pamyla

Hi Merrill, wow that sounds very thorough! I'm happy to say that I'm doing well in the new place. The new carpeting seems to have done the trick

You are definitely not alone in having days where you feel overwhelmed. I think we all have our good and bad days, yet when the bad days hit it's sometimes hard to imagine feeling "good" again. When I start feeling overwhelmed I try keep in mind that this too will pass and hang on til the good days return But I also relate to feeling like a burden on people. I used to be one to never want to ask for help. I liked to do everything myself. That has definitely changed with pots! What has helped me with asking for help is to feel like I can give something back in return. For example, my husband carries my laundry up the stairs for me, so maybe when I feel up to it I'll give him a back rub. There are always small little things you can do for people to brighten their day and say thanks for helping Anyways, that makes me feel more empowered. Here's hoping you get to feeling better soon. Hang in there. Pam

I used to go to a chiropractor and found that it really helped me. I first went for back pain (both lower and upper). I had almost no range of motion in my neck. My neck is much better now and the pain is pretty much gone Good words of wisdom about picking a chiro. I also saw some bad ones that I did not return to. The last one I saw was great, everytime I showed improvement and felt better I would get scheduled to come in less and less. It didn't take long before my appointments were monthly. I am always wary of the doctor who says 'we need to see you 3 times a week for a minimum of a year'. good luck to you! Pam

I thought this article was interesting - http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...health_water_dc Hopefully the link works Think this has something to do with why we all feel so bad when we get sick?

Jessica - the lady I saw is located in Arlington, VA. She's great! Cranial-sacral is not her main thing, but I'm sure she could give you a referral. Dr. Marie Schum-Brady (703) 527-5384 3500 14th St N Arlington, VA I think I paid $50-60 for a session. And here's an article on what CST is all about - http://www.consciouschoice.com/health/cran...sacral1406.html

I also went for one session of cranial sacral therapy. It did feel good - I left the office feeling so relaxed! So much so that I went home and slept for a few hours. (That was unusual to me because usually I'm an insomniac and I've never been able to take naps) I found it too expensive to be able to continue long term, and didn't notice much else from the first session. If you decide to try it, keep us posted Pam

Thanks Nina! It's nice to know there are options out there to help with allergies Pam

Hi all. I'm getting ready to move into a new townhouse this weekend (yeah!) However I'm a little concerned because the previous owner had 2 cats. Just being in the place for about an hour had my nose starting to run. With that said, I replaced the filter with a brand new allergy helping one. And, we are completely replacing all the carpet. I'm hoping that will do the trick, but I'm still worried. I thought you guys might have some other suggestions for things I can do to get rid of the cat dander. Thanks! Pam ps - Nina, I'm still using the neilmed saline rinse, which is great! In fact, my mother-in-law just ordered one too

I get this crazy thirst too, and no amount of water seems to help! I hate that feeling I agree that just water doesn't seem to do the trick, it'll go right through me when I feel like that. Anywith with lots of salt is good - I usually go for canned soup or a pickle - and then follow up with lots of water. ps - good for you for exercising Pam

I eat fish all the time and I currently take flax seed oil. I've never noticed any ill effects from it. But with that said, I also haven't noticed any instantaneous great effects either. But on a long term basis I think it's a good thing to add into your diet. Pam

Hi Tim, I also get the stiffness daily and pain off-and-on. I've found that heat helps me. In the mornings in order to get going I have to take a hot shower (what you're not supposed to do right?) to get past the stiffness. When I get pain it typically affects my hands the most, then my legs next.

I've found that taking supplements to support my adrenals makes me feel less fatigued. I think I currently take a glandular called 'adrenal extract'. I also take extra Vitamin C and B5 in addition to a multi-vitamin. In the past I have tried MSM and cordyceps, although I found cordyceps made it harder for me to sleep. A doctor I used to see gives this list: http://www.drrind.com/adrensupport.asp hth, Pam

Hi Jessica, I took paxil for a few days but found I couldn't tolerate it as I had bad diarhea. I now take zoloft which made me feel kind of spacey for the first few months, then I adjusted. I also had some nausea (which is common for ssri's) which was helped with ginger root capsules. And I completely lost my appetite (even when I wasn't nauseous). The doctor told me a few weeks of side effects was typical but mine lasted for about 3 months. I would say stick with it as long as you can tolerate the effects, because after about a month on it I felt almost deliriously happy Wish that part had lasted longer! good luck Pam

I'm not sure how to answer this either Mine started as a sudden onset due to illness. Once that was better my pots symptoms did improve, although not entirely. I think EDS contributes to the rest..... and I can recall having symptoms as far back as elementary school.

