Tips for Parents of Students with POTS/Tachycardia

I have had tachycardia since I was six years old.  Then, my parents and I didn't know about POTS, and doctors were still trying to understand tachycardia.   I started having full-blown POTS symptoms in May of 2009, when I was 21.  Now, we think I've always had a mild form of POTS, and the symptoms became worse during a time of high stress.

But even so, I had to deal with the tachycardia during my educational career.  It was difficult.  I would miss a week of school at a time whenever I had an "attack."  I think I was absent as much as I was present.  The attacks would give me dizziness, shortness of breath, tremors, and of course, the rapid heart rate and chest pains that come with tachycardia.  It was basically all the symptoms a POTSie has, but after a week, they would be gone.

I was an A student, and a somewhat perfectionist.  A lot of POTSies are the same way.  I hated missing that much school, because it was hard to make up homework and stay caught up with the lessons.  But I managed, with help from my parents.  And I ended up graduating in the top 50, with honors.

A lot of parents who's children have POTS and/or tachycardia are probably feeling the same as my parents and I did back then.  Here are some of the things we did that made my school life a little easier, and less stressful:

Before school ever starts:

• Get a medical alert bracelet or necklace for your child.  Personally, I had a necklace I could wear under my shirt, with tachycardia written on it.
• Print out a complete medical record, including all of your child's current prescriptions and any allergies he or she may have.  Also print out a consent to treat form, and have your child keep them with him or her.  These forms can be found online, and will give anyone helping your child valuable information.
• Buy a rolling backpack.  Walking is hard enough for people with POTS.  Tachycardia is no different.  Kids can have up to 12 different books during a school year.   Trying to walk, and carry them at the same time is hard on POTSies.  A rolling backpack will make it easier on your child.
• See what classes can be substituted for P.E.  No child likes sitting out during P.E. and watching their classmates have fun.  If you can substitute another class instead, it would be better.  In my high school, I substituted band for P.E., and had my doctor write me a note to get out of marching.  I would stand on the sidelines during football games, and still play the music during class and in concert season.
• If at all possible, get an early schedule of your child's classes.
• Schedule a conference with your child's teachers and also with the school nurse.  They are the people who will be responsible for the care of your child eight hours a day.  The more you can tell them, the better prepared they will be for an "attack," if your child has one during school hours.  It will also put less stress on your child, if they don't have to explain what's happening to them during an "attack."

During your conference with their teachers:

• Take your child with you to the conference.  Your child knows his or her body better than you do, and can explain what they feel during an "attack" better than you can.  You, however, can explain things your child may miss.  For example, my parents would explain how I would get pale as a ghost, and how my eyes would dull whenever I was about to have an "attack."  It is better for you and your child to explain what happens together.  Be sure to explain any triggers, such as stress, if your child has them.
•  Make sure the teachers know to stay calm if your child has an "attack."  Your child will already be scared.  If the teacher is freaking out, that will only put more stress on your child and scare him or her more.  And as you probably know, stress only makes POTS symptoms worse.
• Make sure your child's teachers know they are not to walk to the nurses office alone if an "attack" happens.  Your child will most likely be dizzy, and there is a possibility of fainting with POTS.  Make sure they also know your child is not to wait for a nurses pass to be written out.  They need to get to the nurse as quickly as possible, and nurses passes take valuable time.
• If your child is like me, and was absent for days at a time after an "attack," you can call the school and ask for their homework for the week.  My mom would usually call on Wednesdays, and pick up the schoolwork on Friday.  I would then be able to do the work over the weekend.  It will put less stress on your child, because they won't have to worry about getting all of their make-up work, while trying to catch up during class as well.
• If you or your child thinks tardiness will be an issue, you can ask your child's teachers for permission to leave class five minutes early.  That way, they will have more time to get to their lockers and to their next class without being tardy.

During your conference with the nurse:

• Print out information on POTS and take it with you.
• As with the teachers, you and your child explain all of his or her symptoms and triggers.
• Take a list of emergency contact numbers.
• If your child's school, has more than one floor, ask the nurse for an elevator pass.  As you know, stairs and POTS do not mix.
• Make sure the nurse knows what is normal  for your child in terms of heart rate and blood pressure levels, as well as all all of his or her symptoms.
• If certain things make your child's symptoms better or worse during an "attack," make a list and give it to your nurse.
• Give permission to the nurse to call an ambulance if your child thinks he or she needs one.   Talk to the nurse about the procedures you would like followed in that situation.  For example, should the nurse call you first, and then the ambulance, or vice versa?

Other tips to make school easier:

• If your child is having problems getting missed assignments from a teacher, schedule another conference with that teacher and see if you can work it out.  If that doesn't work, and he or she is still having problems with the teacher, talk to the principle of the school.  Your child has a right to make up missed assignments in a timely manner.
• Schedule doctors appointments in the afternoon.  Most schools give full attendance marks if a child is at school until 10AM.
• Don't stop searching for a doctor until you find one both you and your child like.  Having a good doctor will help your child, and can cut down on the number of missed school days.

POTS symptoms are aggravated by stress and anxiety.  So anything you can do to lessen your child's stress level will ultimately help him or her feel better.  And when your child feels better, he or she is more likely to make it through a full school day.