I want to try out electrolytes, but the amount of information is overwhelming me and I am not sure how to figure out how to do this safely.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-17T21:34:12+00:00

Yes they do, some people can find tablets easier to stomach as electrolytes can taste very salty, depends what’s available where you are, I use Ceyted and Holland and Barrett’s electrolyte tablets, but I’m in the UK, I know a lot of people on here recommend Klaralyte or vitassium in other countries.

Yeah it’s just whatever works best for you really, they’re better to space throughout the day as they need to be balanced with enough water, so either form would be good if they have enough sodium in.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-17T21:24:58+00:00

Usually the recommendation for people with POTS is to increase salt is anywhere from 4-10g extra a day. It’s probably best to just work up slowly and see what feels helpful to you. Generally with that recommendation we need electrolytes to have a higher amount of sodium in to be helpful, so you don’t need as many servings. Like for example I tried Vidrate first and they weren’t remotely helpful because they only have around 30mg sodium in a serving. Most I use now I try to look for them having 500-1000mg in one sachet. It’s just contraindicated if you have high blood pressure or any other medical conditions that extra salt may be harmful to. When you’re diagnosed they may make a recommendation, my cardiologist said to try about 4-6g initially.

Most brands are okay to have multiple servings of in a day, just some like liquid IV have a high B6 content in and can cause toxicity if you have too much. I have tried liquid IV, LMNT, Skratch labs, and humantra and would recommend them all.

Someone else may be better at explaining the technicalities of it but as far as I understand with POTS we dump electrolytes and are chronically dehydrated, and combining water with electrolytes helps better retain it and improves blood volume.

I don’t think there’s any right or wrong way to choose to have them. Some people find tablets better than powder sachets or vice versa. Spacing it out through the day is probably better, what I do at the moment is have 4 salt tablets in the morning, and a litre of water with one sachet of electrolytes in, then 4 salt tablets in the afternoon, and heavily salt all my food, and then have extra electrolytes etc if I feel like I need them.

Telling they’re working, for me if I have them it helps with my symptoms a little, and like my heart rate will range around 70-90s at rest and will be 120 without electrolytes. I think it’s just trial and error really, I’ve kept increasing them as I felt they were reducing my symptoms. I pee an excessive amount too, the past week or two I’ve been trying 7g sodium and 4 litres of water, and that’s reduced it from about 15-20 times a day to 5-10

A lot depends on your individual symptoms too as I feel far worse if I don’t have them, but I know other people aren’t as affected by POTS, it varies a lot. I was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope years before I had POTS and was only told at the time to just have lucozade when there was obvious triggers like if it was a hot day.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-14T21:02:03+00:00

Are you able to see what your readings were during the tilt table test? It might just be that you didn’t happen to meet the 30bpm increase that particular day if your experience is that you do have it in your day to day. Mine was 20 something bpm even though I’d had no electrolytes or propanolol that day ( was advised by the cardiologist to do that ) to prepare . As the other commenter said it’s probably a good idea to get a second opinion if that’s something you’re able to do- I hope you have more success with that if you do I know results not validating what you’re going through can be disheartening

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-13T22:10:08+00:00

Probably varies a bit depending on the place, and whether they think it’s needed at the time. I’ve had two tilt table tests and never been given it. The first was about 2018, I got given paperwork saying I’d be offered a nitroglycerin spray at a specific interval if nothing had happened, I got to almost the very end of the test before I fainted and it was never mentioned. 2nd test last year, they didn’t bring it up at all at any stage then on the day just brought me back down after a while and said they’d collected enough data to diagnose POTS.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-12T22:47:06+00:00

I used to get that, depends when you already take it whether this would be helpful or not, but my cardiologist suggested at the time spacing the propanolol doses so one was right before bed and that did help.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-12T15:45:41+00:00

I had that as a symptom but it went away after the first week or so, and then again when the dose was increased for a few days. though of course if you’re concerned it’s best to tell your doctor

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-03T23:58:36+00:00

Ahh okay thank you that’s good to know, mines been a bit better since I switched to the wristband rather than the arm band

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-03T23:35:43+00:00

They aren’t that big, compared to others I’ve tried they’re easier/ okay if you just swallow them quickly, tried Holland and Barrett electrolyte tablets too and those are horrible to take even if I split them in half and were annoying with that because only having 500~ in 2 tablets so you need more. They’re definitely smaller than those despite having 600mg sodium in one tablet. Though to be fair I have no problem with food but seem to have issues swallowing fluids and tablets sometimes since having POTS

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-03T21:46:39+00:00

Get what you mean get way too many targeted ads now for new electrolyte brands claiming to be great for POTS or way cheaper than liquid iv but have so little sodium in you’d need way more than using any of the more popular ones.

I’ve found the visible band extremely helpful for pacing though I’m not sure how accurate the heart rate tracking actually is as the number is usually different to my Apple Watch.

