Merrill

Thanks so much for the well-wishes! It's lovely to hear your words of encouragement. And I know about the sniffles wearing us out--I'm still dealing with this cold and having the first major procedure tomorrow egg extraction. Funny -- aside from looking forward to having these things taken out of me (it kind of hurts to sit and to walk right now), I'm really looking forward to the IVF fluids! Isn't that silly! But I know I'll be needing them--I can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight, and the procedure is scheduled for 9:30. At least I know I'm the second patient of the morning. I asked to be first, so this is close! Keep a good thought, and thanks!

Thanks for replying Katherine--and for sharing your story. It must have been so scary--and confusing--to start POTS during preganancy, at a time when your body's going through so many changes anyway! I don't remember if you said this in the long piece you wrote elsewhere (I'm definitely having trouble with cognitive issues & memory these days!) ... but I wonder how you're doing now and how old your child is. Were you able to take care of Giuliana after she was born and despite the POTS? Did you hire help? It's such a drag for me to be starting on this grand adventure at a time when my body is already compromised--not only by age but also (and most dramatically) by the POTS. It's definitely been a POTS-y year, marked by unexplained weight loss, serious exercise intolerance (and when I say exercise, I mean walking and standing sometimes), heat intolerance, sleep disruptions, and fierce tachycardia all the time. Sigh. But despite all that, life is good. I'm really hoping that the actual experience and joy of bearing and then parenting a child will make the physical stuff seem less important. (Caring for someone with greater needs than your own can take your mind off yourself, yes?) I'd love to hear from fellow POTS friends that it's really worth it! Is it?

Has anyone with POTS had in vitro fertilization? I'm going through it right now--will probably go through extraction and implantation within the next 5-7 days. I'm 42, so the clock's ticking and I have to do this now--but unfortunately, I also feel like I'm going through a bad POTS spell. (I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago; I've had it since a teenager, I believe. Some years better than others.) I don't have problems with fainting or BP--occasional dizziness, but big time tachycardia. The only time my heart rate is under 100 is when I'm sleeping; it's not uncommon for it to be in the 140s or higher. At this point though, I don't know if some of the things I'm feeling are from the POTS, from the hormones, from this stupid head cold... Or if all three of these things are combining to make me feel just very very tired and awful. Have other POTS people gone through in vitro? What was your experience with the hormone shots etc? Did you feel better once pregnant and blood volume goes up by 1/3rd? (That's my hope...) Thanks!

My husband and I are both deathly allergic to cats. When we bought a house (where 2 or more cats lived), we had the place industrially cleaned by a company that does restaurants, ceiling tiles, walls etc. What sold us was their process--they scrubbed down the walls and ceilings and sucked OUT everything extracted ... nothing microscopic that clung to the walls, ceiling, floors etc was left by the time they were done... and we've had no problems. Replacing the carpeting was key for you I imagine. Are you OK in your new place? (I know it's been a few weeks....)

Hi everyone. I just posted this in response to someone else's question about blood pooling in the legs--but it's worth repeating if visitors only read a few conversation threads. Compression hose are typically covered by health insurance, so if you have insurance, by all means take advantage of it! I believe compression hose fall under the "durable medical goods" category (and yes, they're expensive--60 to 90 bucks, depending on the manufacturer and style). I've been wearing my Mediven brand (20-30 mg pressure) and I think they're FANTASTIC. Jobst didn't work for me; I'm 5'7", and they only went 1/2 way up my calves. Try em if you're petite, if not, Mediven is for you!) If the pooling is very bad, 30-40 mg is probably better. Your medical supply store can call your insurance co for you; they'll have to verify coverage anyway. If you go that route, your doctor will have to phone in a prescription. I had great success with Walgreens Home Medical Center (the name of their medical supply division). Their toll free number is 800-323-2828; they can check your insurance for you before you even bug your doc for a prescription. (The fax number you can give your doc is 800-424-2523.) Also, you need to have someone measure your calf and ankle when you go to the store (takes two seconds) so you're sure to buy the right size. I don't know whether wearing them necessarily causes a drop in heart rate--I don't wear a monitor--but they sure do give my legs more energy and the compression facilitates the blood's flow back north. (I'm also doing the salt and fluid thing--an article about POTS by Grubb et al., recommends 2-2 1/2 liters of water a day.) Good luck--I sure hope this helps someone get socks for free!

Yes, the symptom you describe is definitely from blood pooling. Suggestion: If you have health insurance, call and ask (or have your medical supply store call and ask) what your coverage is for durable medical goods--I believe that's the category under which compression hose falls. I suppose "support stockings" that you can by at the drugstore could help some, but you'll get the best benefit from real compression hose--the kind that are sold through medical supply stores. A regular pharmacist can order them, but a medical supply store will have a great selection to choose from. (You don't have to have a prescription, but they're really expensive, and if you have health insurance coverage, you'll need your doctor to phone in a prescription to have the price covered.) Also, you need to have someone measure your calf and ankle when you go to the store (takes two seconds) so you're sure to buy the right size. I started wearing knee socks that are 20-30 mg of pressure (I highly recommend Mediven brand), and I've tried the thigh high ones as well. I can't believe how fantastic they make my legs feel; I noticed a difference immediately! It was so exciting! If your symptoms are really bad (which it sounds like they are), try the 30-40 mg of pressure for even more compression. Don't be afraid to experiment with sizes and types if you have coverage or if you can afford to buy on your own. (They're around 65 bucks for knee socks, more for thigh high.)