I first began having problems with pots at age 23. I swam in a lake that had had a sewage spill and had a bad infection for almost 2 years that went undiagnosed. Finally cleared that up and have worked at supporting my immune system ever since. However, the doc also thinks I have EDS, so I suppose the infection was only a trigger for me. I can remember dizzy feelings all the way back to childhood, but it's been about 7 years since I was diagnosed with pots.

Hi, I'm another Virginia person - I live in Northern Virginia. I was also diagnosed at Hopkins. The first year or two were rough for me, but it did get better. I am able to live a fairly normal life, returning to work and school. Hang in there If you want to talk, send me an e-mail. Pam

I had this problem with exercise too. When first diagnosed my resting heartrate was around 120 and the doctor had me step up on a stool a few times. After that my heart rate had soared to around 200. Typically it takes about 20 min of high aerobic exercise to get it that high. I now take beta blockers regularly and am fairly intolerant to exercise. However, even my doctor has said that I shouldn't be doing aerobic exercise. He says stick to walking and swimming. I thought that was advice for all pots patients? I'm surprised to hear what some of you can do! Keep us posted on how it goes! Pam

Did anyone mention ginger root? Tea is good, and sometimes I buy the root and put slices in my tea with lemon. Or if it's really bad, just suck on the root. Here's a weird one that an alternative doctor recommended to me. I was skeptical at first, but it really helped me. You take this drink on an empty stomach and drink it fast! Mix about 1 cup of water with lemon juice (approx 1 tablespoon) honey (optional for taste, 1 tablespoon) and lastly, mix in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (you work up a tolerance) Stir and drink quickly. The cayenne burns your mouth, but the heat is what heals the stomach. I found it particularly helpful when I had diarrhea as well. Anyways, it stopped the nausea almost immediately for me. Pam

I've also noticed the connection between breathing and heart rate. I find that taking a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds and releasing slowly can actually slow my heart rate. I do that sometimes when it starts racing. On the other hand, I've also experienced the dizziness when the doctor asks me to breathe deeply. I personally found that the dizziness comes when I'm breathing too fast. If I breathe deeply and slowly I don't have the same problems. Last year I took a Prana Yama class, which is basically the art of breathing. We spent about 40 minutes doing exercises where you controlled your breath. At the start of the class I did find I felt tired and a little spacey from all the deep breathing. But, as the class progressed I got better at controlling my breath and started to feel more energized from it. I really felt like the class did me some good Pam

oops - posted twice

Hi everyone, just wanted to say thanks for all the advice and support. I survived the GRE And not only that but I did really well, scoring a 720 in the math section - woohoo! The test left me tired and feeling a little shaky, but otherwise I'm in okay shape. I did take the enada, and it seemed to help. The store didn't have the fast-acting so I just got the regular in 5 mg dose, and it seemed to do the trick. I also tried out Nina's system of reviewing flashcards fast and daily. That really helped me memorize math formulas and vocab words Time to get some rest and relaxation - hopefully without the help of Sonata tonight

When I first got sick I gained a little weight and then for no reason just started losing. I've always been on the thin side, so it scared me a little. Since then I have continued to remain thin, and can also eat whatever I want. After the initial drop-off my weight seems stable now. I often wondered if the adrenaline rushes somehow affected metabolism??

Nina, I have periods where I get high blood pressure too. I find it happens when I'm under stress or am not getting enough salt. My body seems to compensate for the lack of fluids in my body by raising my blood pressure. So, when I add in more salt and fluids it usually lowers. I think we all see enough doctors

I'm always cold, even in the summer. My hands and feet are also like ice almost all the time. When my hands are really cold I stick them under warm water for a few minutes. It also helps to drink warm things like soup or tea. Other than that I own 3 portable heaters that I keep in various rooms

Nina you do look young I have the long fingers too and I've also been told I look young. It's nice to have a benefit for once My dad is tall and skinny. He also has the long fingers, which currently have arthritis - ugh. My husband tells me that I even have the same walk as my dad, which he describes as kind of languid and flowy. I don't think my mom has EDS, but she's had problems with blood pressure, as my grandmother has also. Usually low, but then it goes high.