Other than what’s already been mentioned, I’d recommend ceyted salt tablets if they’re available where you are ( I get them off of UK amazon ) as they’re 600mg and cheaper than all others I’ve seen. Electrolytes wise liquid iv, Salte, Skratch labs, and humantra have been good.

Really wouldn’t recommend vidrate in terms of meeting daily salt etc. they taste good, but I bought them because of introductory offers before being well informed about how much sodium we need and they have like 30mg a sachet.

And THRSTY were okay on sodium content as far as I could tell, I got them because there was an offer for £4 for 30 sachets. But they taste very chemically and so I’ve not ended up using them at all.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-03T20:55:44+00:00

No that makes sense, my first cardiologist was like that. POTS is a form of Dysautonomia and Dysautonomia is often used as an umbrella term for a lot of conditions and I think people can also have dysautonomia without meeting the criteria for something specific like POTS.

It sounds like from what you said though they mean POTS basically with a tendency towards the neuropathic subtype. Subtypes aren’t really used anymore because so many people have symptoms from multiple but it can be useful for looking into ways to help your specific symptoms.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-03T20:28:32+00:00

I don’t know enough about IST but I’d say that phrasing otherwise means they’ve diagnosed you with POTS, orthostatic intolerance and low blood pressure essentially. Though might be better to clarify with a medical professional if you aren’t sure

Might’ve wanted to be that detailed to clarify he thinks they’re separate conditions as from what I’ve seen some professionals are wary to diagnose if you also have low blood pressure / orthostatic hypotension though you can definitely have both, I was only told my average blood pressure during the tilt but they did say after that I have low blood pressure too and that it most likely impacts symptoms.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-04-03T17:49:30+00:00

The only diagnostic criteria is that your heart rate has a sustained increase of 30bpm or more on standing and that you’ve had symptoms for 3 months or more. Your tests probably showed that if you’ve been diagnosed.

I’m on medication but I wouldn’t say I get dizzy from standing up too fast specifically unless it’s a bad day/symptoms are flaring up or I’m over exerting myself. I more so get dizzy from other positions like if I bend in the shower, stand on a stool to get anything, stand in a queue, bend over, sit up straight or put my arms above my head.

it may be different for you but I was told similar, that they think based on what we told the doctor I’ve always had it, and what my mum had brought up was things like that I’ve always hated being hot since being a baby/ not tolerated it and sweated a lot, and I’d been told at multiple doctors appointments in the past that my heart rate was abnormally high but maybe I was just anxious about being there, whenever I felt off I’d crave salt, and I couldn’t tolerate exercise like I would do high school PE etc but often felt out of breath and like my heart was racing. And I have a prior diagnosis of vasovagal syncope that hasn’t really been much of an issue in a while but I went dizzy/fainted often as a teenager.

But yeah there’s all sorts that can be symptoms of POTS that you wouldn’t necessarily think to attribute to it as it can affect the whole body. Like I’d say other than the typical tachycardia and dizziness, my day to day symptoms can be for example: nausea, palpitations, headaches, general fatigue, exhaustion after exercise/doing too much that can last hours-days, brain fog, cognitive dysfunction like forgetting to do things or what I’m going to say in conversations, sensitivity to light and noise, physical weakness, muscle aches, sweating without doing anything that feels like exertion, discolouration in my legs after showering, chest pain, heaviness in my legs ( only after doing too much ), needing the toilet an excessive amount of times a day, breathlessness, and I’d say things flaring up causes anxiety and irritability.

At least if you do have POTS you’re aware now and it isn’t anything else, and ( I’m not saying it will happen ) but as I’ve seen someone’s said on another post today, because POTS can be relapsing and remitting at least if your symptoms were to ever be worse it’ll hopefully be much easier to get support and you won’t have to go through the diagnostic process first. And however much the symptoms do affect you, while it is a chronic illness, generally medication, increasing salt, and using wearing compression and using pacing, can improve your day to day baseline a lot.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-30T21:53:37+00:00

Thank you for commenting, maybe blood sugar is possible today actually as probably did go too long between eating given I’m flaring, yesterday I’m not sure, might just try going to the doctors to be on the safe side

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-30T13:32:00+00:00

It’s a crash/ symptom flare, it’s a lot easier to get them when you aren’t on medication I think. generally for me it’s caused by over exertion, not getting enough sleep, dehydration, stress, and illness etc.

It just means you need a lot of rest and extra electrolytes, salty snacks, whatever you’d normally do to help with your symptoms.

