Doctors Stumped by Child's Illness, But Mom Successfully Diagnosed Her

Doctors couldn't figure out why 15-year old Hayley Lairmore had agonizing stomach aches. So her mother went online, did some research, and hypothesized that her daughter had a heard ailment called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS):

Doctors and top specialists in the Los Angeles area were unable to find a cause for the girl’s pain, and one recommended that she see a psychiatrist. A gastroenterologist prescribed such strong laxatives that Hayley had to wear a toddler pullup during the half-hour drive from the family’s home in Arrowhead Lake, Calif., to the doctor.

Seven months after Hayley’s symptoms started, the doctors admitted they didn’t know what was wrong. But Christine Lairmore spent hours online trying to find information that would help her child, although she says she is not computer-savvy. One night, she came across a chat room in which a teen girl was discussing a condition called POTS. And after more links, more clicks and a YouTube video of a girl talking about all-too-familiar-sounding symptoms, Lairmore ultimately got hooked up with the Mayo Clinic.

Now that she's getting the correct treatment, Hayley is on the mend and regaining weight.

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