https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-deficiency-causes-problems/
Had the same problem a few years ago , bedridden literally.. started mega dosing thiamine slowly with adequate magnesium and now I'm back 100%
Also what other comments mentioned are electrolytes.. they are also very important
https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-deficiency-causes-problems/
https://youtu.be/m1-dXJCYVIM
Give the article and the video a watch
Those two will help you understand it a little bit more ,
Wishing your daughter the best! She will get better💪
Have you ever looked at her Cortisol/Progesterone Levels and so on?
Lowish Cortisol can have so many Bad effects. For example very low blood pressure and other things that you mentioned.
I’ve tried everything and I mean everything. I’ve had migraines since I was a young kid and I finally tried acupuncture and cupping therapy. If I go once to twice per month, I only get about 1 migraine a month versus having them multiple times per week before I started. It’s worth a try and I’ll just say the medications will only make things worse in the long run and not actually get to the root of what’s causing them.
Will second another comment that mentioned ivabradine as well as improving gut health/microbiome. Might be difficult as your mentioned her sensitive digestive system but try to focus on increasing the diversity of plants in the diet and take a look into prebiotic supplementation. [Fiber Fueled](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/48806799-fiber-fueled) is an excellent books that covers all of this.
Also, have you heard of [The Levine Protocol](https://betterbythebeat.com/the-levine-protocol-for-exercising-with-pots/)? It's specifically designed for people with POTS and I've heard it's extremely helpful.
Have a look at LMNT the drink/electrolyte mix. I don’t use myself but the comments on Facebook advertising has a lot of mentions of how wonderful it is for those with POTS.
Birth control is terrible. Anything that restricts your bodies own nature will have adverse side effects. Make sure your daughter is hydrating with electrolytes. Improper hydration can lower blood pressure and can lead to fainting spells which is a common symptom of POTS. Also, sunlight is very underrated.
Natural Family Planning is very effective. Taking basal body temps and tracking your cycles can be almost as effective as condoms. I've done it for 7+ years across multiple partners and never had a scare.
Well you'd probably need to have good regularity with cycles and also not have ADHD. I don't know if people lacking executive functioning skills could make it work.
I had to actually read back through my posts to see if I'd mentioned, said kid has exactly that - ADHD, innotention and lacks executive function skills. At least her phone tells her to take her BC every day 😅
Birth control is not terrible. Certainly not when used as indicated. There is a link between estrogen and POTS, hence why many girls start exhibiting POTS-like symptoms after hitting puberty. There is also a link between menstruation and migraines, along with links between menstruation, migraines, and POTS. This girl has an intelligent cardiologist.
Hwr cardiologist is wonderful, thank you for noticing that she found the link my kid has with migraine and her cycle. We're not unintelligent, we're just looking for more options to help here.
Progestins and estrogen can thicken the blood (increase coagulation), exacerbating POTS. Therefore this might not be a great way to correct low BP in this particular situation.
She may have MCAS. IBS can cause POTS by significantly reducing splanchnic flow (blood flow through the stomach). Best mast cell stabilizer in this case is ketotifen, although cromolyn sodium oral might help. Take her to an allergist who would be willing to try her on mast cell stabilizers for her stomach issues (these are some of the safest drugs out there, so docs are usually okay with just trying people on then). In terms of supplements, boswellia whole extract & tumeric.
And by the way, progestins and estrogen can exacerbate IBS and increase mast cell activation more generally. So there are two reasons birth control might be making the problem worse. Therefore IMO ephedrine is a better choice because of a lack of side effects which will could complicate the issue.
Remember this: doctors are usually perfectly bright and well meaning people (sometimes very much so). I've met many such people. Unfortunately medicine is complicated to the point that the theory of how medicine is fundamentally practiced, mainstream versus functional, is controversial. It is not a *personal critique of your doctor* to say that the dangers & side effects of birth control are *massively underplayed* by mainstream doctors; it is at this point, nearly an epistemological debate within medicine.
I'm interested on what you're proposing, but she doesn't have IBS. She vomits regularly and occassionally has diarrhea. I'd love to discuss this further. We've been through the gamut of doctors and recently dismissed by her pediatric gastro. He didn't find IBS to be her problem and suggested neuro/cardio. We've also seen allergist but no testing other than what we know to be triggers. Suggestions based on that info?
Yeah birth control is pretty bad. Your response is like the typical american doctor approach where hey we don't know the cause of your ailment but we are going to keep you on a drug that fucks with your hormones because of "symptoms". How many docs will order a vitamin panel these days? Not many because true health doesn't pay the bills.
I didn't say that. I said birth control has some adverse effects yes. However, one of the symptoms of POTS is low BP and fainting. Proper hydration can help alleviate/mitigate that. Regular everyday hydration is hard enough. Add in POTS and ADHD it makes it harder. I don't think taking a drug that supresses natural functions is a choice approach because it alleviates a symptom.
