MandyBrook

LOVE this!!! What an encouragement!!! Thank you for sharing

Hoosierfan-- In comparison to the stories I have read on DINET I am also high functional. I have three children under four years that I stay home with they are a blessing!!! Perhaps I don't have POTS, maybe just OH. What are the differences? I'm new to all this do I'm trying to figure out all the scenarios. I've never fainted, rarely have lightheaded spells, my hands and feet turn red and burn upon standing for too long, I don't adjust to temperatures very well (especially heat, this causes the redness in the hands and feet almost immediately), I have hand tingling, and tachycardia upon standing (not always). Up until recently these were my only symptoms and they would come and go. Then a few weeks ago I had my first bad flare. I had adrenaline surges, lightheaded upon standing, feeling anxious always, easily overstimulated, occasionally feeling withdrawn, chest tightness, no appetite, tachycardia upon standing. It was awful! I began taking lexapro and within three weeks I felt back to my old self however, starting the fourth week the adrenaline surges started to come back with nausea and vomiting. Sigh... Does this sound like POTS or more like OH? Thank you!!! Praying for us all Mandy

I am praying for you!!! I seem to be going through the same stuff as you however, my nausea isn't as bad as the day progresses. I am going to attempt to switch taking my lexapro from at night to in the morning. I've been up since 2a.m, that's when the nausea started today yuck!!! Praying for a better tomorrow for the both of us!!!

Also, how many of you have NOT been hospitalized.

Hey Everyone!!! I've been going through a hard week and have been stressing WAY too much, which probably isn't helping!!! I have this resounding fear in the back of my head wondering about the what if's. What if I get worse. Right now I am pretty functional. Is it common to get worse with time? So, I was wondering, what are most of your daily lives like? What helps you to stay positive amidst all that you're going through? And, how often do you feel "good" in comparison to your flare ups? Thank you!!! Praying for us all!!! Mandy

Thank you for the reply Katie!! It's tough to not feel alone when going through a flare. How long do your flares usually last? How much time is in between them? And this may sound a little forward and I mean it with no disrespect but when you're not in a flare what is your daily life like? Thank you!!! Praying for all of us!!! Mandy

And, thank you for the reply! It's been a very difficult morning.

Puppy love-- Does this happen to you all the time or just during a flare?

I'm sorry to have been taking up so much of the forum wall but I am very discouraged right now.

Hey Everyone I am in a relapse at the moment and whenever I flare I have a very hard time sleeping. I'll fall asleep at night only to awaken 2-3 hours later with my heart racing, hands burning, nauseated, inside of chest feels cold. When I finally muster up the courage to attempt to fall back to sleep I will fall asleep on for seconds to minutes to be rudely awoken by racing heart, nausea, hands burning, and the inside of chest feels cold. I even took some phenergran this morning which has helped with my nausea somewhat and made me tired but every time I fall asleep I wake right back up. Does this sound common to any of you? Also, how long does the average flare last? Thank you!! Praying for us all Mandy

I wish I could help you as I'm still goog through the process to be properly diagnosed myself. I'll be praying for you!!! Mandy

Hoosierfan-- Thank you for the reply!! I know you and I are both having a bad week. Would it be safe to change from night to morning abruptly? Or would I need to maybe half the dose and take one at night and one in the morning for a week or so and then begin taking the full dosage in the morning? I am so thankful to have found this forum!! I find so much comfort and encouragement through your words and stories!!! You have all been a blessing to me in this very new, very scary time of my life!!! Praying for us all!! Mandy

But would it be common for me to be feeling "better" just to feel horrible again the next week?? I'm sorry I'm overloading you guys with questions. It's just been a tough last few days. Thank you!!! Praying for us all!! Mandy

Dani-- I sent you a message

Thank you all for the replies. I am so confused as to what to do. My children have been sick with diarrhea the past few days but no vomiting. I began getting very nauseated yesterday morning. However, it seemed to get better as the day went on. Then this morning I awoke to more nausea and attempted to drink some Gatorade and eat a banana an immediately vomited. I don't know if this is what my sons have, if this is just a part of my POTS, or if this is being caused by the meds. I've come this far on the lexapro I feel like I should give it a shot and try to hold out a few more weeks. (The nausea is a new/recent symptom) But, I also don't want to suffer for a few more weeks. Any ideas?

Also, since I have almost been on the lexapro for four weeks would I need to wean off?

Also, my skin is burning. I think I may discontinue use. Any tips?

I know this is probably going to sound silly but how do you know the difference between normal nausea and gastroperesis?? I've been very nauseated for weeks now and am having a hard time eating. Thanks Mandy

Hi guys I have been on 10mg of lexapro for almost four weeks now. And, I have noticed that I am very nauseated in the mornings after taking it at night. Is this common with lexapro and will this go away? Thanks! Mandy

Potluck-- Im so sorry to hear about that!! It's terrible!! It's hard to make people understand that I really have NO desire to eat!!! Ugh!!! Praying for you!!

Thank you for the encouragement!!! I am still on the lexapro, going into my fourth week. During my third week on the lexapro and .5 of the klonopin I felt my best. However, I am terrified of becoming addicted to the klonopin do I thought it wise to wean off the klonopin. Perhaps I should continue on with the klonopin for a few more weeks until I reach the 6-8 week mark with m lexapro? Or perhaps I should wean slower off of the klonopin. As of right now I went from taking .5 every night to taking .5 every other night. I didn't think I would form a dependency to the medicine this quickly. Very scary. Could the klonopin be helping with the pots symptoms? Is it a form of treatment? Thank you! Mandy

I woke up this morning feeling right back to square one. I have no appetite again, even the smell of food makes me feel like I'm going to be sick. I have been feeling so good this past week. I thought things were going back to normal and then today I woke up with all my symptoms back!!! The only thing I've done different recently is I started trying to wean off of klonopin, which I've only been on for three and a half weeks. Could the klonopin have really been making that much of a difference in my symptoms? I want to eat but I just cannot bring myself to today. I've eaten a few small slices of watermelon, drank half of a boost, and lots of Gatorade. I JUST went through this a few weeks ago when I had my first really bad flare up of POTS. I'm very discouraged! Will this all get better? I need some encouragement Thank you Mandy

Rich-- It feels like I drank something cold. It's generally in the center of my chest. It's very uncomfortable. I had been feeling so good this last week and now I feel right back to square one. I began lexapro about three and a half weeks ago and was prescribed klonopin to take alongside the lexapro to help me get through the first bad few weeks. The first two weeks I took 1 mg of klonopin every night, I didn't really notice any improvement but I didn't feel any worse either. The third week I cut down to a half of klonopin every night and it was during this time that I really began to feel better. The fourth week began and I decided to only take the half of the klonopin every other day. I immediately began having problems. All of my pots symptoms came back!!! I am SO discouraged!!! Can klonopin really help us? Or is this just a flare? Thank you!! Mandy

Potsyturvy-- Thank you for the reply! I am new to all things POTS and every new symptom frightens me.

Just wondering if anyone else has ever experienced a cold sensation inside their chest and if so what causes it. I hate this symptom.