Amanda Tritschler

Amanda Tritschler
Amandamicheletritschler@gmail.com

Bio: My name is Amanda Michele Tritschler, and my health journey began at 13 years old. I had no idea it would be such a long one, but you never know those things in life until you are looking back thinking about how long ago it all way. It began with me passing out, I went to a cardiologist and he said it was from my low blood pressure- his exact word were "eat more salt; maybe some French fries and drink something to hold on that salt so drink more Gatorade or soda" as I left the office he said "eat some French fries and drink some soda", music to a child's ears. In spite of this glorious advice I continued to pass out, I went to other cardiologist(pediatric) which maybe it's just where I live, but it is slim pickings to find a good pediatric cardiologist. They ran many many tests and all said I had pots- postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome- a long name for when I stand up my blood does stay in my head and instead rushes to my ankles causing me to pass out. My disorder did not discriminate on location or time, passing out in the morning or at night at school or at home, resulting in 2 concussions. As it progressed and I got older, other symptoms began to arise, I would have really my chest pain, my heart would feel like it was beating out of my chest, I could breath or catch my breath for the life of me, and I was constantly tired and fatigued, and I would pass out even if I was lay down. So After awhile I got tired of listening to peopletell me I had something that I didn't believe I did, I felt like they ignored all my other symptoms and maybe even thought I was just "seeking attention". So my amazing doctor/ nurse practitioner ran blood test for everything she could possibly thing of, all negative. Our last option was to refer me to and electro cardiologist, because ever other one I went to would say I have sinus tachycardia and Pots. The first one I went to, I left the office crying- he completely blew me off and said I don't deal with patients with pots, and I don't know why you were referred to me- we could try to do some tests but I don't think we will find anything, I left his office crying and feeling like I was all out of options and either I'm literally insane or everyone is missing something. My mom did some digging and found a good cardiologist for adults, because I had finally turned old enough to see a big kid doctor) he ran EVERY TEST IN THE BOOK, he found I had a whole in my heart(essentially harmless) that my heart rate is exponentially high and could get up to 185-200 at resting, he then refered me to an electro cardiologist who didn't believe I had pots and was one of the sweetest doctors I have ever encountered in my life(and I have met ALOT) he decided to go in through my leg arterie and up to my heart and ablate the murmur tissue, which he believed was masquerading as sinus tachycardia, and after 2 surgeries he ablated the murmurs and for that I have WPWS with four extra pathways in my heart. I tell this long story to say that the doctors and nursing make a night and day difference, my nurse practitioner inspired me to study nursing and to become a medical professional in order to help those who are where I once stood(or in my case passed out on the floor) that was a dark joke- I'm sorry😂 One trip to the first electro cardiologists office and I was in tears contemplating everything I thought I know about the health industry. I'm currently studying at TWU for nursing, and my goal and aspiration is to one day be the person who inspires someone to make a difference in a dark world, or even just brighten up someone's day. And if all of health issues was leading to that point where I encourage someone going through the same thing I went through and they know I speak from experience and that it gets better, then this roller coaster ride called my WPWS, was truthfully all worth it.

Purpose: I have the desire to volunteer at the SADS foundation to enlighten others of the difficities and triumph with living with such a disorder, to encourage those who have one, that it will get better and that it may be a long long tunnel but I promise there is light at the end of it, and educate not just the public but also medical professionals about cases like mine (rare) but not nonexistent. As someone who was sent from Doctor to doctor with the same answer; low blood pressure eat more salt, you have pots- I don't deal with your cases, let's try a different medicine, not every case is the same and I may be the 1 in a million case but if I had one doctor alittle earlier go the extra mile with testing and monitoring, I would have been diagnosed ALOT sooner. That would have meant WAY less doctors visits, hospital trips, concussions from passing out, and a lot less pain and heartache.

Volunteer Type: Support Groups|Phone and email support|Awareness Presentations|Educating medical professionals|Advocacy in Politics|Fundraising Events|Youth Support (for Ambassadors 25 and under)|SADS Safe Schools volunteer|Contacting Media About SADS|Writing articles

Diagnosis: WPWS with 4 pathways and a heart arrhythmia

Language: English

Years with SADS: 1990