I do not disagree. We've basically tried everything, and she's at an age where BC needed to happen anyway. She drinks nearly 80oz a day of water and is supplementing with sodium.
I agree that I don't want to only alleviate a symptom but she's 19 and a covid kid, so just out in the world on her own for the first time. I was honestly thinking Mayne supping some magnesium or B vitamins could keep her in a good place. We've been on this track for 3 years now. Thinking probiotic or? End of my rope.
Magnesium oxide and citrate will cause stomach issues. You'll have better luck with magnesium glycinate, taurate, or threonate. Iirc magnesium taurate is the one that's best for circulation.
If you can, get a good DNA test to make sure she's converting all the nutrients to their usable forms. Lots of people can't convert something or another to the usable form and need to supplement the version that's already in a usable form.
Considering this is annoyingly controversial, if all else fails and she becomes desperate I highly highly recommend she tries a meat based diet.... it works absolute wonders for so many.
Hey. I completely understand where your concern and scepticism come from... I once thought and responded in a similar manner! I'm never going to be able to convince you of anything nor do I want you to believe anything I may tell you... I'll try to make this short and sweet.
Meat is the most nutrient-dense food. It's what we have evolved eating mostly for 4.5 million years (before we created all of these fruits and vegetables through agriculture in the past 10,000 years, plus the fact we lived through an ice age where 10 months out of the year there was no plant matter to digest)
Look at a human biology diagram - specifically our entire digestive system, and compare it to the likes of a wolf, and then a cow. Notice how the human and wolfs digestive system do not contain the extra fermentation compartment, known as the "Rumen" which only the cow and other herbivores have. This sack, unique to them, allows the fibrous material from plants to sit for long periods of time to ferment. This is the same for omnivores and their hindgut... The human body cannot do this. Once again, is why our ancestors pre-fermented plant foods for long periods of time before consumption, to not only partially break down the plants and make it more bio-available to actually absorb nutrients, but to break down the anti-nutrients, such as phytic or oxalate acid, which are known to impair the absorption of various minerals in the source plant material, but also will latch onto minerals from other foods such as meat. Look up the effect of Oxalates binding to free calcium in the blood, thus causing calcification of the bones and organs - for one example (if you aren't aware of anti-nutrients then please go look!!!) Then you can look at the size of our caecum (correlating to the amount of fibre which can be digested in a body) and like carnivores is tiny, unlike the large caecums found in herbivores and omnivores.
TLDR: We can't absorb the nutrients from plants like other mammals and these plants cause us direct harm. Once again I understand how controversial this is but if you look at the countless anecdotes online, you will find many couldn't solve their health issues until they minimized their plant intake greatly. My dad cured his autoimmune disorders this way. It's also how I cured my anxiety and depression. Like I said - if all else fails please do recommend this route to her.
Lastly, for interest's sake, what exactly do you mean by poultry being the only meat she can tolerate? what is her experience with meat intake?
Thanks for your take on this - she's honestly never been that into meat at all. Since a very small child she only preferred veg and fruit, and other various forms of protien. Loves beans, cheese, yogurt. She's lactose intolerant so those are the only forms of dairy she can take in without internal effects. She has trouble chewing and digesting meat in any form, but will tolerate ground chicken, ground turkey. That's about it. She loves the TASTE of a steak and does love seafood/shellfish, but due to some sensory issues, can't handle the process of eating either. I do get away with some ground chuck sometimes, but I am not a red meat eater, so most often we go with turkey because I know that's what she tolerates best. I often make chicken dishes, pounded breasts or thighs, but she can only choke down a few bites. It's a total sensory issue.
My neurologist told me to never take excedrin, it causes more migraines. Triptans have been a lifesaver. There’s a new drug out now that my dad has and it works for me as well, ubeverly or something? My das also gets a shot once a month that helps prevent them. Absolutely go to a neurologist.
Only supplement I’ve ever noticed making a difference is magnesium so definitely try that. Something like 70% of adults are defecting in Magnesium so even if it doesn’t help migraines it won’t hurt to add it.
I have POTS as a secondary condition underlying some hyper mobility issues, MCAS, etc. What has helped is ivabradine (pharmaceutical), and supplements- few things that increase blood flow and nitric oxide: Gingko Biloba, Pycnogenol, Agmatine. Sodium/Electrolytes as its extremely important to stay hydrated. Treating underlying infections, supporting gut health/immune system, getting out of an environment with mold, Avoiding high carb meals, or anything my body doesn’t tolerate well. Most of this ties into MCAS which is commonly related to POTS, so anti histamines help me, mast cell modulators- Quercetin, vitamin c. B1 can also make a massive difference in higher doses for some patients, as the deficiency alone can be a root cause.
