POTS(Postureal Orthatstatic Tachacardyia Syndrome) and Sjogren's Question

[mompain]

Along with my Sjogren's, I have Raynaud's Syndrome and POTS - 2 other autoimmune diseases.  I also have numerous other health problems - Fibromyalgia, Thyroid (which is controlled by medication), failed Cervical Disk surgery, Degenerative Disk Disease, and Sciatica.  At this point in time, I thought everything was pretty well controlled and actually have felt the best lately (due to a new Comprehensive Clinic's care and quitting work so I can get the much needed rest that I need) than I have felt in many, many years.  Now to the problem, a scary incident that happened last evening.

I don't get out of the house a lot to do errands and such, but I do tend to get out at least 2 or 3 times weekly for this.  I do water aerobics (per my physical therapist's instructions) 3 times weekly and get out to do this along with my other errands.  At any rate, last night, my hubby and I went out to eat and went to do a quick grocery run through afterward.  I felt weak-in-the-knees the entire time we were in the grocery store but passed it off to just being tired or something.  I also felt out-of-sorts, but passed it off also.  When we were checking out, after about 15 minutes of shopping, my heart did the POTS thing for the first time in a month or so but the worse it has done it in years.  It started the weird stopping like feeling that it does, and I was beginning to think that it wasn't going to start again.  Needless to say, it did finally start back but in a really, really fast and irregularly beating way.  It kept doing this for the LONGEST!!!  I was becoming afraid because it would not go back to normal.  Of course, it finally did, but I am really perplexed as to why it decided to do this. 

The reason I posted is to see if anyone else has had this to happen.  I know Mitral Valve is common with Sjogren's and this is basically what happened to me last night.  I do plan to contact my doctor about this incident even if it never happens again, I really don't want it to because it scared me so badly.  I felt like I couldnot get my breath. 

Thank you in advance for your help and answers.

[eyeamdry]

I have the MVP thing, but I don't know if that's what you're referring to with POTS.  I've had it since I was 12 years old.  Finally, when I was in my late 40's, I had an episode while in bed at 300 bpm...and vowed I'd threaten my doctor.  Once I was put on a simple med.......Tenormin....I rarely ever skip a beat.  My episodes were hard to track and prove because by the time I went to the hospital, they were gone.  Everyone used to say I had panic attacks and that's what caused them.  Funny the drug Tenormin fixed the tachycardia.  Lucy

P.S. Sjogrens diagnosis did not come until I was in early 60's, so I did not know of any connection. 

[abner]

Are you on Evoxac?  I have lots of arrhythmias, and ignored them, but found out, later, that Evoxac was causing my sinus node to malfunction.  It's rare, but it does happen.  Hope you're feeling better now.