I have had symptoms of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) my whole life. It took an frustrating and exhausting journey through four different emergency rooms in just five days before I was finally admitted to a hospital, where I was placed on continuous IV fluids and oxygen for several days. Only then, at the age of 34, was I diagnosed with POTS. Upon being discharged on August 10, 2025, I was told by my attending physician to follow-up with tilt table testing “ASAP.” Unfortunately, "ASAP" translated to December 1, 2025, because tilt table testing is not widely available. This delay in diagnosis not only affected me but has also been an a frustrating theme of my children's lives. My 12-year-old was hospitalized at age 10 for a week and still went undiagnosed until after my own diagnosis.  They discharged her without figuring out what was wrong while she cried out in pain being wheeled out in a wheelchair, as she was struggling with sitting upright and subsequently vomited from dizziness and light headedness in the car on yhe way home.  Three of my 4 children now have diagnoses now that I do.

POTS, along with other forms of dysautonomias, affects millions of people worldwide, leading to severe health implications if left untreated. According to Dysautonomia International, an estimated 1-3 million in the US suffer from POTS, but many remain misdiagnosed or undiagnosed because the necessary diagnostic tools are not readily available in hospitals. One of the most effective methods for diagnosing dysautonomias is through tilt table testing, an essential tool that unfortunately remains underutilized and unavailable in many healthcare facilities.

The lack of standard availability of tilt table testing in hospitals is a problem that needs urgent attention. Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of conditions like POTS can result in inappropriate treatments and prolonged suffering. It's not only a matter of public health concern but also a question of medical ethics — all patients deserve access to proper diagnostic tools to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis.

We propose that all hospitals adopt tilt table testing as a standard diagnostic tool for dysautonomias. This includes training medical staff in the appropriate use of the test and ensuring sufficient equipment is available. By making tilt table testing a standard practice, hospitals can significantly reduce the time to obtain a correct diagnosis, thus enabling patients to receive the timely and effective treatment they need.

Let's put an end to the unnecessary suffering caused by delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of dysautonomias. Sign this petition to advocate for the implementation of tilt table testing as a standard procedure in all hospitals and help millions get the timely diagnosis and treatment they deserve.  Something I wish my children and I had.  Let's do better for the future!