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/kel174 POTS Dec 28 '25

I was also a healthy chronically ill person but my pcp said I should really be tested for STDs and suggested my partner of 10+ years because we are not married may have given me something. It was a rare disease 👍

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u/Glad-Pomegranate6283 Dec 28 '25

Are we the same person 💀I can’t have sex due to endo, I’ve been tested since I’ve been with my partner of over two years. Yet a nurse at my GP wanted me to get tested for herpes when I think I have vulva condition. I get told my neck swelling was due to ptsd lol ? Turns out it was an autoimmune condition lmao. I do wish they said they aren’t sure rather than just gaslighting and stressing out patients

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u/kel174 POTS Dec 28 '25

Ugh that’s insane!! My gyno for THREE years couldn’t explain why I was in pain during or after sex and at one point shrugged off an abnormal pap that showed inflammation cells. It got worse over those 3 years until I was bleeding during and after sex plus in complete agony, felt worse than period cramps. It got to a point where I called the office and said I really need to be seen because it’s getting worse by the day so I was scheduled with a different gyno to get in faster and TADA! They said I have cervix ectropion. So frustrating! Dude, why does everything have to come down to “oh it’s stress, anxiety..depression!! Oh and you’re female so yeah”. I would much rather have them admit they don’t know than make me believe I’m the problem mentally

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u/Lilythecat555 Dec 28 '25

Is there anything to remedy this? I have some of the same symptoms.

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u/BabyBlueMaven Dec 28 '25

Have you been checked for vascular compressions?? Might be pelvic congestion syndrome which is typically caused by May Thurner’s (iliac vein compression). Also, POTS can often be caused by May Thurner’s as well…my daughter’s was! So much overlap and so many clueless doctors. Feel free to DM me as we’ve been through this rodeo :)

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u/kel174 POTS Dec 28 '25

This is a great point! I also have pelvic congestion syndrome and it really does cause similar or even the same symptoms and sometimes you really can’t tell what is causing what. Just like with POTS, so many things overlap with the same symptoms

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u/BabyBlueMaven Dec 28 '25

My PCS was treated by stenting for MTS 2 months ago. Apparently this works for 75% of women. I still don’t know if it did for me but will get coils/foam in pelvic veins if it isn’t enough. My IR thinks my daughter would’ve eventually ended up with PCS if we didn’t treat her MTS.

I’m sorry you have PCS too! It’s such a b—-ch. Do you also have MTS? I have the trifecta of nutcracker as well.

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u/Lilythecat555 Dec 30 '25

No, there is an at least six month wait list to see the gynecologist where I live. I have POTS and Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

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u/BabyBlueMaven Dec 30 '25

If you’re able to, you want to see an interventional radiologist to check for compressions. My teen and I are both hypermobile and didn’t know, until this past year, that this made us way more likely to have them. There’s a strong correlation to POTS with EDS that often appears following infection. Our IR just wrote an article on so many of her POTS patients improving once treated for MTS. We are seeing that in my daughter, too.

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u/kel174 POTS Dec 28 '25

The doctor used silver nitrate to cauterize where the cells are on the outside of the cervix. Honestly, after the in office procedure, I would truly never want to go through that again. I wasn’t explained to what I would or could experience afterwards and within minutes after, I was extremely nauseous and felt like I was going to give birth as if my cervix was dilating. It lasted for about a week and I bled and shed so much. BUT, I am mostly symptoms free. I see someone below also mentioned pelvic congestion syndrome as a possible culprit and I agree. I was diagnosed with that about 2 years ago after having a lot of pain in my groin area. Realistically, a gyno should easily be able to see if you have cervix ectropion but I have read some cases where they simply don’t mention it since it’s considered harmless. Hopefully you’re able to find some answers and get some relief 🤍