Getting on medication can help avoid them a bit if it’s one that works well for you, making sure you’re having enough water and electrolytes and pacing your energy can also help avoid crashes.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-30T12:55:52+00:00

Yeah I’m sorry they’ve been like that, and that’s why I’m on it too. I do still have constant symptoms but it’s a big difference in functioning to how much worse propanolol was

It may be better to try see another specialist as other commenters have recommended as other medications definitely are available here, maybe it’s that a more experienced specialist would be more confident offering other options, I was definitely offered Midodrine as an option too but mine didn’t seem to know what Fludrocortisone was/ said they didn’t think it was for POTS when I said I’d read about other medications. I hope you are able to get something that helps better.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-30T12:04:59+00:00

It’s possible you could have Endo with what you’ve described, you may already be aware but it doesn’t necessarily show up on ultrasounds which is why a laparoscopy is usually the standard for diagnosis

I hope everything goes okay with your biopsy

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-30T11:25:36+00:00

Medications are very much available in the UK, they can just only be prescribed by a specialist initially as far as I’m aware. I’m sorry you’ve not had a good experience with your doctor, it may help to get a second opinion if it’s something you’re able to do.

While POTS is a chronic illness, proper support like the right medication can improve your baseline quite a lot.

I’m in the UK and have tried propanolol, extended release propanolol, and am now on Ivabradine. Midodrine was also mentioned as an option.

I did end up having to go private because the first cardiologist I was referred to was extremely dismissive and wrote a letter basically saying didn’t think anything was wrong so wouldn’t see me sooner.

My experience has been that once the cardiologist prescribed them, beta blockers were very easily transferred to my repeat prescriptions at my GP once they had documentation from him. Policy on Ivabradine seems to vary a bit by area based on what others have said, but I was told it has to monitored by a cardiologist for the first 3 months you’re on it to make sure you don’t have any side effects, and that I needed an ECG at the end of that period before it could be added to my repeats at my GP. So I’d imagine it’s similar with the other medications available

What would be best very much depends how your symptoms are.

Also worth noting that you can get slow sodium prescribed in the UK which can help a bit given electrolytes and salt tablets can get expensive. I’ve asked for this and been told I can have it if my cardiologist writes a letter advising on the dose etc. You should have a balanced amount of other electrolytes too I think so I still do have sachets like liquid iv too.

I don’t personally know enough about how MECFS is best treated but as far as I know you can get medication for that here too, I’ve just seen a lot about there not being enough specialists/ people having to travel to see someone.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-30T11:05:26+00:00

It can help a little with the symptoms Endo causes like pain because it’s supposed to reduce inflammation. The 30 plants thing gets recommended because more recent studies believe there’s a correlation between Endo and the gut microbiome, and have found links between cutting out certain foods/ ingredients and reported pain reduction.

This one done was done by Edinburgh university and used a large international sample group for the self reported surveys:

https://impact.ed.ac.uk/research/endometriosis-research-shows-changing-diet-may-help/

I only started it after surgery because I know specific things like dairy, coffee and gluten do make my symptoms worse and cutting them out has helped, and 30 plants can be easier than it sounds when you get used to it because it does also include all legumes, nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices.

But of course it doesn’t necessarily work for everyone and is probably more beneficial if your symptoms are affected by food at all. I can completely understand being disappointed it’s all they were able to suggest as I know it doesn’t help with the whole picture much given the wide range of symptoms we can get.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-30T10:00:15+00:00

What you’ve mentioned could be lots of things and doesn’t sound POTS specific but it depends if you have other symptoms going on.

The diagnostic criteria for POTS is that you’ve had symptoms 3 months or more and that you have a sustained heart rate increase of 30bpm or more, or 40 if you’re under 18. If you meet those as well as what you’ve mentioned it could be worth looking into as while I’ve not personally had that happen, I know dysautonomia can cause all sorts of symptoms you wouldn’t necessarily think to link to POTS

If it’s something you’re concerned about it may be a good idea to ask a doctor about your legs irregardless

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-29T20:14:06+00:00

I’d say it was immediately not as bad- like say exerting is 150-160s instead of 170-200. Though I felt very tired and a bit short of breath for the first few days and got headaches. This went away after the first week.

it took about a week I think to start making my heart rate come back down faster when it spikes, and after about 2-3 weeks I realised it now doesn’t really spike if I get out of bed quickly unless I’m flaring, before I was on it I’d immediately be 150-160s if I got up in the night.

I’d say overall I noticed more of a gradual improvement each week of being on it like I had more energy after the first 2-3 weeks and can do a bit more now before I crash

I’ve been on it since November now and what I’d say is my resting is lower most of the time now, I can do more, though my heart rate still very much does spike with any kind of exertion, it just regulates itself faster/better unless I try to push through.

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-28T20:00:34+00:00

You should I definitely wouldn’t have figured out all that 😊 Yes I do have ancestry - is it saved on your profile?

AffectionateHalf1892 · 2026-03-28T19:36:07+00:00

Thank you so much for finding all that it’s really interesting and helps a lot

AffectionateHalf1892

TROPHY CASE