avais1

Good luck tomorrow. When you fly over North Carolina (about 1/2 way into your flight) wave down to me! Remember, just breathe. I know it will feel weird, and you may panic a bit from the strange sensations (usually during take off, turns, and landings), but you will be okay.

Anytime - so glad I could help. For me, I always sit on the wing. I don't like bulkhead seats because I have to put all of my stuff in the overhead bins (you can't put it in front of you, there is just a wall there). When I fly, since I am already doing my best to "maintain" the last thing I want to do is 1)stand up 2)lift my arms over my head - to get my stuff out of the overhead compartment. I also am very sensitive to motion, and the wing has the least amount of movement in the plane (think of a see-saw, the middle moves the least), so I personally like the wing window seat. But - you have

Hi Cathy - I would arrange for oxygen pre-flight. All planes are pressurized to 6,000 feet above sea level, so there is definitely less oxygen for her (it's like visiting Denver aboard the plane). Lots of people have to have oxygen because of this. Sorry about that United flight attendant - you should not have been treated that way.

From a fellow "Potsie flyer" - Hello! This POTS girl now flies on average 80,000 miles a year, so I'll give you my best tips. 1) Larger airplanes vs. smaller - I definitely prefer the smaller planes, much smoother ride than the larger one with one exception: bad weather. What you are feeling is "normal" for a potsie. So when you get that "feeling" - take a slow deep breath, and know that for us - this is perfectly normal. Remember, the side effect of taking the Xanax is lower blood pressure, so when that plane tilts - your body has to do a little extra to compensate. I know it feels weird, bu

I saw Dr. Low at Mayo Rochester - great experience, but that was back in 2003 and 2004.

I am running into that more and more, too. Very happy to say that!

Sorry for not replying sooner BellaJulz - been traveling for work I find that with POTS, you really need to take control of your treatment plan yourself, and find what works for you individually. POTS hits each of us differently, so it makes sense that treatment will vary between all of us. But I am more than willing to share what I do if it can help anybody else. Here are the main categories: 1) Research - read, read, and read some more. I read about the following: 1. POTS, Dysautonomia, Autonomic Nervous System, Renin-Angiotension-Aldosterone cycle, citric acid (Kreb's) cycle, metabo

I have - twice. The first time I got "hit", I was doing foreign study in London, and had just flown back to the US. I was 19, and I went down hard. It took me about 2 years to recover. Back then, (I am 36 now), they did not have such a thing as POTS, so I went undiagnosed. I made it through most of my twenties just fine, until 28. Then I went completely down again. It took me another two years to climb out, but this time I got diagnosed at Mayo Rochester, and I only came back about 80% of the way. I think the key the second time around was knowing what "it" was. I also have really worked hard

Hi Janey, I have struggled with this myself over the years, and have found that most docs don't understand it. I, too, have to take something before I travel (only flight - no car trouble as of yet). I use Klonopin, because it is longer acting than Xanax, and doesn't seem to knock me out as badly. I was told by my doc, don't know if this is true, that the Klonopin "calms down" the central nervous system, and as a result, indirectly calms down the autonomic nervous system. I take one exactly 40 minutes before I travel, because you have to get it into your system BEFORE you start moving. It make

I have a lot of old threads on here - just do a search on my name. The short answers are these: 1) I had fainting problems as a child - thus it is Mayo's opinion that I was born this way. It was not post viral - although my second flare-up was after a bad flu illness that lasted two months. The hypothesis is that certain viruses will continue to hit me where I am weakest, the autonomic nervous system. 2) The first major flare-up hit me when I was 20 years old. I had just come back from doing foreign study in London. When it started, I thought I had just a bad form of stomach flu. I vomited fo

Hello dear ones, It has been a very long time since I have posted. I see many newbies, and not many of the old names back from when I was on in 2004-2006. To the newbies - I am glad you are here on Dinet. I took me a long time to find it, but oh so glad I did. To the veterans - I am also glad you are still here; quieting the fears, giving hope, and providing advice to the new ones. I have a glimmer of hope to give you - for now. The reason I haven't been on, is that for now anyway, my body has been doing very well. I finally graduated from college (I am a non-traditional student in my 30's) w

Hi Ernie, I haven't been around for a year or so, but I continue to lurk! I hope you are okay dear one. Take care! Robyn

Hello, I have successfully flown from Minneapolis to : New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, San Diego and Chicago since being diagnosed. My tips: Plenty of Gatorade, Pedialyte, whatever suits you. Bring: music, dvd's (I bring a laptop to watch movies on). Also, I am NOT trying to push drugs on you, but if you haven't flown in awhile, contact your physician if you have anxiety issues. Klonipin has saved me on several flights. It calms down a hyperactive nervous system - so be it klonopin, valium, xanax, etc. whatever works for you, bring it. Take it 15 minutes before take off (if your physicia

So sorry you are going through this! I am a Lexapro taker, and I bought some from Canada once. It said it was Lexapro, but it came from a lab in New Zealand, and I was almost incapacitated within 3 days. I had to run to my local pharmacy and pay for the new Rx from the usual lab in Germany. I have no idea about the generic/brand, but I was so sensitive I noticed a difference just in the labs who make it. So no, you're not crazy, it CAN make a difference. Good Luck!