If you’ve been living with symptoms like unexplained fatigue, dizziness when standing, nausea, or a racing heartbeat — and no one seems to believe you — you’re not alone. These are just some of the hallmarks of dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that often goes misdiagnosed, dismissed, or entirely overlooked.
For many patients, especially those searching for dysautonomia care in places like Maryland and beyond, the path to answers can feel frustrating and fragmented. Clinics rush appointments. Specialists don’t understand the full complexity of dysautonomia. And too many people are told, “It’s all in your head.”
At the clinic led by Dr. Sarah Diekman, that cycle stops.
What Is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions involving dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) — the system that controls unconscious body processes like blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and temperature regulation.
Some of the more common forms include:
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Neurocardiogenic Syncope
- Autonomic Neuropathy
- Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
Patients may experience:
- Difficulty standing (orthostatic intolerance)
- Fatigue that feels like a wall
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
- Nausea, bloating, or GI distress
- Palpitations or rapid heart rate
- Shortness of breath, often described as a sensation of not getting enough air
- Insomnia and poor sleep quality
These symptoms can be disabling, but because the person often looks fine, they’re frequently dismissed. That’s where the right care makes all the difference.
Why Most Dysautonomia Patients Struggle to Get Diagnosed
Dysautonomia is often considered an “invisible illness.” Patients may go through dozens of appointments and years of suffering before receiving a proper diagnosis.
Why?
- The symptoms mimic many other conditions.
- Many providers aren’t trained to recognize autonomic dysfunction.
- Standard testing doesn’t always catch the problem.
- Patients, especially women, are frequently told their symptoms are anxiety-related.
What’s missing from the process is listening. Deep, patient-first listening — the kind you’ll find with Dr. Sarah Diekman.
Meet Dr. Sarah Diekman: A Physician Who Truly Understands
Dr. Sarah Diekman, MD, JD, MS, MPH, FCLM, isn’t just a physician — she’s also a dysautonomia patient herself. Her story resonates with countless others.
As a medical student, Dr. Sarah Diekman began experiencing the debilitating symptoms of POTS. She was denied time off to seek care. When she did see doctors, she got no answers — only bills. In her own words:
“Even though I was fully insured, my medical bills became so overwhelming that I couldn’t afford to keep up.”
This experience helped her understand what so many patients face — being medically complex, financially burdened, and completely unheard.
Dr. Sarah Diekman took matters into her own hands, visited a medical library, and discovered the diagnosis that fit: POTS.
Her journey from patient to physician wasn’t easy, but it gave her something few specialists have — a firsthand understanding of what dysautonomia really feels like.
She founded her clinic with one clear mission:
To provide the kind of care she never received.
What Makes Care at Diekman Dysautonomia Different?
A Listening-First Approach
At the clinic led by Dr. Sarah Diekman, you won’t be rushed through your visit. Your symptoms will be taken seriously, your history will be heard in full, and your concerns will be validated.
Listening isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Rooted in Occupational & Environmental Medicine
The care model is informed by Dr. Sarah Diekman’s background in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. That means the clinic doesn’t just treat symptoms — it considers your job, your home, your routines, and your physical environment as part of your overall care plan.
Function-Oriented Treatment Plans
Rather than focusing just on numbers or test results, care is built around one central question:
What do you want to be able to do again?
Whether it’s returning to work, enjoying social events, or just getting out of bed without crashing, Dr. Sarah Diekman builds treatment plans around real-life function.
Telemedicine Options
Patients across Maryland and beyond can receive expert care remotely. With telemedicine, you don’t need to travel while you’re symptomatic or exhausted. You can begin your journey to better health from the comfort of your home.
What Treatments Are Offered?
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for dysautonomia. At the clinic led by Dr. Sarah Diekman, treatment may include:
- Lifestyle & Environmental Modifications
Adjusting your daily environment to reduce symptom flares. - Medication Management
Depending on your type of dysautonomia, medications may target blood pressure, heart rate, volume expansion, mast cell activation, or GI motility. - Hydration & Salt Strategies
Managing volume status is key for many with POTS and related disorders. - Compression Garments & Physical Conditioning
Patients may be guided on how to gradually rebuild stamina using compression wear and reclined exercise strategies. - MCAS & Co-Condition Management
Many patients have overlapping conditions like mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), or autoimmune disorders. These are taken into account in your care. - Ongoing Education & Reassessment
Treatment isn’t static. As science evolves and your condition changes, your care will adapt with it.
Where Is Care Located?
Clinic Location:
5000 Thayer Center, Oakland, MD
Hours: Monday – Friday | 9am – 6pm
Phone: 833-768-7633
Email: DysautonomiaInquiry@yahoo.com
Telemedicine appointments are available across Maryland and beyond. You’ll receive the same attentive, thorough care no matter where you live.
What Patients Are Saying
“Dr. Sarah Diekman didn’t just treat my symptoms — she listened to my story. For the first time, I felt like someone actually believed me.”
– Patient at Diekman Dysautonomia
“Knowing that my doctor has been through POTS herself changed everything. She understood what I was trying to say before I even found the words.”
– Long COVID patient
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’re searching for real answers, compassionate care, and a treatment plan built around your life — not just your labs — it’s time to meet with Dr. Sarah Diekman.
Dysautonomia doesn’t have to control your story.
You can live again. Function again. Be heard.
Call 833-768-7633 or book your appointment today.