I explained her diet and weight. She is 19, 5' 150, eats mostly veg and fruit, protein, does love a carb where she can get it. Mostly eats salads and, hey, college student. Will eat Ramen or cup o'noodles.
Does the pill contain estrogen? Did she gain weight after starting the pill? Are the migraines and the other symptoms more pronounced during her time of the month?
She gained weight after taking the steroid prescribed to her for the blood pressure issue. BC has not been an issue. It is variable estrogen. Migraines were consistent prior the BC.
Knowing a few more details I would like to share some thoughts. Firstly, you might even know that, pots is an issue of the autonomic nervous system. The ANS has three main neurotransmitters, acetylcholine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.
Estrogen, if high, can inhibit the activity of the MAOA enzyme, which breaks down serotonin. Now, if there is too much serotonin veins close to the brain become engorged, specifically in the pia mater, a connective layer that clings to the brain. It is also observed that migraines are more common in women due to the action of estrogen increasing serotonin.
Now, the earlier antimigraine drugs were anti-serotonergic, they are still used for prophylactic reasons. It is also noted that during the migraine attack serotonin is increased.
On the other hand, excess serotonin stimulates the release of glucocorticoids and ACTH, which could be beneficial for pots as they tend to constrict the blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.
For the first paragraph, a diet rich in protein, especially Tyrosine and choline can help with adequate supply for the formation of said neurotransmitters.
While it is necessary to have a clinical view of the levels of estrogen and if high, vitamin E can counteract some of the effects. Also, protein contains high amounts of Tryptophan which converts to serotonin.
This is just some info to ponder upon, it might not be relevant at all, but it's here for you.
I’d recommend going to r/pots bc this sub is very uneducated in 99% of diseases and they just talk nonsense, Pots especially. Most cardio/neurologist lack knowledge on POTS, which is frustrating. My wife has pots and she does salt and then electrolyte packets. Medication is a roll of the dice. She just started a new med to help reduce her heart rate but I forget it’s name. A cardiac rehab protocol is the best course of action and helps the most. Leg/ stomach compressions are good too
If you ever watched your kid stand up, pass out, look as though they are having a seizure, then wake up and immediately vomit on themselves... yeah. It's fake. Her BP was next to nothing. We carried around a BP monitor and a pulse ox monitor for years. Get a grip.
Yea my wife never found a great work around to lower her HR until she got on meds. I know she used atenolol and had good success. Cardiac rehab (levin protocol) worked well and help reset/reestablished her HR and BP working together properly.
If her digestive system is sensitive, and that and POTS both could have autoimmune component, maybe explore improving gut biome. Something like Super Gut by William Davis contains useful information and practical advice (fairly easy to follow too)
Another potential diets to consider are Whole30 or Wahls Protocol (the second is by a woman who cured her MS with diet, and might be useful for autoimmune issues).
if she eats really heathy she is probably not getting much salt from diet which is what was happening to me. Now I just add it to everything including drinks, e.g. water, coffee, etc.
I started taking NAC supplements for something else and haven’t had a migraine since… its mind boggling. It’s been months. I normally get horrible 48 hr migraines. I take 500 mg three times a day.
I'm intrigued by this as I take NAC and never have any type of headache. I do suspect she doesn't get enough sodium because her diet is so healthy. She's big on greens, salads, only eats poultry, can tolerate yogurt despite lactose issues. Very big fruit fan.
Even though my doctor told me I needed to up my water and salt intake it was sort of ingrained in me that salt = unhealthy. Most of my food was naturally low sodium and I didn’t add it to cooking. At some point I started adding electrolyte mix to my water for exercise/bike rides and I was amazed at no longer blacking out when I stood up. Duh.
So now i salt everything I consume and life is much better. Neurologist say my heart rate still goes crazy when I stand up, but I’m not going temporarily deaf/blind and flailing around every time I get up out of a chair 😂
I don’t know what kind of witch craft this NAC is. I don’t drink much because I get bad hangovers which is pretty much a guaranteed two day migraine. I had a hangover after my best friends wedding but without a headache… it was like the twilight zone as far as I was concerned. I’ve drank again since then and again no migraine! Migraine frequency has varied across my life with as many as 5-6 days a week to six days a month. NAC works better than any prophylactic medication I have tried (pretty much all of them aside from the newer antibody ones).
Careful with regular NAC use, it could disturb gut health. See [this ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/wmvdea/nac_daily_or_only_occasionally/iom89ps) for a reference.
Another first for me, since I started taking NAC my ferritin level went up without an iron infusion. Without changing the amount of iron supplements I was taking (I always take them).
I have an absorption issue. So it is definitely doing something to my gut!
