The POTScast

Nobody answers your MCAS questions as rapid-fire as Dr. Dempsey!  She's back to answer listener questions, addressing the topics of anaphylaxis, Epi-Pens, difficult blood draws, itching, what to do when otherwise healthy or important activities cause flares, and so much more. More information about Dr. Tania Dempsey can be found at https://drtaniadempsey.com/ .  If you liked this episode, we hope...

Lexi is a busy mother of 3, a pediatric nurse, and started feeling POTSy while standing in lines at military school.  Now she's a wealth of information and tips for dealing with medical situations. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standingup...

Dr. Kelly McCann is a leading educator on MCAS and related complex disease, with her online seminars and an approach that combines functional, integrative and environmental medicine.  Drs Dempsey and McCann have a far-reaching conversation about MCAS strategies and factors ranging from mindset to muscle testing to genetic predisposition for breaking down fibrinogen blood clots. More information ab...

Laura and Sharon became great friends while they supported one another through dysautonomia and related conditions.  Between Laura's writing experience, Sharon's nursing career, and their joint ability to find the humor in every situation, they decided to help others by writing  The Dysautonomia Diary:  Essays and Tips for Enjoying Life Despite Chronic Illness .  Their book has a foreword by Dr. B...

Dr. Neil Nathan is the leading expert on mold and mycotoxin illness, and in this episode he and Dr. Tania Dempsey discuss how mold can cause chronic illness and how to treat it.  They also discuss Dr. Nathan's new book, The Sensitive Patient's Healing Guide, available here from Amazon .  Dr. Nathan's other books and resources, plus information about working him, can be found at  https://neilnathan...

Brianne Dressen founded React19 to help people struggling with Long COVID and COVID vaccine injuries after being injured herself in a COVID19 vaccine trial, and learning the hard way that there was not a resource for adequate answers, treatment, financial or social support, or representation.  Now she oversees 100 volunteers who have created a provider network, are funding and conducting research,...

Dr. Tania Dempsey shares her passion (and some tips) for bodybuilding, because she has been nominated to be on the cover of Muscle and Fitness Hers magazine!  If she is voted to be on the cover, it will raise awareness of complex conditions like POTS/MCAS/hypermobility spectrum disorder, AND Dr. Dempsey would donate the $20,000 prize to the documentary in progress about the Triad.   You can vote h...

Dr. Julie Hubbard Maamari is a Perioperative Clinical Pharmacy Specialist who helps patients before, during and after surgery by making sure they get the best medications for their needs.  She has helped many complex patients, including those with POTS, MCAS and other hypersensitive or allergic conditions, and she has authored peer-reviewed articles.  Dr. Maamari discusses what patients and their...

In this episode we check in on Maddie from episode 83, and hear how she is doing, including how she regained the ability to walk again! You can read the transcript for this episode here:  https://tinyurl.com/potscast204 If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs ...

 Sometimes we have to laugh so we don't cry.  In this episode, cartoonists and married couple Mike and Jill Brook describe what made them create DoodleThru.com, how it helped them cope, and remark at the endless supply of absurdities that are available to chronic illness humorists. You can see their cartoons at  https://doodlethru.com/ . If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe...

Dr. Theoharides is among the world's top mast cell researchers and speaks with Dr. Dempsey about his recent article reviewing how mast cells may drive dysautonomia and vice verse.  They also cover a range of topics from mast cells' diversity to their role in autism, most effective mast cell stabilizers and much more.  This episode is packed with advanced mast cell information. Dr. Theoharides has...

 In this episode we meet Allie, a student at Purdue University who, since getting POTS, has started introducing herself to one new stranger per day.  How cool is that?! If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us wha...

Dr. Leticia Soares is a research biologist who, before COVID, focused on infectious disease in birds.  Now she serves on the leadership team of  the Patient-Led Research Collective,  conducting and publishing research to help improve treatment for people with Long COVID. Dr. Soares recently published a review article about female reproductive health issues associated with long COVID, ME/CFS, POTS,...

