Tanzanite

Can I ask how your POTS started? Was it a virus or genetic? Very inspiring story. Sadly I'm pretty much where you were at your worst. Mine is genetic, had it mild my whole life until 2yrs ago when it became severe after a period of extreme stress. While secretly hoping it'll improve a lot as mine is genetic I don't think it will. It has ruined my life in every way possible. No Dr's have a clue what to do or are interested.

I used to be very active and used to swim competitively. Although I've had POTS all my life (yet in a milder form) it did start getting worse after pregnancy and childbirth but there were other factors that also made it a lot worse, a period of extreme stress, a general anesthetic. I can't so stairs at all (I'm bedbound with it anyway) my heart goes crazy and I get severe breathing difficulties. When it started to get worse I had a variety of symptoms, heart was constantly racing and pounding, I had breathing problems (still do at times) I was constantly in a state of adrenaline surges. I was peeing literally every 2mins.

A Semi-permanent lasts for a about 4-6wks depending on the condition of your hair. Over processed hair that has been bleached/dyed a lot in the past or if you use a lot of hair straighteners etc means your hair will soak the dye up a little more and so last a bit longer. Semi-permanents don't change the colour inside the shaft of the hair, but merely 'coat' the outside of the shaft of hair which means you wont have to grow out the colour and you wont get roots. It will simply fade each time you wash your hair and as time goes by. Mid-range grey I'm assuming they mean, a mid-tone of grey, rather than light grey or a dark coarse grey. If you had light grey hair the colour would come out a lot brighter. Darker grey the dye may not cover it so well and it may be patchy. Try a strand test of hair to see what the colour result will be. Also do a patch test 48hrs before just in case your allergic to any of the natural stuff in it. You shouldn't be, but with our tendancy to be sensitive to everything it's best to do a patch test.

that's the permanent one, you need the semi-permanent one. See here http://www.naturesdream.co.uk/naturtint/reflex.php

I get hypoglycaemic, however, my fasting insulin resistance test (overnight so was about 10hrs) was normal.

I haven't tried it myself yet but have a bottle waiting for when I feel a bit better. I think it does cover grey but best to check the makers website.

You could try Naturtint but make sure it's the semi-permanent one. It has no PPD's, no ammonia, no peroxide, no resorcinol so ideal for people who can't use dyes. It is made with herbs and veggies.

Brilliant news. As Morgan said, we wish we could clone you. Definitely need someone like yourself in the UK.

Uk here too. Are you on florinef? I had the same problem and since starting Florinef, fluids and salt it's much better. Not cured but better.

No difference to me. Only when it's hot and humid. It's been raining last two days, and I've felt better!

I have EDS and when it was diagnosed they said autonomic dysfunction goes with it so I think the POTS is connected to EDS with me and also a genetic thing as several people in my family have EDS and also some symptoms of POTS. Auto immune diseases run in my family, mainly thyroid, pernicious anaemia. It's so frustrating when every year or two, I get something else. It's a full time job just looking after my care needs! I wish I could cry but it makes me ill

Can this be related to POTS or more likely to get it due to all the auto-immune conditions that seem to develop with it? I think I may have it. I already have pustular psoriasis and high thyroid anti-bodies which are both auto-immune. For last few months I've had a really dry tongue and throat, my tongue feels like it's shrivelled up it's so dry. The rest of my mouth isn't so bad but still get's dry at times. My eyes are terrible! They feel so gritty and sore, sometimes feel a bit swollen. If my eyes water or I cry, they sting like mad so I can't open my eyes, like someone has dumped a load of salt in my eyes. Even the back of my nose feels dry. I've been using some Biotene dry mouth gel, mouthwash etc which has helped a little. I just can't believe it looks like I may have developed Sjogrens now (I can't even pronounce it!). As it can be connected to connective tissue conditions, does EDS count? I just seem to be developing more and more things as time goes by and I'm really fed up. I'm already suspecting I may have Chiari malformation (and really suffering with the symptoms of it) and need to sort that out too. I could just scream right now.

Yes, I've had it for years. Was told it's called myalgia. Been a little better last couple years but I have big problems with finding a soft enough bed that gives a lot as I sleep on my stomach and it hurts my ribs (can't sleep any other way). No one seems to make soft beds anymore, they're all 1000+ springs that are firm.

