erikainorlando Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 As I lay here feeling like I have had the rug pulled out from under me...and i have been resting for hours...I ask why am I so weak? I feel like I have been hit by a bus....am walking thru concrete...can't lift a plate... I hear others complain of fatigue but I don't feel like I need to sleep...I am just very weak...As usual...after a good nights sleep I will be better...then I will as much as I can then after a few hours it will feel like someone pulled the plug....sometimes I shake when I try to do things after I get to this point...Thanks..Erika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futurehope Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 Oh boy I really despise feeling that way. For me, my pulse pressure (the difference between my two blood pressure readings) is too narrow. Narrow to me is 30 point or less. That has been my normal and it makes me feel DEAD and unable to move.If you learn how to combat this, let me know. Also, maybe you are low on potassium or some electrolyte. That can make you weak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janiedelite Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 For me, anything that increases pooling makes me feel weaker. Yes, I've described it as walking through molasses before (although it feels like concrete too!). I'm tired but I never nap. In fact, when this fatigue is worse I find it much more difficult to sleep soundly at all. My arms and legs feel like they have weights on them. We've been having record high temps which has really made me more fatigued as heat makes you vasodilate. For the past 2 weeks, I've been battling a case of athlete's foot so I haven't worn my compression hose for the first time since 11/08. It's wierd, but since not wearing the hose I've been progressively feeling worse (that heavy, can't think-feeling). I get an immediate rush of heavy fatigue as soon as I remove my hose each day, but I didn't realize how much they were helping my symptoms on a long-term basis too. Yes, this fatigue is often reflected in my BP, pulse pressure, and heartrate. Makes sense. The only things I know how to do is the usual (salt, liquids, compression, cooling vest, etc) and being really diligent. I've also found that egg drop soup seems to help when I'm really dragging. Must be the high sodium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyblu Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 Oh boy I really despise feeling that way. For me, my pulse pressure (the difference between my two blood pressure readings) is too narrow. Narrow to me is 30 point or less. That has been my normal and it makes me feel DEAD and unable to move.If you learn how to combat this, let me know. Also, maybe you are low on potassium or some electrolyte. That can make you weak.The narow pulse pressure feels awful. Loading up on fluids can help with it but it's only a temporary fix.That's one reason for feeling weak. Not sure what others are but I sure feel that way a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsgirl Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 I can completely relate to this, all too often! I feel so weak and fatigued, yet can't take a nap or sleep well at night. Almost every day after lunch I lie down and read for half an hour, then turn out the light and try to at least rest, but almost never sleep. My arms and legs feel so heavy, it is like walking through water or having weights dragging them down. It's usually worse when my BP is really low. I get the same kind of BP readings you do, Erika, when I'm standing I'll have a BP around 75/62, and even when resting in a supine position I'll only have about 20 points between my systolic and diastolic readings. My HR is sure quick to more than double, though!I'd love to know how to combat the overly fatigued feelings, though, so if anyone has an idea other than tons of salt, water, and electrolytes, I'd love to hear it!Cheers,j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandymbme Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 I have soooooo often described pots as feeling like you are trying to do everything under water! (Or the world's worst, never-ending hangover!) My fatigue got to the point where I was put on adderall to try to give me some functioning hours back, which worked for a while, but eventually the fatigue came bleeding through it. So my PCP took me off the adderall because she said we were flogging a dead horse. That until we could figure out a way to combat the root cause of my fatigue and extreme weakness, (I have lost almost 80% of my body strength in the last 6 months) I should save the adderall for only times where it was vital for me to be alert. Like the long drives to see specialists. So no solutions here either, but tons of empathy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxine Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 You have my full understanding and support!It's like walking through sand in the desert, or climbing a mountain.It does feel like a switch going off. On good days I try to take advantage of feeling SORT OF normal, then I'll be going along and get smoked----just like that! It happends so quickly, I you would think I would get used to it, but each time it takes me off guard.I also understand that feeling of being so weak and everything being drained out of you that you DO shake if you continue to push it.The only time I go rid of that feel for a length of time was after my cervical spine surgery, and steroids were used during and after surgery due to a kidney beaned shape in my spinal cord from the compression of herniated discs. I suppose they were worried about spinal cord injury or insult from the surgery.I was given high doses, and during the rest of the summer and early fall I had more energy, and I could even tolerate the heat better. the heat still go to me, but it took longer.Maxine :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddm1960 Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 I've stopped using the word fatigue, this isn't fatigue. When you're fatigued you can sit for a minute and get back up going. This is bone crushing exhuastion, and like everyone has said when it's at it's worst you can't sleep or even lay down and relax. No one has been able to tell me why it's like this, but I hate the looks I get from doctors when I say fatigue. It helps now to have a POTS dx, but not much since most of the doctors I see don't really know what it is. It does feel better to know I share this with many of you out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Personally I think it is a problem with gravity. I am not sure why it doesn't effect those around me, but it definitely is too heavy where ever I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janiedelite Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Personally I think it is a problem with gravity. I am not sure why it doesn't effect those around me, but it definitely is too heavy where ever I am.Jan, I love it!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Personally I think it is a problem with gravity. I am not sure why it doesn't effect those around me, but it definitely is too heavy where ever I am.Yes...me too. I have vortexes all over my house that randomly pull me in and drop me to the floor....... They only seem to grab me though..... very mysterious...... 8 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 I dont think they know enough about POTS to explain it and it could also be dependent on your type of presentation. I would say that sense most POTS patients have reduced blood flow to the brain usually around 30-60% this wouldnt make for an overly energetic setting for life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 I too hope more can be pinned down as to specific causes. Subjectively, I don't sense that the hypoperfusions are "causing" bouts of prolonged weakness and malaise... there's some common factor or confluence of things, but it's not a simple direct relationship for sure!Looks like some new stuff like "Substance P" is getting some scrutiny... that would be the name of my punk band (if I had one)... it's a neurotransmitter specifically for pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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