Patient Stories

Because all that is not shared is lost

Ellen’s story of living with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Dr. Gupta, I am part of the Takotsubo Support group. I hope sharing my story may be of some help. I am 69 years old and living in Minnesota in the US. I was diagnosed with Takotsubo Cardiomyopothy on January 25, 2018. For the past several months I had been under extreme stress. I suffered a head injury at work and my worker's compensation was denying my claim, which resulted in a loss of income. A [...]

September 2nd, 2018|2 Comments

Joanne’s story of ectopic heart beats and stomach problems (the gastrocardiac syndrome)

I am writing you regarding your facebook post related to all that is not shared is lost. First, I would like to thank you for your awareness of heart palpitations and the vagus nerve/stomach. My story - I am 56 years old and have suffered with ectopic beats/palpitations since my mid 20’s. I would had one or two a day or a run if I got into an argument with someone. I was always told they were rela [...]

September 2nd, 2018|36 Comments

J’s story of living with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Hi Sanjay, I am responding to your request for people who have experienced Takotsubo Syndrome (TTS) to share their story. Sorry but it’s a long one. I am 62 years old and had my episode in early December 2017. At the time I was experiencing my second episode of thyrotoxicosis, having been diagnosed with Graves Disease about 3 years beforehand. The first episode of thyrotoxicosis was managed with c [...]

August 28th, 2018|1 Comment

My Experience with AFib : “A Wake Up Call in India”

Dear Dr. Gupta, Tomorrow is my 62nd birthday and I am writing you to share my experience with AFib. 5 years ago, I retired from my job as a school counselor. At that time my blood pressure slightly rose into the high blood pressure zone so I was prescribed losartan. At age 60 I took up long distance running and my blood pressure and over health and fitness greatly improved. I have completed two ha [...]

August 28th, 2018|0 Comments

Laura’s story of living with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Hi Dr Gupta, Having seen a post on the Takotsubo Facebook page I thought I would share my experience. I was 51 at the time of my attack, which was seven years ago past June. Several weeks prior to my attack I was worrying intensely and always having a knot in my stomach, about a trip my 16yr old son was to take . With hindsight I was experiencing adrenaline surges but just felt this was me always [...]

August 28th, 2018|0 Comments

Terri’s story of living with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

I was a 57 year old woman working a high stress job, caring for my disabled brother and taking care of my family, including a young granddaughter part-time. On a saturday, after working outside for a few hours, (which usually served to help relax me), I began to feel sick again. Though I had always been able to tolerate heat very well and never seemed to get hot enough; I had recently began to swe [...]

August 28th, 2018|0 Comments

Shayne’s story of living with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

I was diagnosed with this condition on 9 April 2018. I am a 62y old female and work full time as a practice manager in a health practice. We had a change of manager who instigated workplace changes without consultation and in a rushed manner. I was very affected by the changes and saw my gp who said I had high blood pressure and I was off work for 3 weeks. I have never had high blood pressure till [...]

August 28th, 2018|0 Comments

Ian’s story of living with the Gastrocardiac syndrome

During my struggle with GERD / REFLUX / HIATUS HERNIA etc. and having seen many Gastro and Cardio doctors you have been the only one to openly mention this correlation. Personally there are a few ways that I manage this and try to live with it as it can be very uncomfortable and disconcerting. 1. Dealing with this with professional counseling and the mental aspect. Accepting this condition and tha [...]

August 28th, 2018|0 Comments

Richard’s story of living with POTS

I'm 46 now.. my first 'meeting' with POTS/Dysautonomia was when i was 23.. i lost 50 pounds, high heart rate, fatigue. pain.. no one knew what was going on. It took me 4 years to feel better. Its like i grew a bit out if it. It never was completely away, but i was able to study, sport..LIVE.. Then may 2008.(i was 35). i became unwell one morning and it never went away. It took 8 long tough years t [...]

August 28th, 2018|0 Comments

Elaine’s story of living with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Here is my TTS story. I am a female 71 year old and live in Warrington, Cheshire. 14 months ago I was diagnosed with TTS. Prior to my episode I had a good medical record although only 4 years prior was diagnosed with T2 diabetes which I control with diet and exercise. I had a late menopause at 61 and did not take any HRT. I tell you this as it may have a bearing on why I had my TTS. My family hist [...]

