Can you describe biofeedback to me?

[lieze]

I tried it tonight with a pulse oximeter I have. I worked on getting my heartrates into the 70’s and was successful. I worried less about my oxygenation levels. If I see a 97-99 on oxygenation I relax and if moves around pay less attention to that. I started in the 90’s pulse and got it down to 70’s. Is that how you do it? 

[DizzyPopcorn]

Pardon me but, what does "biofeedback" means? Is it kind of like meditating? 

[lieze]

I don’t know how I did it I just watched the numbers and focused on them coming down like mind power and they did. I’m not aware that I did any kind of special breathing or anything but it worked. Pretty quickly also. 

[MTRJ75]

Doesn't biofeedback usually involve some kind of machine? An alternative health care center I went to wanted to charge me $1200 per month for use of their apparatus, while also saying they had to brain map me first. 

[lieze]

Did it help you MTRJ75? A neuropsychologist I saw gave me a pamphlet on this type of device too where it alters your brain waves. I looked up some reviews online and the first couple I read were a bit concerning. Just wonder how it worked for you if you did try it.

[MTRJ75]

It was a little bit out of my price range right now. I have been going to them for a number of other therapies, including something called neurological chiropractic that involves headphones with some kind of tone playing through, glasses with orange lights flashing, manual adjustments that are supposed to help blood and nerve flow, balancing and eye movements. They've also suggested lymph brushing since I'm so immobile now. 

[MomtoGiuliana]

I think there are various methods from what I understand. I saw a therapist for awhile--17 yrs ago--who used biofeedback and did a few sessions with me.  I think he normally used it with people dealing with anxiety/stress--he did not profess to be a POTS expert--I was seeing him mainly for helping me cope with POTS at the time, emotionally/mentally.  From what I remember the machine measured my heartrate and by watching my heartrate visualized on a computer screen I would use breath technique to lower it--basically it is a training device to assist a user to be more aware of aspects of their body and to learn what you can do (eg breathing differently) to affect physiology.  I think biofeedback machines can also measure body temperature, brain waves and other functions.  I have heard of it being used for POTS treatment.  Not sure if there are many studies supporting it.  My POTS specialist did not feel it would be useful for treating POTS.  IMO it may be helpful for people with anxiety.  I think it may be helpful for some forms of hypertension.  If either of these are an aspect of POTS, biofeedback might be helpful for improving symptoms.  I personally have my doubts that biofeedback would be a terribly useful tool otherwise for POTS.  But I have to say that I have found breathing techniques helpful at times when I feel stressed about or fearful of symptoms, and anxiety is compounding my symptoms.

[toomanyproblems]

On 9/25/2019 at 10:51 PM, MTRJ75 said:

Doesn't biofeedback usually involve some kind of machine? An alternative health care center I went to wanted to charge me $1200 per month for use of their apparatus, while also saying they had to brain map me first. 

That sounds like QEEG based neurofeedback. I actually had over 40 sessions of it while I was doing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.  It's not like biofeedback. It helps change the brain wave pattern to something more balanced. There's actually a lot of supportive science behind it. I have to say it was really wonderful. I would definitely recommend it from a qualified place. It was just too expensive to continue for long and I had to drive to get there, which I can't always do. But I saw definite improvements in the areas we worked on.   

[lieze]

Are there natural ways we can work on those brainwaves that don’t have a hefty price tag attached.  It makes me wonder how our brain waves are getting so messed up in the first place. What is it we are doing wrong that is causing the altered activity?

[lieze]

I am already trying to work hard on staying clear of any stress or drama. 

[yogini]

On 9/25/2019 at 10:04 PM, lieze said:

I tried it tonight with a pulse oximeter I have. I worked on getting my heartrates into the 70’s and was successful. I worried less about my oxygenation levels. If I see a 97-99 on oxygenation I relax and if moves around pay less attention to that. I started in the 90’s pulse and got it down to 70’s. Is that how you do it? 

 If you are interested in biofeedback, it might be helpful to  look into a more formal method that has been researched and shown to be effective.  There are machines you can buy, apps for your phone, etc.  There might be some info on posts in the forum - but better info out there on google, etc.  The idea is that if you do the same exercise over the long term, your HR lowers a little in average - and then you can also use the same techniques to help manage in a flare.

[Pistol]

@lieze - I agree with @yogini. If you are curious about biofeedback I personally would not look into DIY, if you think it is an avenue you want to try it is best to go with an established provider.