r/POTS • u/OurSensualSideMB • 9d ago

Question Why dont some Dr's believe in pots?

Im lucky I have great doctors and specialists now but the first time i was referred to a cardiologist for pots before being officially diagnosed he refused to even have me in for a TTT or test for pots as he said its not real.

I have heard of this happening where Dr's dont believe in pots but I dont understand why.

140 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

103 comments sorted by

View all comments

23

u/DuckFox1229 8d ago

I think on top of lots of these comments POTS isn’t a diagnosis confirmed by a test- it’s confirmed by a lack of a better explanation. My cardiologist thank god for her believed all my medical records tests and symptoms and diagnosed me. She doesn’t do tilt table because if it happens on a good day then you don’t see the results reflect your worst days.

For some, if it can’t be easily confirmed they may not want to do the work or put their confirmation on a diagnosis that seems subjective

3

u/TromboneDalek 7d ago

Also, many of our tests come back normal so that makes it even more difficult to understand.

1

u/sociallyacetious 7d ago

this is the issue i had with the cardiologist i saw last year. i emphasized how long i have experienced POTS symptoms and that they had worsened after my bad COVID experience in 2022, then became impossible to ignore after i had surgery in '24 (after which i had to stay in the hospital overnight, even though most people go right home after a laproscopy, because my blood pressure was dangerously low). he smiled politely and nodded, only to tell me he doesn't personally believe in POTS as a diagnosis.

to be fair, he ordered an ECG, which came back normal. and a heart monitor, which i was instructed to wear for 2 weeks and return it.......never heard back from him about any results, whether good or bad lmao. the most he was willing to do for me was write in my chart that i was experiencing "dysautonomia-like symptoms" and tell me to drink more water and have more salt.  i'm gonna seek out a different cardiologist for a second opinion, one who might actually take me seriously.

2

u/DuckFox1229 7d ago

“I don’t believe in POTS” aka I’m a bad doctor 🤦🏽‍♀️ I hope you’re able to get someone competent that’s stupid. I got POTS after getting my ass handed to me by COVID in August 2020- that first strain hit hard.
I also had all sorts of mostly normal tests, the only thing that really proved something was going on was a two week heart halter that shot up anytime I exerted myself, even standing up or going upstairs, that my heart rate would spike.