August 26th, 2018|0 Comments

Cassie’s story on living with POTS

I have had tachycardia and fainting issues since I was 15. After my bcg and hpv injections, I was struck down by flu, shingles, glandular fever and many bouts of tonsilitis, one after the other. At 15 year of age, I was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and told I would grow out of it and to manage it on my own. I always struggled with fainting and fatigue. I went to university and worked for as lo [...]

August 24th, 2018|1 Comment

Erin’s story of living with POTS

In my late twenties I was a homeschooling mama with three children and one on the way. I was exhausted all of the time with all over body pain. My legs felt like I was walking on toothpicks and I was worried I would collapse. I felt better when I could lay down flat, so we would often do school from my bed or the couch. When my husband would get home around 2:30 each day, I would go straight to be [...]

August 23rd, 2018|1 Comment

Emily’s story of living with POTS

When I first realised something wasn’t ‘normal’ I was 20 years old, and training to become a paramedic. My very early symptoms were palpitations, fatigue, hot and cold sweats (especially during the night) and bladder incontinence- also a night time issue. Months later I developed recurrent chest pain and breathlessness, and thats when i realised i needed to get this seen to! I’d put off going to t [...]

August 22nd, 2018|0 Comments

Samantha’s story of living with POTS

When you live with POTS, a form of dysautonomia, or dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, every day is a battle. From getting out of bed, to brushing your teeth, to showering, to getting to work and school... these simple tasks that so many often take for granted are often impossible for those who live with this uncommonly heard of syndrome. This is my story on finding out that my own body [...]

August 22nd, 2018|1 Comment

D’s story of PVCs and gastric problems

I am a 48 yr old female and suffer with PVCs daily. I also get PVC bigeminy. I feel every single one of my PVCs, whether big or small. I take Metoprolol 25mg in the morning and 50 mg in the evening plus a magnesium pill everyday. The medications have helped a lot. I also had an attempted ablation which was not able to be completed due to lack of PVC's at the time. I do find that my gastrointestina [...]

August 21st, 2018|32 Comments

M’s story of living with POTS

I am a 51 year old woman and college professor. I started with occasional chest pain in my late 20s. It was always attributed to costocondritis, dehydration, or anxiety. My tests were always normal. This continued a couple of times a year until my early 40s. I then developed intermittent lightheadedness and a racing heart , often worse around certain times of my menstrual cycle, sometimes accompan [...]

August 20th, 2018|0 Comments

K’s story of living with POTS

Pre-POTS Before POTS engulfed my life, I was an active stay at home mother.  I ran four to six miles a day followed by yoga or pilates.  I was athletic and played numerous sports in high school.  I then went college and majored in Psychology/Sociology.  I wanted to be a counselor.  Before going to grad school, I met my husband on a blind date and married him fifty-two days later.  Three months aft [...]

August 20th, 2018|0 Comments

Beth’s story of living with POTS

For me, mine started with a sinus infection. I had the head cold for a few days when I noticed that I was becoming very short of breath, extremely fatigued, and had pretty severe chest pains. After about two weeks, the head cold had gone away, but the new symptoms remained and I started having numbness in my hands and feet, which was when I called the doctor. The doctor’s office declined to see me [...]

August 20th, 2018|0 Comments

Max’s story of how his AF was found to be caused by undiagnosed sleep apnoea

A few months ago I posted a question about high blood pressure at night and getting up 4 or 5 times a night for the toilet. I have had PAF for 7 years and was changed to Sotalol following a couple of Cardioversions three years ago. I went to my doctors about 2 years ago concerned with my night time toilet visits, the prostate was checked and ok so it was suggested I took medication to control my b [...]

August 19th, 2018|0 Comments

D’s story of being diagnosed and living with POTS

I have had symptoms of pre-syncope for as long as I can remember. My mother was a nurse so she would just tell me that I had postural hypotension and to get up slowly. This started as far back as when I was 8 years old. I also have always had gastrointestinal issues, whether it was just an upset stomach daily to as bad as severe gastroparesis. That has mostly resolved after my gastric bypass. I wa [...]

August 17th, 2018|1 Comment
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