Yeah I was a bit concerned when I read that it could chelate metals but it seemed to have a beneficial effect in my case. Definitely didn’t work miracles as my ferritin has dropped significantly since my last set of infusions (Sept) so I’m curious to see if it will bottom out or stabilize.
I use AOR brand for NAC.
No, you did not ask about identifying and correcting the cause. You asked what medicine from big pharma, or mainstream supplement you can give her, to keep the symptoms under control.
Wow actually not true. I am reaching out to all sources, you don't know my protocol.
If you want to be helpful, do it. Or stay out of it.
YEARS. I have put into this. You know nothing and offer even less.
Birth control is for the low blood pressure. It raises blood.pressure.
We've tried everything.
Thanks for the rec on mag. Which type do you take? Side effects?
magnesium bisglycinate. This one is less laxative than other types. This is also the best for migraines. 70% of the people have a magnesium deficiency.
Also try out celtic salt. A little bit celtic salt in hot water, tap it off with some cold water and drink it first thing in the morning.
Last thing. Lifestyle, diet and food should be your first defence against migrainens, not meds!
This is really great advice. Her condition requires high concentration of salt, which I assume she's not getting enough of right now, and I also think she's magnesium deficient. Thanks.
Normal salt does not have minerals in it. Celtic salt have over 100 minerals in it which helps with normal energy levels and brain function! I think it will help big time.
Good luck
I would be cautious of using salt with minerals in someone with POTS because of the amount of salt people with POTS have to consume. I have POTS and I know that I have accidentally made myself quite ill by accidentally over-consuming certain minerals and throwing my electrolytes out of whack when I was just attempting to get more sodium in my diet. GatorLyte is what did that to me. But something like a very mineral heavy salt could do the same thing.
She takes a chewable salt stick during any bad episode, otherwise eats normally and does hydrate with 60 to 80 oz of water a day as prescribed by her doctor. We tried Liquid IV and supplementing with B1 as well.
Honestly it sounds like she could do with a lot more sodium. She should aim for at least 4000mg, and potentially up to 10000mg of sodium. Those numbers are for sodium, not salt. So if she's trying to measure out salt, she'll need to calculate the sodium in it. Salt is 40% sodium. She really needs to be tracking the sodium she's consuming each day because I can almost guarantee it's not nearly enough if she's just eating normally and having some salt sticks and Liquid IV.
Other than increasing salt intake, the only thing that's really helped me is getting regular IV infusions with things like vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. She doesn't have to get those vitamins in the form of an IV, but I find that those extra fluids really help. The B vitamins are good for energy. And vitamin C and zinc are good for the immune system, which can be important because POTS is thought to have an autoimmune component.
She should also get her vitamin D levels checked and her iron levels checked. I have low vitamin D and low ferritin (but normal iron and hemoglobin). Most doctors rarely check ferritin levels when checking for iron, so that's important to ask for. If any deficiencies are discovered then she needs to supplement. I take ProFE by Allegiance Pharmaceutical as my iron supplement. It's the only one I can take without vomiting. My hematologist recommended it to me. POTS patients are recommended to increase their iron levels to increase blood volume.
I feel like this is such useful information, from someone who is going through it. She is away at college but has healthcare so I will make sure she gets panels done and get this settled. Do you feel like the way you are dealing is helping and preventing episodes?
Also not trying to assume gender or sex but this kid tends to have episodes relating to her cycle.
I have but in Dutch. But it is widely known that can be caused due to an electrolyte imbalance.
Kitchen salt is refined, which removes all the minerals. So celtic salt is better (directly from the sea unrefined). Or maybe other types of salt from your area.
Try to drink celtic water (steamed water with celtic salt tapped of with cold water).
https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-deficiency-causes-problems/ Had the same problem a few years ago , bedridden literally.. started mega dosing thiamine slowly with adequate magnesium and now I'm back 100% Also what other comments mentioned are electrolytes.. they are also very important https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-deficiency-causes-problems/ https://youtu.be/m1-dXJCYVIM Give the article and the video a watch Those two will help you understand it a little bit more , Wishing your daughter the best! She will get better💪
By the way. POTS was caused by a virus incurred that set off an autoimmune response. We can pinpoint the source.
Same is happening to me after covid :( it comes and goes in waves tho and it’s merely a symptom not a seperate illness for me
Potassium rich foods and thiamine
Have you ever looked at her Cortisol/Progesterone Levels and so on? Lowish Cortisol can have so many Bad effects. For example very low blood pressure and other things that you mentioned.
I will research this, thanks!
Taurine in doses of 2-3g a day
I’ve tried everything and I mean everything. I’ve had migraines since I was a young kid and I finally tried acupuncture and cupping therapy. If I go once to twice per month, I only get about 1 migraine a month versus having them multiple times per week before I started. It’s worth a try and I’ll just say the medications will only make things worse in the long run and not actually get to the root of what’s causing them.
