Patient Assessment Tool
Patients
You're not in DYS alone
DYS is real.
The Dysautonomia Project is here for you.
"Before we begin, I will tell you that nothing you say about your symptoms will surprise me.”
Dr. Randy Thompson’s first words to Kelly Freeman (TDP Founder), at her initial appointment at the Center for Autonomic Dysfunction.
No matter where you are on this journey, there’s a path and hope for you.
Undiagnosed
Dysautonomia may be one of the most often overlooked and misdiagnosed conditions of all time, making the goal of getting a correct diagnosis the first battle for the patient and family. If you’re dealing with the frustration of misdiagnoses on top of the pain and life changes brought on by your symptoms, you’re not alone. TDP is here to help you in this battle and guide you through the steps you need to take. It starts by knowing the symptoms of dysautonomia and answering the question: Does this sound like me?
Recently Diagnosed
For some, being diagnosed with an autonomic disorder may bring a certain amount of relief, especially if they’ve been told “dys” was all in their head. Now that you have a name for what you’re experiencing, it’s time to learn everything you can about dysautonomia because education is the number one treatment. The next steps you take are critical. If you’re a recently diagnosed patient, you don’t have to navigate your diagnosis alone and in the dark. Let us walk with you.
Experienced Patients
Living with dysautonomia for any length of time means knowing the ups and downs of trying new treatments and the frustration of managing symptoms that may change from one doctor’s appointment to the next. We know this isn’t easy. If you’ve felt discouraged, you aren’t the first. But there is hope. There are patients who have gone before you. There is research being done. And there are things you can do to make the most of your treatment plan and the life you’re now living even if that life looks different than the one you expected.
Pediatric Patients
There’s nothing scarier than watching your child suffer with multiple unexplained symptoms and not knowing how to help them. As with adult onset dysautonomia, knowing the symptoms of dysautonomia is the place to start. These include the three main signs: Dizziness, symptoms in multiple organ systems (i.e., gastrointestinal, cardiac, neurological, pulmonary), and abnormal orthostatic vitals. Does this sound like your child? If you suspect your child has an autonomic disorder or they’ve already been diagnosed, we can help you navigate this unknown territory.
TDP Autonomic Disorders Assessment.
This free, educational assessment allows undiagnosed patients to screen their symptoms to determine if they have a higher or lower risk for an autonomic disorder and diagnosed patients to track their symptoms. Patients can print a report that summarizes their symptoms and take it to their provider. We encourage individuals to repeat this assessment in the future to identify trends in health by saving a copy of this assessment report, and review the results with your health care provider.
Five Things Patients Need to Know about DYS
