QE staff member finds out more about little-known illness
Zara Roberts, aged 24 from Ludlow, suffers with persistent fatigue. In 2005 she was diagnosed with ME (otherwise known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). However, it was not until 2008 that the actual cause of her symptoms was established; Zara was diagnosed with the little-known condition Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). PoTS can be a difficult condition to diagnose due to patients suffering from varying symptoms. The symptom that is most common to PoTS sufferers is a rapid heartbeat brought on by simply standing. Zara suffers from this most common symptom, as well as low blood pressure, fatigue, migraine, muscle aches, dizziness and nausea.
There is no cure for PoTS; due to this, Zara’s focus is upon finding a way to assist in managing her symptoms as effectively as possible. She attends the Cardiology Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital every three to four months, where she is seen by Cardiology Nurse Consultant, Dr. Kate Gee.
PoTS is a condition that is often misunderstood. QEHB Charity was, therefore, delighted to help when approached by Kate in her aims to find out more about how to manage patients with PoTS and other disabling conditions that cause people to briefly lose consciousness (known as syncope). In January 2016, Kate commenced a Diploma in Syncope and Related Disorders organised by the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, her place funded by the Charity.
The Syncope Diploma is the only one of its kind in Europe, and is taught by leading researchers and clinicians. By supporting Kate, QEHB Charity has enabled her to work with international experts, gaining insight into the leading-edge developments in this area of care. Kate intends to put her new knowledge to good use through raising awareness about PoTS and syncope; Kate will be able to impart the knowledge she has gained to clinicians and patients in regard to recognising and managing this challenging condition.
For Zara, the very prospect of increasing awareness about PoTS is nothing but positive. “So few people know how to deal with PoTS, so it will be fantastic for this work to be carried out. Kate has always been great whenever I am at the QE; she has given me a low-level of ‘normality’ in a life in which I thought I would have none due to the PoTS.”
