extern14

I'm old. I associate tattoos with beer bellied old men who served during WWII. Not an appealing image.

It's def. not for everyone!

Kari,

I have promised my 15 year old when he turns 18 we will both go in and get a tatt! I'll need that long to decide on what to get! LOL!!

KC

PS- Kari is my real name. Everyone calls me KC but it's always nice to see someone with my spelling!

Kari,

That is very funny. Good for you. I would get something that means a great deal to you. I have been a Mickey Mouse fan since I was 5 (now 30) so I have a tattoo of Mickey Mouse. I would highly suggest that you do put thought into it because you do want it to be special. Start looking online at designs. Think about some of your favorite sayings or quotations. It's fun, really! I love mine. I look at it everyday and smile! Thanks for responding.

Just a silly question for a change. Thanks for answering!

I can totally relate. I spent three years going from doctor to doctor and all them telling me that I was depressed and was stressed and that was all. It was so frustrating. I have not gone to the ER so I have not had the experience of them telling me that it was a panic attack but having a POTS diagnosis now may change that. However, I can just tell you that you know different and everyone on here knows different so don't think twice about it. Although, I think most of us are a little depressed but that is because of the POTS not the other way around. It may get better. Hang in there.

Sorry. Don't know anything about the Albany area. Good luck, though. And I about to move too so I know that I will feel my POTS even more. Take care of yourself and only do what you can do. Know your limits!

I don't have that tall skinny female stereotype. I'm in my BMI range but more on the heavy side as opposed to the underweight side. Wouldn't ya know the one good things about POTS I don't get?!

Great poll!

Yes, I think it is very common. I experience it daily. I cannot move my head fast and car rides are very limited. There is also a lot of TV that I cannot watch because of the filming. It makes me too dizzy. It makes perfect sense and I think we can all relate.

I have this throughout the day as well. I, too, notice it when I have done too much or drank too much caffeine or if there has been an incident. It usually goes away after awhile. I meditate and it will go away after that. If you just close your eyes and take some deep breaths and just calm your mind and body, this will sometimes help it. I attribute it to POTS and just another one of the wonderful symptoms that POTS brings! Hope you feel better!

My heart goes out to you and is also with you. I am in a similar situation. My husband and I are divorcing and I am having to move back in with my father and step-mom back home in IL. I currently live in Texas with my husband. I have no idea how I am going to have the strength to go through this but I realize it is the best thing for me, for him, and for us. While it may one of the hardest things I have to go through, I know I have to go through it. I know I am strong enough and I know you are too. We each have an amount of strength in us that we don't even realize. I know you have the strength and the courage you need. You may have to dig deep. I don't know if you journal or not but I would highly recommend journaling. It has helped me through some of my darkest times. I know you are with your parents and I hope you have a great support in your family and, if so, take comfort in that. Embrace their love and support. Realize that things may be horrible right now but you will get better. Your life will get better. You will live. If everything seems like it is at the lowest point, then it can only get better from here, right? I am here for you. DINET is here for you. You are NOT alone. Keep the faith!

Thank you for the information. I really appreciate it.

I too have this fatigue. There are days where I could sleep for 20 hours and still be tired. My POTS doctor hasn't diagnosed me with CFS but I am pretty certain I have it. I already take Florinef and it doesn't seem to help all the time for it. Sometimes, POTS just has a way of doing what it wants no matter what you throw at it. I would see if you could get a CFS diagnosis though. Hope you get better. Hang in there.

Thanks

We all know your frustration at not being able to find what is wrong and how to fix it. My journey was for three years and we are still learning about what I do have and what medications to take. I know being patient is something that you have already but continue to be patient. It sounds like you are on the right track. The heart rate jumping is a classic sign of POTS but as for the pain you have, I'm not sure. I know I don't have that sort of pain but I do have vision problems. Like most people with POTS, there is usually a few other things that are complicating the POTS or making it worse. So keep plugging away. Hopefully the cardiologist will give you some answers! Good luck and we are always here for you!

Sorry you don't feel well. Hope the medicine ends up helping. Get better!

I will come to your party as well. I think we all need one of those from time to time. Hope your tests come back with something positive! Hang in there.

I will bring sea salt - ya know as a condiment for all of us!

Nikki,

I have the exact same problem. The dizziness & vertigo stay with me all the time but, of course, gets worse once I stand or walk. I have only been tested for POTS and a few other tests so I know there must be something more to this than just having POTS. My symptoms stay with me all the time not just when I am standing. I went to an ENT and he told me that I was depressed and stressed. So now what? I hope you get your answers. I am in the same boat you are!

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this. I am always looking for new ways to improve. I would love to have my life back! I don't feel that I have had all the testing to see what it is I really have and then how to treat it. I will definitely look into this. Thanks!

I have a beautiful dog and cat who are always by my side when I am down and out. On the days when I can't get out of bed, they will both be on the bed with me keeping me company. I also have a stuffed bulldog toy that my husband gave me. He cuddles with me when things get really bad!

