Standing History And Orthostatic Intolerance

[Lemons2lemonade]

wondering?

[brethor9]

I worked in a hospital setting for over 6 yrs in a very chaotic cancer clinic....I rarely sat down....was always on the fly.....I never experienced OI and POTS until after my partial hysterectomy...then thats when the trouble started I think they broke something during surgery............................

Bren

[Elfie]

I worked various jobs, including construction and landscaping type work where I was standing 10+ hours a day in 100+ degree heat at times. Never had an issue with it. My most recent job required a lot of standing and luckily didn't take much brain power. I can stand for a long time wit BP meds and countermeasures and occasional short breaks if I'm working in a cool environment, but I'm miserable and stupid the whole time.

Had a stressful period of time in my life where I was run down and caught a series of viruses and infections. Started having nerve-related pain after one, and then dysautonomia symptoms after another. Didn't catch on to the fact that the dysautonomia symptoms weren't related to the nerve pain (thought for a while I was passing out from the pain, puking because I was in pain). Reduction of stress decreased the nerve pain considerably--but not the dysautonomia symptoms (although I flare less, but my day-to-day doesn't seem to improve).

[sue1234]

I didn't have a job in the last 10-15 years before POTS, but did take care of 3 kids with their separate sports, etc., so always busy. Before POTS symptoms, I don't think I EVER thought that I needed to sit just because I had been standing up. It's funny how you don't actually acknowledge something like standing until you can't do it anymore.

[Lemons2lemonade]

so true, sue

[Katybug]

I was a retail manager working 60-75 hrs a week for the first 6 years out of college. Then, at my most recent job I stood as a manager for either presentations or training or visiting at employees desks for a couple of hours each day for 11 years. That ended in Nov. 2011 due to POTS. Oh, I also stood to teach horse back riding lessons anywhere from 2-5 hours a day on the weekends.

[sandymbme]

At the time I was dx'ed, I was also a retail department manager. working 50-60 hour weeks. On August 12 2007, (doubly memorable, because it's my birthday.) I woke with the worst migraine I have ever had. It lasted for 9 months straight. In the beginning, I rarely had syncopal episodes. I just could not shake the migraine, and eventually I started getting dizzy spells. I still wasn't passing out, but it was interfering with my work, tremendously. As I passionately loved my job, I just could not tolerate being so bad at it, even though my employer was bending over backwards to try to accomodate my illness. In 2008 I finally caved and got a desk job. And by 2010, I could no longer work at all. But prior to my illness every job I had ever had was on my feet.

[potsgirl]

I worked in management in retail, and then I did archaeological work near the Grand Canyon for a tribe where I would stand most of my days. I loved that job, but the high heat and standing just weren't possible...I've been out of work for about 3 years now. I really want to go back!

[bunny]

As long as I can keep walking, as opposed to standing still, I'm usually alright. Usually being the key word. If I'm having a rough time, I'll sit as much as possible and increase fluid/salt intake. I do much better at a job where I'm only sitting still for a little bit and walking around inbetween. Getting enough sleep and eating fresh foods makes a big difference for me.

[rubytuesday]

I wanted to clarify my response for my answers, standing was taken away from me in 2004 when my glutteal muscles and tendon were torn off my hip bone when I got hit by car. I could stand in lines at grocery stores/restaurant but needed to sit as soon as I could as hip pain could not withstand weight of standing. Before (and for year after I got hit, I tried to work at least part time), my job was 50-65 hours week--lot of standing/walking but sitting intermittently, stair climbing (quicker than elevators--5 floors--2 buildings, really ideal for someone with fibromyalgia). When this POTS hit I don't know if it was more like something knocking me down or more like sucking me down like a vacuum. Whoa. Had never felt that way in my 50+ years and have always run a little low on BP. This summer I thought I would wither away and die before they'd get me treated (cardiologist had tried so many things--either didn't work--got me too hypertensive--am thinking now I get hypertensive with exercise on just Midodrine whereas BP was crashing w/ exercise before exercise--so now worry about how hard to exercise when just doing stationary recumbent bike--20-25 min at aroun 13 mph). If I got up to go change (2) hummingbird feeders--I could get to one closest to door, get it to kitchen and hurry to lay down before able to clean it--get out batch of food/lay down again/rest--go back to kitchen to get it to hang it--go to back of house to get other--hurry in to get it to kitchen/lay/rest longer. You get picture. I'd go out intending to do light weeding in flower beds. was lucky to get 2 or 3 spaces in 1 bed covered--had to rush in to lay down. Took all day if even then to do simple outdoor task. If took walk--had to make sure it wasn't humid and early morn (not shadey on streets of out neighborhood) and had to carry water and cell phone for first time in my life. Had to stop riding my bike that formerly was riding 10 miles/day March thru most of Nov. here in midwest (even with asthma/upper resp. obstruction/copd)--would don under armor and layers and use inhaler. This spring felt like my legs were like lead. Paliptaions. So lightheaded (sometimes in past, in my dismount/pushing bike up hill of our drive BP would crash a few times but this was first time I'd ever felt this way while riding bike. Put it away til cardiac specialist say me and they figured things out. It was only then I learned I souldn't be active outdoors if 90 or above or high humidity or to bend at waist/squat/stoop/raise arms above heart level or lift. Knowing these things, being on some medicine and colder weather, and back on a stationary recumbent bike after physical therapy to help recondition and build endurance for 2 months has at least for now helped me to regain function. Now I will still have occasional episodes but cardiologist is trying to figure out agent to add. And am struggling to maintain weight even with Rx nutritional sustanance (nausea/GERD so bad, presuming due to dysautonomia/gastritis--having seen GI). All I know is that now I'm afraid of the gorgeous spring, summer, fall days and my flower beds that I'd taken such great care to landscape when we moved into this yard 'barren' house. It was a bigger house than our other but thankfully (didn't know I would need it so soon) had walk in shower with rails in one bathroom--we got shower seat for me, had one bathroom with raised toilet and it has the handheld shower attachment--but it takes a lot more reaching/bending/ground to cover to clean with higher ceilings, 2 bathrooms, more floors to mop and carpet to vacuum and reaching to dust. That is huge challenge. DH may help carry laundry to hamper/make bed/help put laundry away on occassion when he's here, does most of grocery shopping but I can get out--cannot stand/kneel during church services and with the vocal cord dysfunction was now told not to sing as it sets the cords in spasms that shuts off airway, so I feel kind of sticking out like a sore thumb, sitting, not singing (when nobody but pastor and song leader) knows of my plight. But I get out and at feel so much better being in our Lord's home with my parish family, celebrating. I can go to store with someone, albeit, I may find that I have to sit down right away (hits me out of blue) but it's so much more than I could do this summer. I look at what ever little part of a task I can get done as a positive. I could never continue working in the position I'd had and had to retire early as they needed a full time body able to do all the duties.