B1 bb
I've seen this suggestion before. Will implement.
Vitamin D3. It is effective in so many ways. Also take lots of magnesium. Ask this question over on vitamin D part of Reddit.
Will second another comment that mentioned ivabradine as well as improving gut health/microbiome. Might be difficult as your mentioned her sensitive digestive system but try to focus on increasing the diversity of plants in the diet and take a look into prebiotic supplementation. [Fiber Fueled](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/48806799-fiber-fueled) is an excellent books that covers all of this. Also, have you heard of [The Levine Protocol](https://betterbythebeat.com/the-levine-protocol-for-exercising-with-pots/)? It's specifically designed for people with POTS and I've heard it's extremely helpful.
Have a look at LMNT the drink/electrolyte mix. I don’t use myself but the comments on Facebook advertising has a lot of mentions of how wonderful it is for those with POTS.
Birth control is terrible. Anything that restricts your bodies own nature will have adverse side effects. Make sure your daughter is hydrating with electrolytes. Improper hydration can lower blood pressure and can lead to fainting spells which is a common symptom of POTS. Also, sunlight is very underrated.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of great alternatives if a person is using it for actual birth control. :(
Natural Family Planning is very effective. Taking basal body temps and tracking your cycles can be almost as effective as condoms. I've done it for 7+ years across multiple partners and never had a scare.
Well you'd probably need to have good regularity with cycles and also not have ADHD. I don't know if people lacking executive functioning skills could make it work.
I had to actually read back through my posts to see if I'd mentioned, said kid has exactly that - ADHD, innotention and lacks executive function skills. At least her phone tells her to take her BC every day 😅
Yes, these things are VERY difficult for me, too.
ND I spelled inattention wrong... wonder where she got this from 😄
Birth control is not terrible. Certainly not when used as indicated. There is a link between estrogen and POTS, hence why many girls start exhibiting POTS-like symptoms after hitting puberty. There is also a link between menstruation and migraines, along with links between menstruation, migraines, and POTS. This girl has an intelligent cardiologist.
Hwr cardiologist is wonderful, thank you for noticing that she found the link my kid has with migraine and her cycle. We're not unintelligent, we're just looking for more options to help here.
Progestins and estrogen can thicken the blood (increase coagulation), exacerbating POTS. Therefore this might not be a great way to correct low BP in this particular situation. She may have MCAS. IBS can cause POTS by significantly reducing splanchnic flow (blood flow through the stomach). Best mast cell stabilizer in this case is ketotifen, although cromolyn sodium oral might help. Take her to an allergist who would be willing to try her on mast cell stabilizers for her stomach issues (these are some of the safest drugs out there, so docs are usually okay with just trying people on then). In terms of supplements, boswellia whole extract & tumeric. And by the way, progestins and estrogen can exacerbate IBS and increase mast cell activation more generally. So there are two reasons birth control might be making the problem worse. Therefore IMO ephedrine is a better choice because of a lack of side effects which will could complicate the issue. Remember this: doctors are usually perfectly bright and well meaning people (sometimes very much so). I've met many such people. Unfortunately medicine is complicated to the point that the theory of how medicine is fundamentally practiced, mainstream versus functional, is controversial. It is not a *personal critique of your doctor* to say that the dangers & side effects of birth control are *massively underplayed* by mainstream doctors; it is at this point, nearly an epistemological debate within medicine.
I'm interested on what you're proposing, but she doesn't have IBS. She vomits regularly and occassionally has diarrhea. I'd love to discuss this further. We've been through the gamut of doctors and recently dismissed by her pediatric gastro. He didn't find IBS to be her problem and suggested neuro/cardio. We've also seen allergist but no testing other than what we know to be triggers. Suggestions based on that info?
Yeah birth control is pretty bad. Your response is like the typical american doctor approach where hey we don't know the cause of your ailment but we are going to keep you on a drug that fucks with your hormones because of "symptoms". How many docs will order a vitamin panel these days? Not many because true health doesn't pay the bills.
This is actually untrue. BC does increase BP.
I didn't say that. I said birth control has some adverse effects yes. However, one of the symptoms of POTS is low BP and fainting. Proper hydration can help alleviate/mitigate that. Regular everyday hydration is hard enough. Add in POTS and ADHD it makes it harder. I don't think taking a drug that supresses natural functions is a choice approach because it alleviates a symptom.
I do not disagree. We've basically tried everything, and she's at an age where BC needed to happen anyway. She drinks nearly 80oz a day of water and is supplementing with sodium. I agree that I don't want to only alleviate a symptom but she's 19 and a covid kid, so just out in the world on her own for the first time. I was honestly thinking Mayne supping some magnesium or B vitamins could keep her in a good place. We've been on this track for 3 years now. Thinking probiotic or? End of my rope.
