The POTScast

Dr. Zac Spiritos, a dual board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in IBS and POTS, shares his journey into complex internal medicine. He reveals how pivotal patient encounters led him to effectively treat mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and discusses the importance of functional mast cell activity over static counts. Zac also dives into innovative treatment strategies using GLP-1 agonists and critiques common diagnoses like SIBO. He emphasizes empowering patients with tailored diet advice while being cautious about overly restrictive elimination diets.

Vascular surgeons Dr. Robert Hacker and Dr. Deena Chihade share their unusual path to POTS via looking at the venous system, and explain what they are seeing in patients before and after addressing venous compression syndromes such as May Thurner Syndrome and Nutcracker Syndrome.  Dr. Hacker estimates that venous obstructions may play a role in more POTS patients than previously thought, and Dr. Chihade shares the research study she presented at the Dysautonomia International poster session. Both doctors explain how their clinic tests and treats patients for potential compressions and what the stenting procedure is like.  Their website is https://stlvascular.com/. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.   Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Heather is a Nurse Practioner with long experience in vascular medicine, a dysautonomia patient herself, and is now working with a vascular clinic in Toledo, OH to bring genetic testing and counseling services to patients with suspected genetic connective tissue disorders, such as vascular EDS, Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome and more.  She also sees patients with vascular compressions, pelvic venous disease, venous insufficiency and more.  In this episode she shares her professional and personal insights from the lens of vascular and genetic medicine.  Anyone can call 419 291-2003 to request an appointment to see Heather.  No referral needed unless their insurance requires it. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Sarah loved her life as a busy mom an accomplished professional dog groomer, but after COVID left her with new symptoms suggestive of the 'Trifecta' (POTS, MCAS, hEDS) she is needing to make a new game plan....one that doesn't involve so many hours of standing and triggering fragrances.  In this episode she discusses what she went through to get a diagnosis and how -- with the help of supportive family -- she is working through the challenges to design a new lifestyle. Please click the "subscribe" button so that you don't miss an episode of The POTScast. Subscribing also helps us reach other people just like you! If you love The POTScast and would like to help defray the costs associated with creating these episodes, please donate at: https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

One of the most common questions we get from listeners is about the novel treatments that Dr. Dempsey mentions, such as therapeutic plasmapheresis exchange (or apheresis), SOT, ozone therapy, UV light blood irradiation and more.  In this episode she discusses each treatment:  What it is, how it works, the risks and benefits, who is a good candidate, and more. More information about Dr. Tania Dempsey and her clinic can be found at https://drtaniadempsey.com/.  If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Dr. Jennifer Curtin is Medical Director of the RTHM clinic and former complex chronic illness patient herself, after having ME/CFS while in medical school.  Now her team has created the RTHM intelligence platform which uses HIPAA-compliant artificial intelligence and other technology to provide guidance and care for people with Long COVID, ME/CFS, MCAS, POTS, hEDS and related conditions.  In this episode she discusses the features, purpose, possibilities and how this free platform can help improve access to answers, insights, testing and treatment for patients with these complex conditions.  if you would like to try the platform, it is free and can be found here. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standimg Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Jace had hEDS and POTS for years before it was diagnosed and then had to wait MORE years to start getting any treatment, but in the meantime graduated college, got an advanced degree, worked on state and federal health policy, made art and much more.  Hear Jace's advice and words of wisdom as someone who has expertise when it comes to ADA and accommodations. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Brianne Dressen co-founded REACT19 to help support people with life-altering COVID-19 vaccine injuries after being injured herself in one of the original clinical trials, and then learning the hard way that little was available in terms of answers, research, treatments or support.  Now she oversees the science-based non-profit React19, which has created a provider network, support groups, research collaborations, lobbying efforts, and a grant program to help pay for medical bills of injured patients. The mentioned Yale studies are: 1. Comparative Analysis of Long COVID and Post-Vaccination Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study of Clinica Symptoms and Machine Learning-Based Differentiation 2. Immunological and Immunogenic Signatures Associated with Chronic Illness after COVID 19 Vaccination (Dr. Been's presentation explaining the findings is here). 3. Post-Vaccination Syndrome: A Descriptive Analysis of Reported Symptoms and Patient Experiences after COVID-19 Vaccination The book about Brianne is here. Brianne's documentary film is here. React19.org's YouTube channel with more educational videos by Dr. Been and more is here. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

This is a not-to-be-missed conversation for anyone interested in brain inflammation.  Dr. Eboni Cornish, M.D. is Associate Medical Director at Amen Clinics, Fellow and Treasurer of the Board for the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). With research training at the National Institutes of Health as a Howard Hughes Medical Fellow, she is nationally recognized for her evidence-based work in neuroinflammation, autism, chronic toxicity, and complex chronic illnesses, including autoimmune disease, Lyme, PANS/PANDAS, mold illness, CIRS, and long COVID among others. At Amen Clinics, she integrates SPECT brain imaging with advanced biomarker testing to uncover root-cause brain imbalances and has created the Amen Clinics 2-Week Neurointensive Program for complex neuroimmune disorders. A sought-after speaker and educator, Dr. Cornish is dedicated to advancing brain and body longevity while translating complex science into practical, patient-centered strategies. In this episode she and Dr. Dempsey discuss neuroinflammation, the role of limbic system, gut imbalances, chronic infections and MCAS. Dr. Dempsey's website is here. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Our 12th annual 5k/2k took place virtually and at Wittenberg University in Springfield Ohio and raises funds for research to help today's struggling POTS patients.  We interviewed several participants while they were waiting for the event to begin and got a chance to find out what brings them to the event, why they want to raise awareness of POTS and more. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.