Got a "flare up" and want to show other my experience, can you relate?
I am 45 YO Male, 140lbs, (have RBBB- right bundle branch block) I suspected I have dysautonomia/POTS ever since my first episode of adrenaline dump which resulted in uncontrollable cold shivers for like 20 min, which resulted in a trip to the ER, docs ran blood tests, but everything came back normal. After that episode the next 24 hours I was so tired like my energy was sucked out of me. This was at least 4 years ago. I believe this was due to a combination of overheating on a summer hike followed by a big bowel movement that same day, the cold shivers and dizziness started right after the bowel movement (with straining). At the time guessed the episode was due to vagus nerve triggered by the big BM.
Since then, I've had more episodes in the past both tied to BMs (cold shivering and shaking after going #2 with big movements but not straining) and I figured it must be the vagus nerve.
Hower the other day I was on a short hike (5 miles) in the 70s weather, but I was carrying a heavy pack, halfway thru the hike I got a feeling that came out of nowhere and came in really fast, I felt really nervous and anxious and right after I noticed my heart rate was around 140 bpm, (check using my Samsung galaxy watch 7) I laid down for a bout 15 min to let is pass but still feeling panic almost like anxiety attach, also felt lightheaded and dizzy, also felt like my legs was running out of energy I guess it had to do with the heavy pack and maybe due to getting overheated? I took it easy on the way back walked slower, breathing slower, sipping water, etc. got to the car and made it home (I was not the driver) that day felt a bit tired and worried.
For the past 4 months I have been showering at night, only, taking hot showers right before bed as I feel it made me feels better and maybe even help me sleeps better. However yesterday I had to go to a dinner, so I took a hot shower around 4 PM, usually my hot showers are 15 minutes long. when I got out of the shower, I noticed by breath was lighter and not as deep, I was not taking on enough oxygen it was a weird feeling, I had to make myself take long breaths to make sure my body remembered to take longer breaths. around 5 PM got in the car (my wife was driving) and head out for dinner, in the car maybe around 5: 30 PM or 5:40 PM had the AC blowing on my skin but feel weird like it could not tolerate the cold AC on my arm, but I was also feeling like i was not breathing fully, still having shortness of breath and having shallow inhalation. then out of nowhere i got this sensation in my brain like something is very wrong, maybe even felt like my blood pressure dropped in a split second, and my heart started raising, my watch said my BPM was around 98 to 100, I panicked told my wife driving to cancel and drive me home as I was not feeling good.
Got home and sit down and started to calm, but I was very panicky on the way home.
This morning I was laying down in bed after waking up haven't had anything to eat since yesterday when I decided to try to make the poor man tilt table test, I did like like 3 times but only one time i was able to see my Hearth rate spike over 30 BPM. Laying down my BPM is around 60, then the one time my HR raised it was around 95 BPM around 1 minute after standup up from laying in bed, the other times i try the test my BPM only elevated 15 t 20 BPM max, so i might have to try this again just to confirm.
I think for now on i will have shorter showers with look warm water in stead of hot. Also I have been trying to have a BM everyday to prevent accumulation and prevent straining and possible upset my vagus nerve.
Also will probably start taking simple electrolytes (without b vitamins) in the morning to make sure my blood volume is increased etc.
Anyone have similar experiences? i would like to hear your unique experiences and also what do you do to come with this.
Note I have never been diagnosed with or tested for dysautonomia or pots.