mvdula Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I hope this makes sense to someone out there. I think I have learned to compensate for this without even thinking about it. Often once I have done something strenuous (like coming upstairs to the 2nd floor - yes, this is strenuous for POTsies!....or come up from basement and continued up to 2nd floor), I can't just stop moving. I will feel bad, get symptomatic. I need to keep moving, but at a much slower pace. I feel like I have a manual transmission, which does not know how to change gears, so I have to do the slow-down gear - walk around a bit before sitting. Anyone else experience this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Yeah definately - but its hard to know why.Impaired skeletal muscle pump/vasomotor nerve problems, increased norepinephrine release causing excessive vasoconstriction or reduced beta 2 activity have all been theorised as being involved in POTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flop Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Part of the issue may be due to the skeletal muscle pump. When we move our legs (esp hard work like climbing stairs) the leg muscles contract and relax repeatedly. This muscle action pushes blood up our leg veins towards the heart (increases venous return) (it is a bit like squeezing a tube of toothpaste!). When you stop walking / climbing the muscles aren't pumping any more so the blood in the veins doesn't get that help to flow up the legs. This means that blood flow back to the heart is reduced and it can bring on all the usual OI symptoms.For me I find that going from a quick walk to a stop is awful, I have to have that low-gear phase to allow my body to switch from active mode to resting mode.It is probably more complicated than just muscle pump action but that was how one of my doctors best explained it to me. In the same way, if I feel dizzy standing still (happens all the time!) I usually feel a bit better if I can walk arround. I end up standing in lines marching on the spot or rocking on my MBT trainers to get the muscles pumping.Flop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsgirl Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I definitely feel better when I'm moving around than when I'm just standing. I also can't climb a flight of stairs without walking around a catching my breath for a few minutes. I can totally relate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommytoSJEA Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I have noticed the same thing! I always thought it was crazy. I am a mess by the time I get to the top of the stairs, even if its just a short flight. My HR is racing, i feel like I cant breathe. I feel like I need to just sit down or lay down but I feel worse if I do that. Instead I noticed that if I kinda just slow down for a minute but not actually STOP It helps me to feel better quicker. ALways wondered why.~Kelli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 We've definitely got "manual transmissions" alright! Great analogy! Maybe some stripped gears in there too sometimes... and she'll drop into reverse when you're not lookin'. Most folks have full auto or even nice smooth "belt drive" models... lucky ducks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tearose Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 I too get the "after exertion" need to keep moving and slowly help the heart to return to a slower pace. I have felt nasty "thumps" if I disengage too quickly from an activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikki Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Yup, it happens to me too. When this first started happening to me I would always be walking a ton or something and feel really dizzy when I stopped. Of course people would always tell me to sit or at least stay still - moving couldn't possibly help! But, it did..and it does. So you're not the only one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 In POTS/OI quiet standing and sitting in the killer, but if you move around or exercise before hand it may make this more obvious. I was reading recently that in POTS there appears to be blunted arterial vasoconstriction in some patients and overall vasoconstriction in others, either way this seems to bleed dry the venous reservoirs that feed the heart and results in reduced stroke volume. wq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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