I am a
cardiologist who is trying to help patients, like you, with the multitude of conditions the Dysautonomia Syndrome a.k.a. 'The Invisible Disease' encompasses, including Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome,
Fibromyalgia, Adrenal Insufficiency, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).
These syndromes seem to be connected to Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome, Tachycardia, Medication and Substance Sensitivity, Lyme disease, Thyroid & Endocrine Organ Dysfunction, Interstitial cystitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, etc.
Over the course of the past twenty-five years, I have come across many patients with some of the above syndromes and conditions, many who have seen multiple specialists, only to finally end up being told that the testing was normal so that they needed to see a psychiatrist.
The lack of research into these syndromes has resulted in lack of knowledge about the best approaches and treatments amongst the medical community, leading physicians to believe that the patient’s symptoms are somehow made up and not real, hence the psychiatry referral.
It behooves the medical community to support a petition by my patient to to gain more funding for research to alleviate our patients’ suffering and allow them to regain their lives and functionality.
Here's the link:
https://www.change.org/p/increase-research-funding-for-me-cfs
Some useful information I provide my patients is given below:
1. Read Dr. Roland Hoffman's MVP-dysautonomia booklet: buy or download from
www.Amazon.com & see
www.dysautonomiainternational.com,www.dinet.org &
www.facebook.com re STOPPOTS- Southern Connection (use Dr. Patel as a reference).
2. Take Cardiamins with food twice daily (may chill or freeze if any after-taste), use discount code CMC to order from 1-888-769-4584 or
www.cardiamin.com . Avoid multi-vitamins and high dose
vitamins unless deficiency is present.
3. Take Slow-release Magnesium twice daily.
4. Take Unicity Low Oz 1 to 2 packets daily to hydrate the body more effectively than ‘sports drinks’ (enroll at
www.unicityhealth.com using discount code # 105579801.
5. Use Unicity Calmplex 1 to 2 tablets as needed for
anxiety or
insomnia (enroll at
www.unicityhealth.com using discount code # 105579801.
6. For weakness or
dizziness, use below knee graduated pressure support hose (15-20 mm Hg, adjust pressure to tolerance & use to thighs or waist if needed to keep BP up. Get from medical supply store,
www.discountsurgical.com or
www.procompression.com.
7. Use minimal doses of
medications and adjust dose gradually when starting, adjusting or stopping treatments.
8. Try preservative free foods (e.g. Kosher foods) and avoiding gluten. Avoid stimulants e.g. caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, chocolate, MSG (mono sodium glutamate in Asian foods).
9. Start a program of gently increasing activity e.g. walking, decrease portion sized and follow the DASH diet – available on the web, to lose weight and feel better. Increase salt & fluid intake if BP low.
10. Download the free HealthTap App for free medical information from the App Store or Google Play or go to
http://www.healthtap.com/dr-patel and request Dr. Umesh Patel as one of your team physicians.
Above all, remember you may have a common condition, which is not discussed well in medical school syllabuses, hence leading to patients seeing multiple specialists without getting a satisfying explanation for their seemingly 'unexplainable' symptoms and sensitivities to
medications, foods, light, stress, infection, chemical exposure, etc., so do not get discouraged.
