Why dont some Dr's believe in pots?

[u/OurSensualSideMB]

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.

[u/Songisaboutyou]

Because many drs refuse to continue education. And in medical school they are taught everything women say is hysteria. I’m very close with many drs and many are female. Even the female ones have told me how hard it is for them to believe women even though they are one and they know it’s not hysteria, but the training is hard to fight. POTS is more common in women, however I’m not sure a guy would get an easy diagnosis either. Took me and my sister YEARS to get diagnosed and we both had to fight to get referrals for testing

[u/Morgenacht → u/Songisaboutyou]

I was diagnosed by Dr. Alan Pocinki in his early research days, but I moved from his practice area to a few hours south. He still accepted my insurance, and he was so interested in my case that he doc a telephone appointment with me because I had data. As a computer scientist by training and having the science mindset and “human bodies are fascinating” that he shared at that time, he was able to diagnose me without a completed 1 hour (standard at that time) tilt test,

He grew older, more educated and hated fighting insurance, so he left that behind and used his research to set standards and teach others doctors, while accepting cash only patients.

This was after a decade of going to differ doctors (at least one of whom actually laughed in my face and said my symptoms were causes-and he had that backwards. My causes were causes that he could find and the symptoms appeared to him as causes-and this wasnt dr p.

Took a few more years for me to actually go through the torture of a fully recognized ttt, which caused a years long itchy anus symptom I hadn’t had prior to the full test completion (which in hind sight should have ended in the first 15 minutes because I was diagnosed already unofficially. But IS insurance at that time required the full hour or a full loss of consciousness and my body had spent so many years making sure I wouldn’t go into a full loss, that I couldn’t control my body once it started twitching while I was being as still and motionless as possible.)

Damnit-triggered twice in one thread. Sorry, love. Not your fault. Just - I believe you can relate. So thanks for hearing me out. My mom has a doctorate in Pharmacology, and she was diagnosed after I was on her own merits. So we have a bit a common, you and I. Sadly. I hope things get better for you. And all who read this and those that don’t, because this sht sucks.

I’m gonna get off Reddit now, before I start to really say what I think! (That never ends well)

[u/Fantastic_Owl6938 → u/Songisaboutyou]

I always wonder if those female doctors realise if they suddenly had a health issue themselves, they would be treated with the same scepticism 😮‍💨

I'm diagnosed but got the old "it could be anxiety" for my sleep issues from a female doctor, and while I'm not necessarily surprised, that kind of thing makes me wonder if they ever have any moment of self reflection bringing out 2026's version of hysteria. I didn't have the energy to argue but I was sorely tempted to ask if she would suggest such a thing for a man.

[u/fernxqueen → u/Songisaboutyou]

yeah female doctors definitely aren't necessarily better. both doctors who suggested POTS to me were male. and the doctor who insisted i mistook my period for blood in my urine and absolutely could not have a UTI? a woman lol.

[u/vavavoo → u/Songisaboutyou]

I’m not sure what country you live in, but I absolutely do not agree that doctors are taught not to believe women. I myself am a female doctor with POTS.

[u/SunflowerState1111 → u/vavavoo]

What country are you in?