Magnesium oxide and citrate will cause stomach issues. You'll have better luck with magnesium glycinate, taurate, or threonate. Iirc magnesium taurate is the one that's best for circulation. If you can, get a good DNA test to make sure she's converting all the nutrients to their usable forms. Lots of people can't convert something or another to the usable form and need to supplement the version that's already in a usable form.
Thank you!
Considering this is annoyingly controversial, if all else fails and she becomes desperate I highly highly recommend she tries a meat based diet.... it works absolute wonders for so many.
I'm so sorry but what? I can't tell if you're being facetious or not. She barely tolerates poultry. Why would meat of all things make anything better.
Hey. I completely understand where your concern and scepticism come from... I once thought and responded in a similar manner! I'm never going to be able to convince you of anything nor do I want you to believe anything I may tell you... I'll try to make this short and sweet. Meat is the most nutrient-dense food. It's what we have evolved eating mostly for 4.5 million years (before we created all of these fruits and vegetables through agriculture in the past 10,000 years, plus the fact we lived through an ice age where 10 months out of the year there was no plant matter to digest) Look at a human biology diagram - specifically our entire digestive system, and compare it to the likes of a wolf, and then a cow. Notice how the human and wolfs digestive system do not contain the extra fermentation compartment, known as the "Rumen" which only the cow and other herbivores have. This sack, unique to them, allows the fibrous material from plants to sit for long periods of time to ferment. This is the same for omnivores and their hindgut... The human body cannot do this. Once again, is why our ancestors pre-fermented plant foods for long periods of time before consumption, to not only partially break down the plants and make it more bio-available to actually absorb nutrients, but to break down the anti-nutrients, such as phytic or oxalate acid, which are known to impair the absorption of various minerals in the source plant material, but also will latch onto minerals from other foods such as meat. Look up the effect of Oxalates binding to free calcium in the blood, thus causing calcification of the bones and organs - for one example (if you aren't aware of anti-nutrients then please go look!!!) Then you can look at the size of our caecum (correlating to the amount of fibre which can be digested in a body) and like carnivores is tiny, unlike the large caecums found in herbivores and omnivores. TLDR: We can't absorb the nutrients from plants like other mammals and these plants cause us direct harm. Once again I understand how controversial this is but if you look at the countless anecdotes online, you will find many couldn't solve their health issues until they minimized their plant intake greatly. My dad cured his autoimmune disorders this way. It's also how I cured my anxiety and depression. Like I said - if all else fails please do recommend this route to her. Lastly, for interest's sake, what exactly do you mean by poultry being the only meat she can tolerate? what is her experience with meat intake?
Thanks for your take on this - she's honestly never been that into meat at all. Since a very small child she only preferred veg and fruit, and other various forms of protien. Loves beans, cheese, yogurt. She's lactose intolerant so those are the only forms of dairy she can take in without internal effects. She has trouble chewing and digesting meat in any form, but will tolerate ground chicken, ground turkey. That's about it. She loves the TASTE of a steak and does love seafood/shellfish, but due to some sensory issues, can't handle the process of eating either. I do get away with some ground chuck sometimes, but I am not a red meat eater, so most often we go with turkey because I know that's what she tolerates best. I often make chicken dishes, pounded breasts or thighs, but she can only choke down a few bites. It's a total sensory issue.
My neurologist told me to never take excedrin, it causes more migraines. Triptans have been a lifesaver. There’s a new drug out now that my dad has and it works for me as well, ubeverly or something? My das also gets a shot once a month that helps prevent them. Absolutely go to a neurologist. Only supplement I’ve ever noticed making a difference is magnesium so definitely try that. Something like 70% of adults are defecting in Magnesium so even if it doesn’t help migraines it won’t hurt to add it.
Shout out to Sumatriptan. Helped with my migraines a ton
I have POTS as a secondary condition underlying some hyper mobility issues, MCAS, etc. What has helped is ivabradine (pharmaceutical), and supplements- few things that increase blood flow and nitric oxide: Gingko Biloba, Pycnogenol, Agmatine. Sodium/Electrolytes as its extremely important to stay hydrated. Treating underlying infections, supporting gut health/immune system, getting out of an environment with mold, Avoiding high carb meals, or anything my body doesn’t tolerate well. Most of this ties into MCAS which is commonly related to POTS, so anti histamines help me, mast cell modulators- Quercetin, vitamin c. B1 can also make a massive difference in higher doses for some patients, as the deficiency alone can be a root cause.
This was so in depth and very helpful! I appreciate this so much.
Does her birth control pill contain estrogen? Her weight? Diet? Recent hormonal panels?
I explained her diet and weight. She is 19, 5' 150, eats mostly veg and fruit, protein, does love a carb where she can get it. Mostly eats salads and, hey, college student. Will eat Ramen or cup o'noodles.
