If your heart races every time you stand and you have been told it is just anxiety, a POTS chiropractor in Royal Oak will start by listening. Dr. Zach Conner at Van Every Family Chiropractic Center explains what he tells people with POTS: your symptoms deserve to be heard.
What does POTS feel like?
POTS shows up as a cluster of symptoms that hit together. Dr. Zach describes the picture he hears in our Royal Oak office: you stand up and your heart races like you just sprinted up a flight of stairs.
You get dizzy, lightheaded, and sometimes you feel like you are going to pass out. You are foggy and exhausted no matter how much you sleep. You are too hot, too cold, nauseous and wired, all at the same time. The tag we use for it is simple: heart racing when you stand, brain fog, exhaustion. If that sounds familiar, read on.
Why are people with POTS told it is just anxiety?
Many people with POTS hear that it is anxiety or that their test came back normal. Dr. Zach pointed to the largest survey of people with POTS: "it took a median of about two years and around seven doctors to get a diagnosis." Three out of four were told it was something else first.
He said it plainly: "That's a long time to feel like nobody believes you." He also said "people with POTS are no more anxious than the general population." In his words, "When anxiety shows up, it's usually because of what POTS put you through, not the cause of it."
What does Dr. Zach say to someone living with POTS?
He tells them their body is not the problem. His words: "your body's not broken. It's stuck protecting you and it's waiting on permission to let go." That is how he frames the POTS and dysautonomia conversation with the people he sees.
It also ties to how we talk about the fight or flight state. A body that is protecting you is doing a job, and a person who feels exhausted and wired at once deserves a clear explanation of why. He addresses the same questions to adults and to parents asking about a child: if this resonates with what you or your child have been living with, we want to hear about it.
Looking for a POTS chiropractor in Royal Oak?
You can reach us at Van Every Family Chiropractic Center, 4203 Rochester Rd, Royal Oak. Dr. Anna Saylor, Dr. John Johr and Dr. Zach Conner all use all of our techniques and all of them see adults, children, babies and pregnant patients. You can read about each of them on our meet the doctors page.
We also offer a free POTS guide. Ask for it when you call or text us. Families come to our Royal Oak office from Ferndale, Berkley, Troy, Clawson and Madison Heights, and you can see more on our service areas page.
How do you get started?
Call or text (248) 616-0900, or book online. Tell us what your days look like: what happens when you stand, how you sleep, how you feel by afternoon. If you want to understand how we look at the nervous system, our neurological assessment page explains more.
Your symptoms are real, and being believed is a fair place to begin.
Frequently asked questions
Is POTS just anxiety?
No. Dr. Zach said people with POTS are no more anxious than the general population. When anxiety shows up, it is usually because of what POTS put the person through, not the cause of it. Many people are told it is anxiety first, and we think that is a long time to go without being heard.
What symptoms did Dr. Zach describe?
He described a racing heart when you stand, dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling like you are going to pass out, brain fog and exhaustion no matter how much you sleep. He also named being too hot, too cold, nauseous and wired at once. These are the things he hears from people with POTS in our Royal Oak office.
Do you see children with POTS symptoms?
Yes. Dr. Zach spoke to people living with POTS and to parents asking about their child. All three of our doctors see children as well as adults, babies and pregnant patients. Call or text (248) 616-0900 and tell us what your child has been going through, and we will take it from there.
How do I get the free POTS guide?
Ask us for it. Call or text (248) 616-0900 and say you would like the free POTS guide, and we will get it to you. It is a good first step if you are not ready to book yet, and our team is glad to answer questions about it.
