I am a 50year old man who has been diagnosed with othostatic intolerance along with many other diagnosises. I have had this for 2 years now and been seeing my cardiologist and only trying me on pills, florinef , midodrine none of these have worked and i have been out of work for this long also because of my instability . Applying for ssd but got turned down and now in appeals Please help are there any other tretments for this. I hav e heard o having a pacemaker / difibulator implanted in my chest?

Hi dizzy...

You didn't say what your other medical problems are, but I am assuming your OI is secondary to your other problems? You really need to find a specialist. Most Docs don't know a lot about treating these problems. I will leave a link to my favorite article. Maybe that will help some. If you have a history of heart/vascular disease, stroke, diabetes, a Sleep Study might really benefit you.

Favorite article:

http://tinyurl.com/2xua5x

Docs by state:

http://tinyurl.com/59qhqd

You may also want to ask about Docs in your area on the 'Dysautonomia Talk' Forum. There is more traffic there.

Good luck to you. Let us know how it goes.

I do also have sleep apnea along with a back problem. I have a herniated disc at t-3 and t4 on the upper part of my spine that is pressing on my spinal cord the docs say any blow to the back could cause me to be paralyzed but do to the insurance companies they have to send me through physical therapy first. As far as the OI goes I have a EP cardiologist but she just keeps giving me pills that dont work.

I know that having this disorder can be really frustrating! Do find someone who specializes in Dysautonomias. It will definitely help.

So you have already been diagnosed with Apnea. The majority of the time, folks have not been tested. I hope your tx is going well with that. I was actually surprised that tx for Apnea helped my Dysautonomia, but it certainly did. And research is finding that it helps others as well.

The problem with suggesting a specific tx is that what works for one may not work for someone else. Some folks have gotten a pacemaker, but if the Docs think your Dysautonomia is because of your spine, I doubt that they would try a pacemaker before they completed their tx plan they have for you now. In other words, pacemakers seem to be used when other tx has failed.

You can do a search on 'pacemaker' or 'pacer' and find out what others have had to say about this.

Hang around and do some reading. Maybe something will help.

Dizzy, I understand how you feel!!! IT seems you are on the right drugs. I too lost a good job with benefits because of the condition. IT wasn't till they said I was depressed because of my dysautonomia is why I ended up getting SS.
It was nice to meet you,hang in there! and know I undertstand your stuggles. Lynn

DIzzy , where are you from, I know my cardiologist could help you. It took me over a year to get on SSD. But, don't give up, you worked and are supose to get what you deserve. It is hard to loose a job over an illness, it was for me.