How Does Exercise Help Pots If You Were Very Active Before Onset?

[brethor9]

Hi All!!

I was speaking with one of my specialists recently explaining to him how I am trying to cope with overwhelming fatigue and other various symptoms. He suggested to me to try to get some mild exercise to see if that would help alleviate my symptoms. I have to honestly say the whole exercise thing has me completely confused for the simple reason that I was incredibly fit and active before (worked out 2 hrs every night) and during most of this illness up until last February when I crashed and ended up in hospital.

I have read several articles that state a sedentary lifestyle can possibly lead to POTS...so what is the reasoning in the cases of patients that were extremly active? How will exercise help now if it didnt help to prevent getting sick? None of this ever makes any sense?? I just cant wrap my head around this illness

Bren

[Sallysblooms]

Docs don't always understand. POTS happens to people that are VERY active! Even with CFS, I walked daily. Then WHAM, POTS. No more long doggie walks. NO more time in the outdoors in summer at all.

MILD exercise once we have POTS is good for circulation. If you can only move your feet/ankles up and down, that is what you do. When you are better, you SIT and do a few rounds of a peddler bike. The kind you use while in a chair. Just one minute, slowly and work up a bit. You can use cans or small weights for arms.

A good one is just to get on your toes a few times. Calves raises. If you have to, make sure someone is with you.

Moving is exercise to most of us. I have a peddler and wieghts. Keeps our blood circulating well, and keeps muscles from atrophy. Helps the blood move up better.

You do have to be careful of course. I like to do a few exer. in bed too. Little sit ups, leg raises....