The POTScast
Episodes
E108: Mel from Texas, a nurse living with POTS after a concussion
07 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mel's life changed after a concussion that led to more serious POTS symptoms. A nurse, she was struggling with symptoms when she confided in a friend ...
E107: Benefits of compounding medications for those with sensitivities with Michelle Briest, PharmD
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many in the POTS and MCAS communities react to medications. Perhaps using a compounding pharmacy that can replace inactive ingredients with alternativ...
E106: All Things Pediatric POTS with Dr. Jeff Boris and Dr. Jeff Moak
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Boris and Dr. Moak, true POTS experts, take us through their new review article Pediatric POTS: Where We Stand and discuss developmental issues fo...
E105: Karen from Missouri, a nurse and mom with POTS symptoms from a young age
24 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Karen has had POTS symptoms for as long as she can remember, and started passing out at age 15. Unfortunately, it took many doctors and 17 years to ge...
E104: Understanding myalgic encephomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome through research and personal experience with Dr. Leonard Jason
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Leonard Jason, world renowned father of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research, shares his very personal story with ...
E103: Handling Holiday Stress with Dr. Katie Gorman-Ezell
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The holidays can be stressful, especially when living with an unpredictable illness like POTS. Learn how to ask for what you need and make compromises...
E102: Lacy from Alabama suffers from gastroparesis, pain, and POTS
10 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lacy is a high school student who struggles to remember a time she wasn't sick. Gastroparesis is a big issue for her and she often uses a cane for sta...
E101: Pelvic Congestion Syndrome and POTS with Dr. Steven Smith
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Smith is a retired interventional radiologist who made a discovery in his career treating women with pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS): His patie...
Christmas Poem 2022 — Why Santa donates to Standing Up to POTS
03 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You can read the transcript for this poem here: https://tinyurl.com/potscastholiday22
E100: POTS Research both Past and Future with Dr. Satish Raj
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Raj is a world renowned POTS physician and researcher who spoke with us about three big POTS research topics: blood volume, autoimmunity, and the ...
E99: Zoe from Utah, high school senior and aerialist
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zoe was diagnosed with POTS in 8th grade when she started having dizzy spells and shortness of breath. She has adjusted well, and loves to fly 30 feet...
E98: Sensory Input Shaping Autonomics in Children with Dr. Kevin Lasko
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is really causing POTS? Is it a problem in the heart? The brain? The gut? Dr. Lasko believes that lower parts of the brain may not be functioning...
E97: Mackenzie from British Columbia, Canada
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Like many POTSies, Mackenzie was a teenager leading an active life when she became ill. It took her 2.5 years and a number of ludicrous diagnoses to f...
E96: Jackie from Vermont, working mom with great symptom management tips
05 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jackie developed POTS and other chronic illnesses after surgery on her foot. She delves deeply into her interests, including ways to manage her sympto...
E95: Common POTS Medications with Clinical Pharmacist Dr. Jenna Houk
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many POTSies take multiple medications. Join us for a discussion of beta blockers, midodrine, ivabridine, and fludrocortisone - how they work and poss...
E94: The Depressing Truth about Depression Scales with Dr. Cathy Pederson
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Pederson just published a new study looking at assessing depression in people with chronic invisible illness. The results are both depressing an...
9th Annual Standing Up to POTS 5K/2K: Interviews with POTSies and their supporters
22 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Members of the POTS community gathered in Springfield, Ohio on October 22, 2022 for the 9th Annual Standing Up To POTS 5K/2K, presented by Normalyte a...
E93: Viral epidemics are related to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and POTS with Dr. Byron Hyde
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does polio have to do with myalgic encephalomyetlitis (ME) and POTS? You'll have to listen to this episode with Dr. Hyde, a top ME expert who has...
E92: Jenna from Oregon, loves children but struggles with her stamina to work
15 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna is married and trying to live her best life despite POTS. Symptoms began early, but didn't stop her from playing college volleyball. Napping in ...
E91: The Importance of Vitamin D for those with Autoimmune Disorders with Dr. Eduardo Beltran
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Beltran explains physiological dosing of vitamin D, leaky gut syndrome as it relates to gluten, and much more in this episode of The POTScast. A r...
E90: POTS, Small Fiber Neuropathy, and Mystery Symptoms with Dr. David Saperstein
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many people with POTS also have small fiber neuropathy - the small nerves in their legs are decreased in number and activity. Dr. Saperstein talks abo...
