Blog Archives

  • The Journey to MALS

    The Journey to MALS

    Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome At the time I started seeing my POTS specialist, he had been investigating Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) as a possible cause of POTS due to vagus nerve inflammation. MALS is when the diaphragm hangs too low or the celiac artery is too high coming off the abdominal aorta, and it…

  • The Journey to hEDS

    The Journey to hEDS

    Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome The first time I heard about EDS was when I was getting my POTS work-up from my electrophysiologist. He knew it was co-morbid with POTS and sent me to a renowned geneticist in Dallas, Dr. Wilson. He took a family history. My mother is known to bruise easily, but she is also…

  • The Journey to POTS

    The Journey to POTS

    Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome I began searching my symptoms. “Normal” labs, dizziness (especially upon standing), fatigue, heat/cold intolerance, and of course, tachycardia (heart rate over 100 bpm) when standing. POTS appeared to fit all of those symptoms, so I asked my cardiologist for a tilt table test. She stated that she didn’t think I had…

  • My Journey to Diagnosis

    My Journey to Diagnosis

    The Younger Years I have vague memories during childhood where the signs were there. Abdominal pain starting at 7 years old. Being covered in hives after running through a field at 8 years old. Party tricks with the extra bendy joints. Always feeling tired. Around 13 years old, I came down with mono (also known…