jangle Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 Has anyone tried squats? I did it today and obviously became very lightheaded during/after the trial.But this type of weight lifting seems to target the relevant muscles to standing since essentially it's just putting weight on the standing motion.Anyways just wondering if anyone has had success with this, I'm going to incorporate squats 3 times a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 (edited) You can do these supine/inverted. If you go to the back of the gym where the "big muscle" plays, there should be a squat rack (sometimes called a hack squat rack): you "lay" in the chair and push up against the weights. This is much easier than an upright squat, just don't hold your breath or you'll have serious BP fluctuations between movements. Get a spotter too, once you take the "stop" out, the weight has only your legs to support it, it could come down and crush you if the weight is too heavy. Enjoy! Edited April 24, 2012 by firewatcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monstrosity Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 i do them with very light weight and just focus on doing a lot. I've only been doing them the past two weeks or so. I seem to feel better after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 Watch your form and don't hurt your back. If this is all new to you - ask someone to show you proper form. You can do it in a Smith machine and put a bench between your legs if you don't want to go all the way down. This isn't going to work quite as much but, it will help you to learn the form and movements until you can do it on your own. And give you a place to sit - if you lose your balance and you have a safety bar in place so you can rack it if you lose it. And like firewatcher said a whole lot depends on your breathing - when to inhale and when to exhale. Let us know how you do.Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 I love squating as it made my legs much stronger! I started off without the weights as it turned out i couldn't carry them, which was lots of fun as I squated and couldn't get back up again I later found out that I couldn't have that weight thing in my neck so I was told i could use weights in my hands which was much easier on me.Like Issie mentioned I had a bench to help me not go down too much, I had it behind my back though.Good luck on trying Jangle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 i alweays get dizzing doing chin ups for some reason. Havent notice a problem with squating presses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 24, 2012 Report Share Posted April 24, 2012 i alweays get dizzing doing chin ups for some reason. Havent notice a problem with squating presses.For some reason - anything, I do using my arms makes my POTS a whole lot worse. Be it swimming or blow drying my hair. Maybe, because we get them above our heart??????Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monstrosity Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 I know this is slightly off topic but today at the gym I was feeling good after 30 minutes of Cardio. I then started a light high rep upper body workout. When I got to shoulder press I started getting dizzy. Not sure if its due to my arms are over my head for so long or what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songcanary Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Oh how well I remember shoulder presses. I got some of my worst lightheadedness with those. I learned the hard way that it's not good for us dys folks to keep the arms raised during exertion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 I learned the hard way that it's not good for us dys folks to keep the arms raised during exertion.LOL----or any other time. Seems to get me every time to use my arms - no matter what - if it's above heart level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy C. Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 In the "Changes" video posted at the top of the forum, Dr. Thompson mentioned the reason why we have trouble raising our arms above our heads, something about it putting pressure on the arteries or veins that supply our heads. I forget exactly what he said, but I remember thinking, 'oh, that makes sense.'I tried some squats and lunges today at home without weights and they both made me very lightheaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Before I found my combo of working meds I couldn't use my arms either. I couldn't wheel myself in my wheelchair, couldn't swim with both my arms and legs, couldn't do any exercizes where my arms were involved and had adjustments made at our home (removed all the high kitchen cupboards, got a dishwasher etc.). I now so enjoy my regained activities (though I lately found out that by far they cannot be compared to what healthy people can do. But who cares, I'm enjoying!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Corina,You make me want to try what you're on. That sounds great!Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 It is great Issie, though my combo might not work for you as I'm a low flow Potsie. Hope you'll find a good combo too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 It is great Issie, though my combo might not work for you as I'm a low flow Potsie. Hope you'll find a good combo too!I'm either normal flow or low flow - not exactly sure which (sometimes seem like both). I lean more towards low-flow with the definitions given for that. (Wish I could have a definitive test.) Are the two meds listed on your signature the only things you are on? What made you choose to try those things?Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hholmes13 Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Arms over the head is definitely not a good thing! I can't tell you how many times I've passed out from standing up to go to bed and stretching because my back hurt and then next thing I know I'm on the floor. I also get dizzy trying to do my hair issie. It's definitely frustrating. I'm looking forward to getting on an exercise routine that works for me. I miss doing intense exercise!Good luck with the squats! I hope they help you out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 I have been lifting weights seriously for over a year.I get headaches, and become dizzy when I do squats. The next day, I'll feel pretty bad - weak and can't concentrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Issie,Octreotide was suggested to me by Persephone (DINET member and one of my so called Potspals) and after doing lots of reading on it I convinced my neuro to try it (which took about 6 months). At that time I was on a combo of meds to keep me as well as possible (in chair/bed not able to do much but water the plants now and then).I started Octreotide while on all my other meds and when it worked I slowly got rid of the combo (bb, mestinon, ritalin, stomach med and ssri). I then found out that I couldn't loose the SSRI as it turned out it keeps my standing hr down. I went from 11 pills daily to 1 pill and a 3 weekly injection. Pretty good don't you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Corina,I'm glad that is working for you. I hope you are able to keep with it. I know you said you were worried about some type of medicine changes in your country. Are you or were you high bp and hyperPOTS?Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Issie, I'm low flow (volume wasn't officially measured but was found low in pressure during heart cath). Bp is pretty stabile now (about 105/70's). It goes up a few points on standing as it should, along with hr (just a few beats). As I'm on the Octreotide LAR it can vary a bit. For me the Octr. weans off in 3 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 For me the Octr. weans off in 3 weeks.Are you saying you won't be able to get it in 3 weeks? I hope not - if it's helping you that much. Isn't there something you can do to keep getting it?Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 No I'm sorry I've been SO brain fogged over the last few days. What I meant was that it works for 3 weaks where the article on it says it should work for about 4 to 6 weeks.Most people I know (not THAT many) have 4 week cycles. I might need a higher dose, not sure at this moment. I hardly dare ask for that because of the costs. I do know that I'm in trouble when not getting the injections exactly every 3 weeks.Haven't heard back from health ins yet about the costs, keeping my fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Oh, I got ya!Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jangle Posted August 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 So I squated (bar on shoulders, go down and stand back up) 255 pounds or 115 kg a few times. By the third repetition I could feel my heart exploding in my chest and got really lightheaded. Afterwards feel better than when I went into the gym. My muscles aren't fatigued, but I have to stop due to lightheadedness - it seems to be working my cardiovascular system directly. Also incorporating HIIT cardio training to increase blood volume/cardio health.More squat weight!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 For some reason (probably brain fog ), it seems to me that HIIT would be counter-intuitive for POTS situations. It seems like those short intense intervals would trigger the fight/flight response and pump more catecholemines into the system and create more of an issue for us. It seems from reading other posts that it's been helpful for some people on here however. Can someone explain the theory as to why please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.