E89: Anna from New York City, college dancer and photographer
01 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anna grew up dancing and wanted to be a pro. After a bout with mono, her legs started giving out randomly. She was diagnosed with POTS and needed to f...
E88: Three Types of POTS with Dr. Cathy Pederson
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many like to think about POTS as having three subtypes - hyperadrenergic, neuropathic, and hypovolemic. We discuss these subtypes, their causes, assoc...
E87: POTS following Long COVID and COVID vaccine injury with Dr. Sujana Reddy
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Reddy is a COVID long-hauler herself. She developed POTS, and symptoms worsened each time she caught COVID. She struggled for a diagnosis, and now...
E86: Jamie Lynn from Kentucky
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It took Jamie 12 years to be diagnosed with POTS after the onset of symptoms. She had "remissions" from symptoms in the early years that allowed her t...
E85: Dealing with Medical Trauma with Dr. Katie Gorman-Ezell
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many people in the POTS community have experienced medical trauma as a patient, caregiver, or sibling. Gaslighting, invasive procedures, and the chron...
E84: Stephanie w 3 concussions and POTS from MD
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stephanie was a competitive volleyball player in high school when several concussions sidelined her. Over time, POTS symptoms began to appear and the ...
E83: Maddie and her therapy dog from Michigan
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Maddie faints a lot as part of her POTS, which she developed around age 16. She describes getting and training her therapy dog and the deep pressure t...
E82: Are Choline Transporters Implicated in Some POTS Patients? with Dr. Laila Schenkel
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Laila Schenkel is a molecular geneticist who specializes in choline transporters. Comparing this transporter in the skin of one POTS patient with ...
E81: Katherine from Pennsylvania
20 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Katherine developed POTS secondary to Lyme disease after a tick bite, causing her to complete her senior year of high school online. When at her sicke...
E80: Mary Katherine Stratton from Mississippi
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Katherine has developed POTS twice - first as a teen and again after COVID. Her PICC line to get intravenous fluids made lifting heavy objects im...
E79: Employment Resources for the Chronically Ill with Chronically Capable CEO and co-Founder Hannah Olson
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah has Lyme and POTS, and after working for others for a few years founded her own company - Chronically Capable. Featured by the Wall Street Jour...
E78: Claire from Australia
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Claire developed POTS after a back injury. Work as a paramedic was triggering, and she found that she had to dig herself out of a dark hole. Volunteer...
E77: Abby from New York
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Abby is a college sophomore with a love of music and crocheting. Like many, she put the pieces together to find her diagnosis. Abby is resilient despi...
E76: Pediatric POTS and Related Disorders with Dr. Jeffrey Boris
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Boris is one of the top pediatric POTS docs in the world, and we were fortunate to have him share his thoughts on getting these highly achieving k...
E75: Madison from Illinois
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Madison was a competitive rock climber before she developed Lyme disease and POTS. She couldn't walk for 7 months, but has climbed her way back to wor...
E74: Jolene from MN
16 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jolene was married and enjoying an adventurous life in Florida when POTS struck. Like many, she was misdiagnosed and returned home to MN to decrease h...
E73: Accommodations for School, College, and the Workforce - 504 and IEP plans with Dr. Sally Brannan and Dr. Cathy Pederson
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many chronically ill students require assistance to level to playing field at school. 504 plans and Individualized Education Plans are state mandated ...
E72: Rita from Massachusetts
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rita was an actress/dancer when POTS crept in and changed her life. She could no longer continue the physicality, and channeled her creative energy in...
E71: Diane from Washington
02 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Diane is a retired dietician who shares her journey with POTS as well as her knowledge of the MTHFR gene mutations and nutritional changes to support ...
E70: Autoimmune Dysautonomia and more with Dr. Jill Schofield
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jill Schofield is a leader in the treatment and research of POTS, mast cell activation syndrome, and antiphospholipid syndome. Join us to learn mo...
E69: Rhonda from Utah
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rhonda for an exploration of healthcare from both sides - as a physician assistant and POTS patient. Her medical background and connections helpe...
E68: Becky from West Virginia
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Becky developed POTS a few years ago after the birth of her son. Following several surgeries for endometriosis, her symptom load increased and she was...
E67: What is Autoimmunity with Dr. Cathy Pederson
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jill and Cathy for a wonderful discussion of autoimmunity and how a misdirected immune system can wreak so much havoc! There is a growing body of...