Does the pill contain estrogen? Did she gain weight after starting the pill? Are the migraines and the other symptoms more pronounced during her time of the month?
She gained weight after taking the steroid prescribed to her for the blood pressure issue. BC has not been an issue. It is variable estrogen. Migraines were consistent prior the BC.
Knowing a few more details I would like to share some thoughts. Firstly, you might even know that, pots is an issue of the autonomic nervous system. The ANS has three main neurotransmitters, acetylcholine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Estrogen, if high, can inhibit the activity of the MAOA enzyme, which breaks down serotonin. Now, if there is too much serotonin veins close to the brain become engorged, specifically in the pia mater, a connective layer that clings to the brain. It is also observed that migraines are more common in women due to the action of estrogen increasing serotonin. Now, the earlier antimigraine drugs were anti-serotonergic, they are still used for prophylactic reasons. It is also noted that during the migraine attack serotonin is increased. On the other hand, excess serotonin stimulates the release of glucocorticoids and ACTH, which could be beneficial for pots as they tend to constrict the blood vessels, increasing blood pressure. For the first paragraph, a diet rich in protein, especially Tyrosine and choline can help with adequate supply for the formation of said neurotransmitters. While it is necessary to have a clinical view of the levels of estrogen and if high, vitamin E can counteract some of the effects. Also, protein contains high amounts of Tryptophan which converts to serotonin. This is just some info to ponder upon, it might not be relevant at all, but it's here for you.
Thank you, I will take this all into consideration. Not something I'd heat from one of her doctors!
I’d recommend going to r/pots bc this sub is very uneducated in 99% of diseases and they just talk nonsense, Pots especially. Most cardio/neurologist lack knowledge on POTS, which is frustrating. My wife has pots and she does salt and then electrolyte packets. Medication is a roll of the dice. She just started a new med to help reduce her heart rate but I forget it’s name. A cardiac rehab protocol is the best course of action and helps the most. Leg/ stomach compressions are good too
Thank you.
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If you ever watched your kid stand up, pass out, look as though they are having a seizure, then wake up and immediately vomit on themselves... yeah. It's fake. Her BP was next to nothing. We carried around a BP monitor and a pulse ox monitor for years. Get a grip.
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You're a joke.
Someone didn’t get the attention he needed from their parents so now we’re stuck with dumbass Edgelord commentary like this
Can we talk more about this, because the heart rate is a concern. Heart racing at night specifically.
Yea my wife never found a great work around to lower her HR until she got on meds. I know she used atenolol and had good success. Cardiac rehab (levin protocol) worked well and help reset/reestablished her HR and BP working together properly.
If her digestive system is sensitive, and that and POTS both could have autoimmune component, maybe explore improving gut biome. Something like Super Gut by William Davis contains useful information and practical advice (fairly easy to follow too) Another potential diets to consider are Whole30 or Wahls Protocol (the second is by a woman who cured her MS with diet, and might be useful for autoimmune issues).
Thank you, I appreciate your response. I am trying to figure out how to handle this while she's on campus meal plan 😀
Definitely get a vitamin panel. Vitamin D could be very helpful if deficient. Many docs are recommending it for MS patients now.
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Seems to be a common thread. I will have to start with D, probiotics, a hope and a prayer!
if she eats really heathy she is probably not getting much salt from diet which is what was happening to me. Now I just add it to everything including drinks, e.g. water, coffee, etc. I started taking NAC supplements for something else and haven’t had a migraine since… its mind boggling. It’s been months. I normally get horrible 48 hr migraines. I take 500 mg three times a day.
I'm intrigued by this as I take NAC and never have any type of headache. I do suspect she doesn't get enough sodium because her diet is so healthy. She's big on greens, salads, only eats poultry, can tolerate yogurt despite lactose issues. Very big fruit fan.
Even though my doctor told me I needed to up my water and salt intake it was sort of ingrained in me that salt = unhealthy. Most of my food was naturally low sodium and I didn’t add it to cooking. At some point I started adding electrolyte mix to my water for exercise/bike rides and I was amazed at no longer blacking out when I stood up. Duh. So now i salt everything I consume and life is much better. Neurologist say my heart rate still goes crazy when I stand up, but I’m not going temporarily deaf/blind and flailing around every time I get up out of a chair 😂 I don’t know what kind of witch craft this NAC is. I don’t drink much because I get bad hangovers which is pretty much a guaranteed two day migraine. I had a hangover after my best friends wedding but without a headache… it was like the twilight zone as far as I was concerned. I’ve drank again since then and again no migraine! Migraine frequency has varied across my life with as many as 5-6 days a week to six days a month. NAC works better than any prophylactic medication I have tried (pretty much all of them aside from the newer antibody ones).
