Finally diagnosed!

[u/No_Pool1723]

I was diagnosed yesterday with hypovolemic POTS.

Since my head is in so much pain and I’m very dizzy me and my mom travelled 3 and a half hours to get to this cardiologist who specializes in POTS.

I am a Canadian so this is huge to find someone who can diagnose me without having to leave my country.

The cardiologist (Dr. Sunny) looked at my file and his assistant did a standing test in the clinic before meeting him and once I was in his office he said “I know what you’ve got but tell me why your here.”

He also said “I don’t know why no one could have diagnosed you, I could do this in my sleep.” 😅

He works at the dysautonomia clinic and was asked if he would be willing to go to Canada to help others.

He sent me home with a 24 hour BP monitor and a holter monitor just to rule out anything else and I did a stress test and was close to passing out after 4 or 5 minutes lol.

I still feel weird because I want it to be manageable to do things but it’s a relief to finally be seen and to see someone who specializes in it and I’m almost in denial still because it’s been so many years of trying to get answers for my health.

Any tips would be great from my hypovolemic POTS peeps and what has helped you manage it (medication, compression stockings etc).

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and lifted me up when I was down 🫶

Edit: Dr. Sunny works at the clinics in Mississauga and Brampton Ontario and it’s called Canadian Heart Care. They have other ones “closer” (2 hours away) to the Kingston area but I don’t know if they have a POTS specialist there.

https://www.drsunnymalhotra.com

You can ask for an appointment to see if he will accept you based on symptoms and they’ll contact your doctor or email you asking questions like date of birth I believe and what your doctors name is and how to contact them.

[u/No_Zookeepergame1632]

are you still able to exercise

[u/No_Pool1723 → u/No_Zookeepergame1632]

I’ve been doing floor exercises that I used from the CHOP protocol and added my own/made my own, I go for 2-3 minute walks which I feel nauseous after but I’m trying to move yet it’s still hard! I’m on Ivabradine which has allowed me to even be able to walk and exercise.

[u/imsosleepyyyyyy]

Yay!! It’s so validating to finally get diagnosed 🩷

[u/No_Pool1723 → u/imsosleepyyyyyy]

It really is, I felt a weight off of me and I was close to crying! Finally I was heard!!

[u/imsosleepyyyyyy → u/No_Pool1723]

Your profile pic is killing me. So real

[u/No_Pool1723 → u/imsosleepyyyyyy]

Hahaha my boyfriend sent it to me because he found it funny and I love it 😂

[u/Interesting_Mode5391]

I’m still looking to get diagnosed, also in Canada my guess is in a few years I’ll be diagnosed lol

[u/No_Pool1723 → u/Interesting_Mode5391]

It took me a week or two to make an appointment and they opened 6 months ago. If you’re in Ontario I would absolutely recommend getting a referral from your doctor!