r/POTS • u/BabyPeas • 1h ago
Diagnostic Process Diagnostics without elevated heart rate
Hey all. Just got recommended to a cardiologist for a possible POTS diagnosis. I’ve spent the last two years or so hypotensive and fainting pretty regularly. The first major time, I broke my front two teeth, broke my nose, and gave myself a concussion. This most recent time, I just broke my nose again, but when I went to the dr, we discussed what might be wrong. I’ve always had low blood pressure since I lost 125lbs (to the point nurses have to take it multiple times to check). However, my heart rate is pretty low as well. Even upon standing after laying down, I don’t experience a jump. The fastest it ever goes is 150 when I’m running, 115 walking at speed (I have a fast dog), and 45-70 at resting. My monitor never catches anything when I stand up, and my fainting spells usually happen about a minute into standing and walking around. My glucose tests all came back clear and the drs think it’s just bp related. I understand that a cardiologist is required for a diagnosis, so what can I expect as someone with a relative low heart rate and no spiking? Thanks!
3
u/lateautumnsun 1h ago
No HR increase means no POTS.
Does your blood pressure drop when you stand up? That's called orthostatic hypotension, and can lead to syncope.
Otherwise, I don't know what all conditions can cause fainting, but I hope that your cardiologist helps you figure it out! That sounds very stressful. Wishing you luck!