I seem to become allergic or sensitive to something else every few weeks. This is my current list. Asthma, eczema. hayfever, allergic rhinitis. Dustmites. Pine. Hair dyes (mainly ammonia and hydrogen peroxide). Penicillin (and lots of other antibiotics too) Can not take anti depressants nor beta blockers (that's more of an intolerance rather than allergy though) Lactose intolerant. Some perfumes. Spray on deodorants/anti-antiperspirant. Bleach and other strong chemical cleaners. Incense. Some air fresheners/plug in air fresheners. Some scented candles. Fake tan. Hair removing cream. Fabric conditioner. Some adhesive plasters/tapes. (Probably forgotten a few things!) Oh and a few weeks ago, my latest allergy became printing inks! I now have to sit in bed, looking like an idiot while reading anything because I have to wear gloves! Otherwise my palms swell up, get intensely itchy, red, burning, blisters and veins stick out looking like they'll burst out of the skin. What makes it twice as bad is I already have pustular psoriasis on hands (auto-immune thing) so it's very, very sore.

My nickname is Darth Vada because I'm so emotionally cold. I have to be. Mostly with anger, sadness, all negative emotions. I end up with horrendous stomach upsets, heart rate all over the place, I could go on. The adrenaline thing then means I can't get much sleep so the next day I'm paralysed for an hour or so, also feel the most incredible weakness, can't talk and feel so ill.

Mine is so bad that sometimes I feel I will die, I can barely get any oxygen. I also get it after doing things, it's usually delayed by a min or so. I get bad choking fits with the POTS and I end up gasping for breath after them too. I can get breathless for no reason/not doing anything too. At my worst I was constantly breathless for months, was very scary. I feel like I have several different breathing types. One where deep in my lungs I feel as if I'm breathing fast but I'm actually not. As if I've been running. I can feel slightly breathless. Another, my lungs feel like they're stuck together and my chest feels like it has pressure on it and I have to make an effort to breathe. Other types, just plain old gasping (and fast) trying to get some air in.

No pacemaker. Always wary about trying new things, I have used EMS before and it was fine but the POTS wasn't as bad and I didn't get the tachy as much or as bad as I do now. No doubt it'd be fine, I'm sure it's a caution for those with really serious heart probs. Just dont fancy having big probs and spending hours in ER!

Thanks. The weird thing is, this system also does TENS for pain relief. You just swap over the probe for TENS pads and choose a different program on the unit. So I am assuming the electrical impulses are the same for TENS and EMS. I know nothing about electricity things so could be wrong. Therefore I assumed that if people with POTS are ok with TENS then it should be ok to use, if it does indeed use the same frequency or impulse or whatever lol

Yes, happens to me all the time. Your autonomic nervous system should speed up slightly (heart rate, breathing etc) while you're doing things but with POTS it doesn't and seems to forget to do it/is delayed and so does it after or a couple of mins later.

I feel like the air is humid most of the time and I breathe warm air in and out, like there's little oxygen. Been getting it more and more. Very strange.

I've tried the sports bra/crop top type and it still hurts/cant breathe. Really hard to find anything in my size too as I'm really large. They all seem to be maternity bras I thought the whole clothes thing was just me, glad to know I'm not the only one! I'm currently wearing a pair of shorts that are 3 sizes too big, I have to be careful they don't fall down lol

It's a electronic pelvic floor exerciser but it uses the same thing as a tens machine for pain apparently. I know things like that are always cautious with medical probs and the instructions say not to use it if you have a heart rhythm problem, the advice from the net I've had so far says dont use with 'serious' heart rhythm probs. As far as I know, I just get the usual tachy with the POTs. Occasionally when taking my BP it shows irregular heartbeats. All I've had is a 30 sec heart trace which was fine. My son has an extra heartbeats problem which they said was mild, nothing to worry about and wondered if I could have it as it tends to be genetic,don't know what it's called though. No idea if I do have it or not. I guess I'm asking is, have people been told it's ok to use Tens machines with POTS lol Sorry you had a bad night, know that feeling! ((hugs)) Not sure if I'm allowed to put this link to show what it is but if not, just remove this sentence and link. Pelvic Floor Exerciser

Anyone at all? Even Tens machines as it's the same thing.

I can't even wear a bra, not good for someone who's rather large up top! Get terrible rib pain anyway and this makes it worse. I also feel like I can't breathe. I can't wear anything round my waist unless it's about 3 sizes too big lol Cant breathe, the stomach ache thing and just generally wearing 'normal' clothes makes me feel exhausted! Weird.

I bought this electronic pelvic floor exerciser yesterday, then I find out it says do not use if you have a heart pacemaker or heart rhythm problems. Now I'm not sure if it's safe to use. Is POTS tachy a problem for using this machine? It's an EMS one, same as TENS machines for pain relief I believe. I think some of you use TENS for pain relief. I really need to get the incontinence sorted (as much as I hate to post that word, so embarrassing!) that came on when my POTS got worse. I dont have any specialists I can ask and my Dr wouldn't have a clue.