currently take ivabradine and propranolol for my PoTS – along with lifestyle changes such as increased sodium and plenty of fluids. Whilst this sometimes helps my symptoms, it is in no way a cure. I would like PoTS to have more awareness and understanding, especially from medical professionals.

Just be kind to people, as you never know what they are going through on a daily basis. PoTS has definitely changed my life, but I’m still fighting every day to not let it win.