Dr. Dempsey answers questions about MCAS and depression/anxiety/fatigue/brain fog; physical triggers; Kounis Syndrome; whether it's worth it to allow "small" flares in the name of pizza or other small joys; treatments such as stenting for venous compression; how long to try each antihistamine; and much more. More information about Dr. Tania Dempsey can be found at https://drtaniadempsey.com/ .  If...

Arianna was an athlete until POTS and has now developed a large following as a social media influencer.  She's sharing her POTS journey with her audience, too!  You can follow her here on TikTok or   follow her here on Instagram. You can read the transcript for this episode here:  https://tinyurl.com/potscast198 If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an...

 Dr. David Kaufman is renowned for working with the most complex patients and for his podcast on Patreon, Unraveled:  Understanding Medical Complexity . He and Dr. Dempsey discuss the role of MCAS in ME/CFS and other complex disorders and how he starts unraveling these complex clusters of conditions.  You can learn more about Dr. Kaufman and his practice here . You can learn more about Dr. Dempsey...

Jolie was first featured in episode 160, and she's back to talk about how she's doing, how she successfully manages her POTS, and some big news:  She was chosen to be Miss Chattanooga, TN!  In this role she is helping raise awareness of POTS and in the next few days (March, 2024) she'll be competing in the Miss Tennesee Pageant. Thanks to Jolie for using her platform and growing notoriety to help...

Meet Kelley from Maryland, a driven student who loves to read, plays the guitar and has plans to pursue neuroscience so she can study the intersection between the brain, one's mindset and POTS. You can read the transcript for this episode here:  http://tinyurl.com/potscast195 If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donatio...

POTScast listeners took a survey on podcasts and social support. Here are the results - podcasts can help individuals feel less socially isolated and provide them with informational and emotional support. Parasocial relationships between podcast listeners and hosts are also important. You can read the transcript for this episode here:  http://tinyurl.com/potscast194 If you liked this episode, we h...

Learn about the psychological experiences of POTS patients in this episode with Dr. Alissa Sheldon. Understand how to trust your symptoms and navigate through life despite challenges. You can read the transcript for this episode here:  http://tinyurl.com/potscast193 If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are acc...

Erin is working on her Master's degree in English, and loves to write. She's written stories about her journey with both lupus and POTS, which started in her late teens and early 20s, but her first love is fiction. You can find her stories at https://vocal.media/fiction/waiting-room-lv3wu40jdv and https://www.artwifemag.com/short-stories/chinchilly If you liked this episode, we hope you will click...

Dr. Dempsey interviews pediatric cardiologist Dr. Jeffrey Boris about the Triad (MCAS, POTS and hypermobility syndromes) in his pediatric population.  As an avid researcher and data analyst, Dr. Boris is always a wealth of knowledge on latest findings and yet-unpublished trends and hypotheses.  The doctors also exchange interesting observations about MCAS and cholesterol, PCOS, and much more. You...

Attention POTS patients and those who care about them: Ever wondered what exactly is happening in your body when you experience common POTS symptoms like fainting, nausea, dizziness or brain fog? Tune in to this episode with Dr. Cathy Pederson to unpack the potential causes of these symptoms. You can read the transcript for this episode here:  http://tinyurl.com/potscast190 If you liked this episo...

This is a conversation between Jill Brook and Megan Barnett discussing the relationship between nutrition, gut health, and complex health conditions like POTS and mast cell disorders. They delve into topics like food sensitivities, the importance of micronutrients, and the role of functional medicine in managing these conditions.  Megan's website is: https://bioloungepdx.com You can read the trans...

Erica really can't remember life without POTS symptoms and anxiety was blamed for many years. She currently attends school and lives bicoastally as she pursues a career as an actress and dancer. Her diagnosis brought relief, and learning how to control her symptoms have helped her follow her dreams. You can read the transcript for this episode here:  http://tinyurl.com/potscast188 If you liked thi...