Hang in there and keep an optimistic attitude. I found for myself that once I stopped focusing on the problem (and stopped worrying about my heart, fainting, not being able to work etc.), I started to get better. Get fully checked out and resolve any outstanding medical issues but also know that this is something that can get better. After months in and out of the hospital, seeing multiple specialists and going off work, I got my ferritin up to a level that was decent (70-80) which I believe allowed me to exercise and get back on track. I now exercise 5 times per week, my v02 max has gone up (although still quite low for my age and thin body type) but I feel a million times better (knock on wood). I started by exercising in a recumbent position for very short amounts of time then slowly built up to 30-40 minutes on an upright bike. I did this as part of a free cardiac rehab program at one of the hospitals in my city. This, for me, was the turning point. As was focusing on the positives and relaxing my nervous system which was on overdrive due to a number of stressful events in my life and my personality type. Doing yoga and meditating were next to impossible when I was really ill but I forced myself and I believe they helped significantly, along with therapy. I did Jon kabatt zinn's 8 week MBSR program and this was amazingly helpful at giving me tools to calm my nervous system (I paid for this program and it was worth it - I found a less expensive program through the community centre and know that if I asked my doctor I could have been referred to a program for free but didn't want to wait). The mind is a critical part of dysautonomia and MBSR has helped a lot of folks.
I also cut out gluten and lowered dairy consumption (just in case) and got rid of allergy triggers to help my sleep (replaced old pillows with hypoallergenic latex and started dusting more). Everybody is different but the nervous system is something that is flexible and can be reprogrammed and you can get better. I strongly recommend regular sleep for healing.
Remember a lot of people in the forums are people who are still looking for answers. Many, if not most, people with POTS lead very normal lives and get better or mostly better but those stories aren't often posted. I still have a high heart rate sometimes (mostly in mornings) but am back at work full time as a lawyer and I measure and notice my heart rate much less even when it's high (which is less and less). In some ways, I consider my encounter with this illness as a blessing (I didn't while I was sick). I have learned so much about how I perceive illness and other life challenges and learned limits and healthier coping strategies. I don't love exercising but if that's what I have to do to stay healthy, that's a pretty good treatment. Anyways, try to stay positive and know that once you find what works for you, things can get a lot better.
