Natalie

Hi, I am Natalie. I am 25 years old from Glasgow and I was diagnosed with PoTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) in 2022 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 

My symptoms first started when I was at the dentist. My dentist brought me up from the chair afterwards and I instantly felt really unwell and on the verge of fainting. It did take me a while to actually stand up from the chair. 

A couple of months later, I was suffering from syncope, a fast heart at 150 bpm, nausea sometimes, and I could not tolerate standing in the same position for a long time.  After receiving a pacemaker I was still experiencing the same symptoms. 

I was admitted to the cardiac ward at a different hospital, as my local hospital kept discharging me, as everything came back normal. The cardiologist there queried if I had PoTS, and I got a new test called the table tilt test. This is when they discovered I had PoTS, due to an increase in heart rate when I stood up. I treat my PoTS with water and salt intake, exercising frequently, medication that I was prescribed, eating smaller meals to help stop my blood pressure from dropping and doing things to keep my mind off it. 

Prior to my symptoms I had no idea what PoTS was and had never heard of anyone having these symptoms. I was born with congenital heart disease and had major cardiac surgery as a baby and when I was younger. However, I was very fit and active including dancing and horse riding when I was a teenager. Despite my heart condition I remained incredibly well over the years and lived life to the fullest.

When I got diagnosed with PoTS and afterwards, I found it so hard to deal with emotionally and how much it impacted me. I was also in my last year of university so I was so worried on how this would affect me and my future in life.  Thankfully, my university were very supportive when I was in my last year, and had more of a plan in place, especially if I was unwell during theory or placement time.  I am nearly qualified as a nurse now, I think it shows you can get through it. I know that PoTS can be physically and emotionally draining. As I have a heart condition on top of PoTS, I do find it very hard but I just do things that I enjoy to do and keep in contact with the people that are there for me the most.