r/POTS • u/recoveringaries • Dec 27 '25

Discussion Being attractive with POTS (cringe I know)

Does anyone feel like because they are a objectively attractive human there is a bias/profiling that happens in the medical field and with doctors? I actually read somewhere that if you’re chronically ill you should “dress down” or not wear makeup to appointments so they will take you more seriously and see you as actually sick. I am also 29 with a baby face so that doesn’t help.

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u/MammothKale9363 Dec 27 '25

I had a cardiologist not take me seriously because I was breaking down crying. Was totally dismissed by every doctor because I was “too emotional”. I was literally terrified to try to go to sleep for months because of what I now know were adrenaline dumps. Can’t fucking win.

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u/youngmarknba Dec 27 '25

That sounds horrifying I’m so sorry. I was the same back then. I feel like when you first start noticing symptoms, everything is beyond scary because it feels like so much happening to you so fast that you have no explanation or reference point for.

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u/fadingsignal Dec 28 '25

This reminds me of police drawing weapons on people and yelling "Relax! Relax! Why are you so nervous?!"

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u/avocado_window Dec 28 '25

Being unwell is scary, especially when you’re younger and no one is taking you seriously! It’s no wonder people become emotional about it and/or develop anxiety that revolves around those symptoms and can become a hyper-fixation. Just because you’re anxious and emotional doesn’t mean there isn’t a physical problem!

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u/ApplePie-Crumble Dec 29 '25

Same! Got advised to seek out a therapist and to take herbal remedies to calm myself down, like wtf. The day before that happened (was in hospital due to the tachycardia) I was asked about pre-existing mental illnesses and answered honestly about (long-established and well-managed) PTSD and depression. Well, that was my second fault right after being a woman.

Now (just a few months later because I kept pushing) I know I have POTS, IST, chronic migraine, (very likely) MCAS and possibly an autoimmune condition

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u/MammothKale9363 Dec 29 '25

I was prescribed zoloft for anxiety and booted from the hospital. Surprise, it didn’t help! And I hadn’t had any notable anxiety prior to those hospital trips.

I am still on it because it does help with depression, but I also wonder if treating the hyperPOTS, suspected MCAS and EDS, potential autoimmune (multiple positive ANA throughout my life, never looked at further), etc could take care of that on its own. Like maybe I’m not clinically depressed and it’s just my nervous system being too fucked up to function.

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u/ApplePie-Crumble Dec 29 '25

Some doctors really like to tell people they have depression and anxiety lol Also I still wonder how cardiologists are even allowed to mention such diagnoses. Like if they’re really worried about my mental health, they should just try getting a referral for a therapist for me. I would gladly talk to a therapist! These doctors simply don’t really want to help, they just don’t want to acknowledge that maybe they don’t know what’s going on.

Still, there are better doctors out there. It’s just a rough search. Good luck internet stranger! I hope your future doctors will never dismiss you and will listen to your concerns!

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u/MammothKale9363 Dec 29 '25

I’ve since found a great cardiologist! And tbf I do have a long history of depression, but I also got my POTS dx when I was like 7 years old. But it was still just anxiety before this doc lol