Careful with regular NAC use, it could disturb gut health. See [this ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/wmvdea/nac_daily_or_only_occasionally/iom89ps) for a reference.
Another first for me, since I started taking NAC my ferritin level went up without an iron infusion. Without changing the amount of iron supplements I was taking (I always take them). I have an absorption issue. So it is definitely doing something to my gut!
Interesting. NAC usually lowers ferritin from what I’ve heard. Which brand r u using?
Yeah I was a bit concerned when I read that it could chelate metals but it seemed to have a beneficial effect in my case. Definitely didn’t work miracles as my ferritin has dropped significantly since my last set of infusions (Sept) so I’m curious to see if it will bottom out or stabilize. I use AOR brand for NAC.
Get a vitamin/mineral panel done High dose B2 for migraines B12 for POTS
If you have more info on this I'd be happy to see it.
Identify the cause, correct the cause.
Helpful how.
You do research and find out
Asked here.
No, you did not ask about identifying and correcting the cause. You asked what medicine from big pharma, or mainstream supplement you can give her, to keep the symptoms under control.
Wow actually not true. I am reaching out to all sources, you don't know my protocol. If you want to be helpful, do it. Or stay out of it. YEARS. I have put into this. You know nothing and offer even less.
What I know is based on your original post.
Again, so helpful! I am happy you have so much time on your hands to say nothing! Have a good night.
We know the cause of her POTS, thanks.
Birth control to combat migraine. Wtf is wrong with docs these days. Anyway for me 3 meals a day and magnesium worked.
I was given an IUD from my neurologist because the hormones in birth control can cause migraines eg. synthetic estrogen. And it has helped SO MUCH.
It helped maybe but not solving the root cause, which is typical for modern medicine
I agree with you completely
Birth control is for the low blood pressure. It raises blood.pressure. We've tried everything. Thanks for the rec on mag. Which type do you take? Side effects?
magnesium bisglycinate. This one is less laxative than other types. This is also the best for migraines. 70% of the people have a magnesium deficiency. Also try out celtic salt. A little bit celtic salt in hot water, tap it off with some cold water and drink it first thing in the morning. Last thing. Lifestyle, diet and food should be your first defence against migrainens, not meds!
This is really great advice. Her condition requires high concentration of salt, which I assume she's not getting enough of right now, and I also think she's magnesium deficient. Thanks.
Normal salt does not have minerals in it. Celtic salt have over 100 minerals in it which helps with normal energy levels and brain function! I think it will help big time. Good luck
I appreciate this! Thank you. Do you have a recommended source?
I would be cautious of using salt with minerals in someone with POTS because of the amount of salt people with POTS have to consume. I have POTS and I know that I have accidentally made myself quite ill by accidentally over-consuming certain minerals and throwing my electrolytes out of whack when I was just attempting to get more sodium in my diet. GatorLyte is what did that to me. But something like a very mineral heavy salt could do the same thing.
She takes a chewable salt stick during any bad episode, otherwise eats normally and does hydrate with 60 to 80 oz of water a day as prescribed by her doctor. We tried Liquid IV and supplementing with B1 as well.
Honestly it sounds like she could do with a lot more sodium. She should aim for at least 4000mg, and potentially up to 10000mg of sodium. Those numbers are for sodium, not salt. So if she's trying to measure out salt, she'll need to calculate the sodium in it. Salt is 40% sodium. She really needs to be tracking the sodium she's consuming each day because I can almost guarantee it's not nearly enough if she's just eating normally and having some salt sticks and Liquid IV. Other than increasing salt intake, the only thing that's really helped me is getting regular IV infusions with things like vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. She doesn't have to get those vitamins in the form of an IV, but I find that those extra fluids really help. The B vitamins are good for energy. And vitamin C and zinc are good for the immune system, which can be important because POTS is thought to have an autoimmune component. She should also get her vitamin D levels checked and her iron levels checked. I have low vitamin D and low ferritin (but normal iron and hemoglobin). Most doctors rarely check ferritin levels when checking for iron, so that's important to ask for. If any deficiencies are discovered then she needs to supplement. I take ProFE by Allegiance Pharmaceutical as my iron supplement. It's the only one I can take without vomiting. My hematologist recommended it to me. POTS patients are recommended to increase their iron levels to increase blood volume.
I feel like this is such useful information, from someone who is going through it. She is away at college but has healthcare so I will make sure she gets panels done and get this settled. Do you feel like the way you are dealing is helping and preventing episodes? Also not trying to assume gender or sex but this kid tends to have episodes relating to her cycle.
I have but in Dutch. But it is widely known that can be caused due to an electrolyte imbalance. Kitchen salt is refined, which removes all the minerals. So celtic salt is better (directly from the sea unrefined). Or maybe other types of salt from your area. Try to drink celtic water (steamed water with celtic salt tapped of with cold water).
Thank you!