Well, he isn't a white dog, but he is my angel. He cuddles me and keeps my feet warm if I get cold.

So cute. Great pic!

I completely agree. Shopping is not something I do well. Usually, my husband goes out and buys my clothes and then I try them at home. I can't take the shopping trips. Too hard.

I lost weight also in the beginning, but once on wellbutrin I gained weight on just a baby dose. Without the wellbutrin to treat my POTS i'm on the floor.

An assistant to my POTS Doc had the nerve to put "obese" in my medical file. I was always quite thin most of my life, and at a normal weight when I crashed with my POTS in late 2000. I'm not happy about being a size 12 at 5ft. 4 1/2 in., but what can I do? I'm so limited now, and can't exercise nearly like I used to. My BMI did not qualify me as being "obese".

I ended up very thin again after losing the 25 pounds. I ended up gaining back the 25 pounds, plus another 15--- .

I'm absolutely petrified of my medical treatment being compromised due to judgement on my weight----because I'm no longer wafer thin.

I've seen people actually end up with tragic consequences because they weren't taken seriously. One person being my mother, and another my close friend who just died in August.

I'm bitter, and I DO NOT think BMI has EVERYTHING to do with state of health------and doctors need to get this-----------------LOOK AT THE FACE OF HIS PATIENT, AND LISTEN TO THEM!

My mother's health concerns were blown off for years. I finally got the courage to look into one of the three envelopes of her medical records, and as far back as 2004 some of her CT and MRI results state nodules on lungs, kidney, and liver. They said neoplastic disease can't be ruled out. She found out less the 48 hours before she died she had terminal cancer. The last CT report----(the one they sat on for 2 weeks while she was put in PHYSICAL rehab the last week of her life to ger her "in shape" the last week of her life) said the cancer was in lungs, liver, pancreas, abdomen, abdominal lymph nodes, and bladder.

This report was read on Feb. 23rd, and she died Feb. 25th 2007-----(50 pounds lighter I might add). However, the recent medical notes close to the time she died said , "no weight changes". Of course many references to her "obesity" were in her file. She was overweight, and struggled with weight all her life due to thyroid problems------I guess BMI charts would consider her "obese", but She never seemed all that heavy to me. She wouldn't qualify for a gastric bypass. My friend was over weight too. She was diagnosed with NCS, hypermobile EDS, fibromyalgia, and other medical problems. She went to three different ERs with chest pain, very high BP, narrow pulse pressures, mid back pain, and alway blown off! She went ahead with lumbar back surgery a couple weeks later. she had an aortic rupture after her surgery. They tried for eight hours to save her life, and used the entire blood supply of that hospital which was out of town---(not one of the crazy ERs she went to here who would have just let her bleed out).

I REFUSE TO BE WEIGHED SINCE "OBESE" was put IN MY FILE.

I'M BITTER............

Maxine :0)

I completely understand why you are bitter. I would be bitter too. I am so sorry you lost your Mother and sorry you lost her this way. I am with you on the weight. I used to be really skinny (too skinny) and now I am the heaviest that I have ever been in my life. People tell me to exercise. Yeah, like it's just that easy. I try everyday to but there are days when I can only go 5 minutes instead of the recommended 30 or 60 minutes a day. It's hard. Plus, we have to eat so much salt and drink so much water that I feel like a water balloon! Try to stay a health weight with the amount of salt and water we take in! I hear you, hun! Just know you are not alone and just do what you can. The most important thing is to maintain your mental health!

We give our good doctors some baked goods. My husband is a great baker so he will bake some brownies or cookies. My doctor was very thrilled and said that was the first time that any patient had given her anything from Christmas. Just the fact that you are thinking of them and getting them something will surely be enough. Trust me, they will be grateful for whatever!

Still it's very sweet of you. Merry Christmas!

This sounds exactly like me. I started missing a lot of work earlier this year in the spring. I was using up all of my paid time off days and my boss was not happy. I would come into work and then have to leave a few hours later. Or I wouldn't come in till later or come in just to do one thing and then leave. I was finally told that I needed to go on disability or they would have figure something else out. So, here I am 6 months later and not able to go back to work. I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear. Hopefully, for you it will turn out differently. I would definitely try to work out something with them. See if they can adjust some things for you - legally they have to if you can prove that you have a medical condition that requires it. Hope you get to feeling better. Hang in there!

I agree with Potsgirl! Way to go! I know how you feel though. Finances are dismal right now because I haven't been able to work since June. It's a lot to ask of your spouse/partner. But way to get your creative spirit working and contributing. I would do that as long as you are able to and don't worry about the times you can't.

I have POTS and have done acupuncture before but I never tried it for POTS. It really helped with by lower back pain and the broken bones in my heels. It's wonderful for pain relief and think would be very helpful to you. Let us know how it goes.