Mrs. Burschman

Wow. By that definition, I'd think everyone on the planet must have had a panic attack at some point! That seems a bit broad.

Amy

I dunno. I think the gummy vitamins sound good myself!

I just take whatever women's multivitamin is on sale at Target or Walgreens. Probably full of yeast, soy and other yucky stuff.

Amy

Lina,

Everything I've read says fatigue/brain fog is a HUGE part of POTS. It's like our bodies are on overdrive all of the time. I think I saw it described somewhere as being on a treadmill 24/7. So it makes sense that you would feel that way.

There's also a lot of overlap with POTS and chronic fatigue in the symptoms we have. And fatigue and brain fog are problems with CFS.

As always, it doesn't hurt to ask your doctor. But it sounds like classic POTS to me!

Amy

Wishes for a swift recovery headed over the state line!

Amy

Besides my anxiety, which is always worst in the morning, it seems like my POTS-y reactions are pretty steady throughout the day. It depends on what I'm doing. An example: on Tuesday, I got groceries, and I felt so tired and tachy after carrying them up the stairs into our apartment, I took a little nap. Wednesday I went to tai chi, and I noticed that holding my arms up was really difficult. If I take too hot of a shower, that really wipes me out.

Amy

Lina,

I get goosebumps really easily. The weirdest time I've noticed is when it's hot out and I'm running. I do know that goosebumps, or piloerection (I don't know if that's spelled right) is under autonomic control, so it makes sense that if your autonomic nervous system is goofed up, you might get goosebumps at weird times.

Hope you're feeling better today!

Amy

Linda,

I'm glad to read that you're doing OK!

When I tried to taper off of my Paxil, I not only got really sick POTS-wise (hands and feet tingling constantly, heart rates upon standing sometimes more than 160, blacking out walking up stairs, unable to eat, severe diarrhea, etc., etc.), my anxiety became overwhelming. I didn't exactly become agorophobic, because I didn't HAVE a "safe place." It didn't matter where I was. I was having symptoms like a panic attack, but unlike a panic attack, it didn't go away. Some days, it lasted all day. I was absolutely certain that the guys in white coats were going to take me away to Yankton (my state's mental hospital.) Or at the very least, I'd have to live in some sort of group home for crazy people.

Well, I'm not in Yankton, nor am I in a group home. I am back on the Paxil (needless to say.) All of the physical sympoms have either disappeared or improved.

I wish I could say the anxiety is completely gone. I'm working on that. Some days, I feel completely normal. Others, I'm still scared. I think it might take a while to get over the fear, which is very frustrating. I want to feel good with less effort!

I guess I just wanted to share my story so that you would know that it is possible to feel better. In my case, I don't know how much is psychological and how much is because of the POTS. But because the Paxil is used for both, I guess maybe it doesn't matter. I'm also seeing a counselor who's working on cognitive-behavioral therapy (mostly teaching me to stop telling myself that I'm a nut case.)

There is help!

Amy

Wow, Heather, that's awful!

They wanted to give that to me, but I said no for now. Is that a typical reaction, I wonder?

Amy

You might think this is gross, but have you tried Malt-O-Meal? It needs less chewing than oatmeal. I remember kind of liking the chocolate flavor as a kid!

Braces are no fun. I had to have them twice!

Amy

I went to London last summer, and it seemed like their subways were even worse than New York's for crowded and hot! Or maybe I was just in better shape the last time I visited the Big Apple!

I think Washington, D.C.'s might have been the best. They seemed less crowded.

Amy

Melissa,

I'm so glad that it doesn't seem to be sepsis again. I'm also glad that you're doing a little better today.

Your cheerful outlook is really an inspiration to me. I hope your fevers resolve soon!

Amy

I'm sort of a snob, it that they have to be GOOD chocolate chips!

Amy

Make it a generous shake of salt for us with low blood pressure!

Amy

In the winter, I take a hot-water bottle to bed. I like to lay on my stomach with it under my chest. Might be another option.

Amy

I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the Internet ...

No, seriously, you'd have to ask a doctor about most of that. But as far as I know, the concern with salt is that it raises blood pressure. Well, if you've got blood pressure like mine (one of the last times it was checked, it was 80/50), there's really no danger in raising that a bit.

As for water, the only danger I've heard of it water poisoning, but that's a really extreme case. Everything I've heard says the more water, the better and that most people don't drink enough.

Amy

Here's a question for you all:

Are there any certain excursions that really make your POTS/autonomic problems hard to ignore? I've found that quite possibly my worst place is the library, which is unfortunate, because I love it! I've found that when I'm looking at books on a low shelf, I have to plop right down on the floor. And still, when I stand up, it's blackout city!

It's not as bad as it was when I was taking nortriptyline for nerve pain/interstitial cystitis. Then I thought I was going down for sure, though I've never actually fainted.

Nothing bothers me like the library. What about you?

Amy

Nobody likes to have a syndrome, but I must admit, it would be pretty cool to have one named after me.

Amy

Yuck. Itching is really hard to ignore!

Amy

Sigh. What a pain (literally!)

I'm sorry you didn't find what you were looking for. (Only here would someone be relieved to find out they have some sort of syndrome!)

The answer's got to be out there somewhere. In the meantime, keep looking! And I'm glad your treatment plan seems to be A-OK.

Amy

Oh, Sunfish! I'm sorry you're struggling!

You're in my prayers.

Amy

Mary,

I don't know if you have problems with migraines, but I get a lot fewer when I take magnesium. I also take fish oil (because it's supposed to be good for you, and I'm a bit land-locked here on the Great Plains!) and a multivitamin. And calcium. But the magnesium is the only thing that really seems to make a difference with any symptoms.

Good luck!

Amy

Sophia,

Dark chocolate covered pretzels sound like they might be the miracle cure we've all been waiting for!

Amy

You are most welcome!

That sounds like as good of an explanation as anything.

I have a little bit of the same issue, though not as extreme. I always feel really sick when I'm in a car and it's stop-and-go traffic. Something like my body just doesn't seem to compensate very well for the lurch -- lurch -- lurch.

Amy

Flop, flop, happy, flop birthday flop Flop!

I hope you have an awesome birthday. You are such a wonderful part of this board, and you deserve the best!

Amy

Friday,

I SO feel your fear!

I think the breathing exercises (and relaxation in general) is an excellent suggestion. You're doing the right thing also by being aware of what you're telling yourself. I know that's a huge issue with me, and I'm working on it!

I don't really have anything new to add. I just wanted to let you know that I -- and we -- understand.

Amy