A happy ending after surgeries, stenting, & a renal auto-transplant - with Simone Erdner, PhD

A happy ending after surgeries, stenting, & a renal auto-transplant - with Simone Erdner, PhD

Author: Standing Up to POTS, Inc. May 26, 2026 Duration: 1:00:25
Simone was a professor of sport psychology enjoying a trip through Mexico when symptoms became too serious to ignore.  POTS was just one of many symptoms (many were gynecological) and she ultimately learned she had multiple compression syndromes including May Thurner Syndrome, for which she received a stent, and Nutrcracker Syndrome, for which she underwent a renal autotransplant surgery to move her kidney.  After 7 surgeries in 2 years, Simone feels she got her life back, and has created The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast to share her experiences, advice, lessons learned, and much more. Simone's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/doc_serdner/ and an Instagram page for her Nutcracker Syndrome podcast: https://www.instagram.com/nutcrackersyndrome.podcast/. If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs  https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org! Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/ Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.  

Navigating life with a complex, often misunderstood condition like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome can feel isolating. The POTScast, brought to you by the team at Standing Up to POTS, Inc., exists to change that. Every week, this podcast creates a dedicated space for learning and connection, delving into POTS, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and the broader landscape of chronic invisible illness. Rather than just clinical explanations, you’ll hear conversations focused on practical, real-world strategies for managing daily life. The discussions are built on a foundation of empowering patients with actionable information, from fitness adaptations and business accommodations to deeper medical insights and self-improvement techniques. Each month features interviews with leading specialists and advocates, offering clarity and hope. At its heart, this is about nurturing a supportive community, raising awareness, and affirming that if you are living with these conditions, you are not alone. Tune in for a blend of education, solidarity, and tangible skills aimed at helping you live better.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The POTScast
Podcast Episodes
Elizabeth on her comeback and book: The Toll it Took [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:41
Elizabeth was a teen athlete when she first became bed bound with POTS and several other conditions including narcolepsy, epilepsy and gastroparesis. After 5 years of struggling to be heard or helped, and wondering if th…
Excessive sleep, fatigue and insomnia in POTS WITH Dr. Kirti Sivakoti [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:52
Pediatric dysautonomia expert Dr. Kirti Sivakoti, MD, is a pediatrician specializing in complex chronic illness, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at University of Utah, and Associate Medical Director of the Pain and Aut…
Julie on the lengths she had to go to for recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:05
Julie's recovery from POTS and other serious conditions involved an epic tale of sheer determination, next-level advocacy, some unconventional treatments (which we are not endorsing: talk to YOUR doctor about what is rig…
Dr. Dempsey’s cutting edge treatments (part 2) - Mast Cell Matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:24
Dr. Dempsey is always looking for new therapies that may help her complex patients. In this episode Dr. Dempsey discusses how she incorporates treatments with Methylene Blue, peptides, and the Nanovi breathing device. Fo…
Maggie on being both patient and Mental Health Therapist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:36
Maggie was 14 when she started passing out regularly, and she still does occasionally, but that didn't stop her from getting back to school, completing graduate work and becoming a Mental Health Therapist. Maggie shares…
Dr. Casey Kelley on Mast Cell Matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:09
Dr. Casey Kelley is Board Certified in family and integrative medicine, teaches on the faculty of the Northwestern Medical School, and her care is informed by her own past experience having complex chronic invisible illn…
Sophie on life after severe COVID [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:40
Surviving severe COVID was just beginning of Sophie's health adventure. She discusses her unexpected COVID-related medical challenges, new job and living situation, the stenting procedure that helped (but not as much as…
Attorney Nancy Cavey on disability benefits for POTS/dysautonomia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:22
Attorney Nancy Cavey has spent 39 years representing people with disabilities all over the U.S., and is an expert in helping people qualify based on POTS, MCAS, hEDS and other invisible illness. In this episode she descr…
Singer-songwriter Nellie Clay on “the hangover without the party” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:56
Western folk singer-songwriter Nellie has recorded multiple albums and EPs, toured nationally from Alaska to Nashville, appeared on PBS’s Songs at the Center, opened for Grammy-nominated artists, and become a beloved reg…