i have heard many people on the forum discuss this and am wondering what it is and why it would be done.
i am having what i suspect is a problem with my blood flow. i often feel like all the blood is rushing to my head. ears pound so hard with blood, and i just constantly have a sensation that i just had my head hanging over my bed for hours, even though i am upright.
i always swear when this happens that my blood pressure must be off the charts, but it is always normal.
i have also noticed that all my muscles will be incredibly weak, and my arms and feet will be really really cold.
i am wondering if i could be having problems shunting blood flow. is it possible that for some reason my body is pumping all the blood into my head, making my blood pressure there very high, and taking it away from other parts of my body?
what could this indicate? is this the problem many of you who have discussed shunts have had?

I'm watching you posts,Gracie and thinking you poor baby! GAWD HAVE BEEN THERE!!!

Again, in my case my BP response to posture just decided to change from low to high and felt EXACTLY like what you're saying. It had done it a few times prior to bblockers--but with them it became the constant way my body reacted to posture or "spells." I also grew some new "symptoms" Ears ringing and feeling very full/deaf thinking i could "hear" blood rushing "roaring" in my ears--headache--pounding pulse in my head, visual floaters, short breath out of the blue--And the other usual symptoms of dizzy nausea as well.

So now I'm adapting to this new twist in the dys game. Sitting down with knees up and drinking water (salted works better for me --but is a "ask doctor" thing with high BP.)

Whem you have many questions that only a doctor can answer and you're scared--maybe it's time to go see one.

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, EH?

But, still, there's not much other choice than to start looking for one who can help--all I can do is care--I can't write an RX.

Again, all my hugs to ya--hope ya feel better soon!!

Gracie -

I have this too - I feel like my head is going to pop because of all of the blood rushing in my head - its really when I stand up after sitting for a long time at my desk at work. Its also bad when I turn my head to the side - it feels like my ears are going to explode. I also have the floaters in my eyes almost every minute of the day!

I had to attend a hearing yesterday and I had it bad because I had to stand in front of the judge for several mins on behalf of my client.

My dr. told me it takes a while for my Central Nervous System to adjust to any change in position. She said that it is the blood moving around to get to the correct parts of the body.

I also feel very weak and cold, etc. I've come to just rationalize it as the symptoms of the dysfunction of the central nervous system.

This past week I have had a good think about everything that has been happening to me with this horrible syndrome...my next door neighbor who is my age (37) was diagnosed with a frontal lobe brain tumor...he has 6 weeks to live - he went out and bought himself a new car, quit his job and actually has a pretty good outlook...it really made me upset and made me realize that I have to move beyond all of these symptoms I suffer from every day because a lot of people have it much worse - even though I feel like crap almost every day

I asked my Dr the other day if this OI/POTS is going to "do me in" - she said absolutely not - you just have to learn your limitations and adjust - she said to take my meds, drink a lot of water and eat small meals every few hours and I will be fine...she said if I feel bad I need to sit down for several mins, drink a lot of water and rest - I have been carrying a book with me lately so when I do get those feelings I have something to take my mind off it - I am my own worst enemy and can turn what is simply a POTS symptom into a full blown panic attack which in turn makes the POTS worse - a viscious cycle.

I have had EVERY medical test in the past year and all were fine - except the POTS one and the mono test. I also have diverticulosis which is unrelated to the POTS and causes some GI discomfort. I take comfort in the fact that all of the tests were fine.

You may want to see a cardio to discuss the shunt. I think if you sat down with a Dr and talked to then you would feel comforted.

Jen

great advice, girls.
i feel exactly what you are two describing, the roaring the ears, fullness in head, going to pop, etc. one thing though - it gets worse and worse the longer i SIT. it is absolutely not related to postural changes, and in fact, it's probably even relieved with standing.
also, my blood pressure is always normal when i am feeling this way. when my blood pressure does get high, i have no symptoms, maybe a little headache. but when i'm certain that my blood pressure must be out of control, it's normal.
one thing i have noticed about this really intense pressure in my head is that it is a lot a lot a lot worse when it is humid and when i am high in elevation. these conditions make my chest SO super tight, as i was complaining about yesterday (not today though - no humidity!) and make the pressure in my head unreal.
i dont understand the connection with humidity. did you girls find yours was worse in humidity? did you also feel a lot of shortness of breath with your head pressure/roaring in ears?
why would these things be connected?
the reason i asked about shunting was because i am wondering if my body, due to lack of oxygen because of this crazy SOB in humidity, takes all the blood from other parts of my body (hence freezing hands and feet) and sends it all to my head (most important place to send it). i wondered if this could be a shunting issue.
thanks for your replies!!!

I'm the wrong person to ask about humidity. Born in La--then moved to honduras--then south fl. Dry air would probably send me into a fit!!!

I think it's more about what you're used to--and NOT used to.