E66: Trina from Arizona
11 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Trina had a good thing going when POTS symptoms struck her suddenly one day. It took a year for her to get diagnosed and necessitated a job change and...
E65: Elli from Oregon
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Elli was a high school senior being recruited for college volleyball when she developed POTS after COVID. Her first year of college has been difficult...
E64: POTS in Kids and What Might Exacerbate Symptoms with Dr. Andrew Maxwell
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An episode on POTS in adolescence is long overdue! Dr. Maxwell answers many common questions about POTS - why is exercise important? Why does blood po...
E63: POTSpouse Jim from New York
28 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jim's wife Sandy became ill with POTS two years ago, and he describes how they have adapted their daily life in light of the unpredictability of her i...
E62: POTS Diary with Patty from Massachusetts
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Patty is a respiratory therapist who first developed POTS symptoms in her 50s. Big changes ensued - new job, moving to an apartment, and resigning fro...
E61: POTS after the HPV vaccine with Dr. Tania Dempsey
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For years, there has been speculation about how the HPV vaccine might lead to POTS in a small percentage of people. Dr. Dempsey describes a theory tha...
E60: POTS Diary with Abbie from Texas
14 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Like many, Abbie has had POTS symptoms for a long time, but has only been diagnosed in the past 6 months. As a young person, she is learning to listen...
E59: Mom on a Mission: The Founding of Standing Up to POTS
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought about why SUTP was formed? Listen to this touching episode between our founder, Cathy Pederson, and her daughter Kate as they ta...
E58: Improving Gut Health with Nutritionist Jill Brook
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondering how leaky gut, autoimmunity, and the microbiome are related? If so, this is the episode for you as Jill discusses ways to vary...
E57: POTS Diary with Alli from Texas
30 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
College students with POTS often have extra burdens - doctor's appointments and ER visits alone, reliance on friends and faculty for support or a ride...
E56: POTS Diary with Amber from NY
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Amber, a freshman in college, describes her journey with POTS. She was lucky, and was diagnosed in 6 months. In her case, a lot of salt and building u...
E55: Chiari malformation, craniocervical instability, and tethered cord with Dr. Cathy Pederson
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this POTS Basics episode, we cover some uncommon POTS comorbidities that can cause or exacerbate POTS symptoms. Join us for a tour of the brain and...
E54: The Secret Life of a Martha Graham Dancer with Heidi from Alabama
16 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Heidi was a professional dancer for more than a decade, but was secretly struggling with POTS symptoms. Doctors turned her away, but one homeopath in ...
E53: POTS Diary with Samantha from Colorado
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Samantha talks about her experience with POTS and the impact of functional neurology on her quality of life. The imbalances between the left and right...
E52: Functional Neurology for POTS with Dr. Michael Lovich
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Lovich was recommended for The POTScast by one of our listeners after he helped her decrease her symptom load dramatically. A chiropractic functio...
E51: POTS Diary with Kristen from Pennsylvania
02 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kristen is still struggling with POTS and trying to reclaim her life. Despite her brain fog and other symptoms, she works and has written a book. You ...
E50: POTS Diary with Kelsey from Pennsylvania
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kelsey is a mother of two small boys and a physical therapist who shares her recent experience with the October slide. Balancing symptoms, work, and f...
E49: Grieving the Loss of Your Old Life with Dr. Katie Gorman-Ezell
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a little free therapy related to dealing with the grief and loss associated with chronic illnesses like POTS. Techniques are explained to ...
E48: POTS Diary with Jeannie, creator of The Zebra Club
19 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jeannie can't remember a time when she didn't have symptoms. While she was diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome years ago, her POTS diagn...
E47: POTS Diary with John from Florida
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John paints an incredibly open and honest picture of how developing POTS as a teen impacted his life and relationship with his family. Growing up with...
E46: Neural Retraining with Dr. Kevin Lasko
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Kevin Lasko approaches POTS and associated syndromes a little differently from most healthcare practitioners. His approach is to determine what pa...
E45: Diary with Russell from Washington
05 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Russell, a rockclimber from Washington who developed POTS as a teen and continues to battle his way back. His main symptoms are dizziness and bra...
E44: Daniella from Melbourne, Australia
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Daniella is a University student who spent several of her teen years battling symptoms and chasing a diagnosis. Suffering from POTS and chronic fatigu...
E43: Carbohydrates, Glucose Intolerance, and POTS
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Several small studies indicate that there may be a link between POTS and glucose intolerance. Listen to this episode with Jill Brook to find out the p...