dizzygirl

SOnshine, wow, i can relate to what you are going through. I am only 23 and was diagnosed with pots when I was 20, 3yrs.ago. Why pots cam on suddenly and drastically impacted my life, I had a very busy and full life, until one day in March i got sick with broncitus, and then I woke up one morning and could not sit up without feeling like I was going to hit the deck. It was horrible. I went from working about 70 hours aweek and going to college full time to doing absolutley nothing. It sucked big time. It took about 7-8 months to get a diagnosis, then an other 6-7 months to get me stable enough to function. In may of 2003 I was able to return to school, for medical transcription. This past October I had to quite school, I became very sick again, I dont mean to sound discouraging.. My ultimate goal is to one day become a nurse, but I have come to terms that I may never be able to do that, so I am thinking about my second goal in life, for a career. Socail worker. I was going to school for medical transcription as a quick way to get a degree, so I could have a half way decent job.. while I pursued other dreams. SInce I have been so sick lately, I have put my schooling on the back burner for now.. I know that I have to focus on my health right now. What I do is set small goals for myself, that I know that i can achieve,so that I can still feel somewhat productive and like I am accomplishing something with my life. I would say dont ever give up on your dreams, sometime your dreams are all you have on the really rough days. Re-evaluate what it is that you want to do. To all of you that have been able to hold a job while having pots, that is wonderful. I dont know how you do, but that is wonderful! Linda good luck to you sonshine!

thank you gena and merrill, I do wear compression hose, I find them to be uncomfortable LOL but wear them none the less. I did not learn of the supplement chromium yesterday. I will have to look into that. I am trying to cut my diet and calories back bit by bit, breaking old sugar attacks!!! And eating more healthy. I do thank you for the supportive ear, I was feeling very frustrated and needed to get it off my chest. And I have been feeling so crappy most of the time..I feel better now that I vented. Merrill... I cant wait to get out of that pots hole myself, hopefully it will be soon! thanks a bunch! Linda

Hello all! Well I am very frustrated at the moment. A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was overwhelmed but in a sense relieved too. I also have pots. Yesterday I went to some educational classes on diabetes, and I decided to talk to the nurse about the double whammy of haivng pots and diabetes. Well to start off with she didnt even know what pots stood for for or what is was. SO I had to explain it to her. It just infurriates me that people in the medical community are just clueless when it comes to pots. It makes me mad But anyways my point is that I learned about diabetes, but nobody seems to be able to tell how I can better control having pots and diabetes. I am very frustrated! And to top it all off, I am having a problem with weakness/heaviness/pain in my legs. It is becoming increasingly difficult for me to get around on my own to feet. My legs feel like they want to just give out, like there is no strength in them, it happens all the time. I am considering asking my doctor for awheelchair or something, scooter anything. Aside from the normal feeling of pots.. there is now this! I feel that my health is getting worse, instead of better. ANd you know I sleep so much that I feel as if I am sleeping my entire life away! Its no way to live, but I cant help it... AGHHH!!!!!! I am in a "potshole" help! Linda

Ernie, i am so very very sorry about how you were treated. that is just horrible!!!!!!!! I can relate to what you are going through though, I wish there were something that I could do for you! Best wishes to you! Linda

lalalisa... you are funny. I know what you mean about getting out of the house! Half the time I feel as though I am under house arrest!!!!! I am constantly staring at the same 4 walls... it can drive a person CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!! getting out of the house is a real luxury these days LOL Linda

Hi, i can realte to you dilema... I have a rought time after I have been at the mall, I think it has alot to do with the fact that there are so many people there, and the mall is usually warm, i think. that compiled with pots, is a recipe for disaster! I am usually tired out at about 10-15 minutes of walking the mall. I try to avoid going to often and go on a day where I feel half ways human!!!!

Hi that is great about your appt, and treatment good luck to you! Linda

thank you very much for the website! very helpful!

Hi!!!! I am curious, my cardiologist is setting up for me to be seen my a neurologist, and he wants an EMG done. I do not know what am EMG is, have any of you had one done? and what does it stand for? thanks for the help! Linda

thank you tea rose that was funny to read!

Miriam I am so very sorry about your mother, i wish that there were somehting that I could do to take away and ease your pain. But I know that it is a process that you must walk through. I think that you should just show up to the service if you want to be there, be there, nobdy has the right to tell you that you can not be there. I know that this is not the same thing thing, but 3years ago my father was not aloud to attend his mother funeral, due to a falling out with his mother, well he now regrets not going, I think you should do what you heart tells you to do, for your own sake. Forget what your sibling has to say, this is for you, your closure, nobdy else's Please please take care of your self, I know right now that it is hard, but you want to walk in that funeral home feeling strong, even though its got to be so tough for you. Again I am so very sorry for your loss. please take care Linda

HI I strongly agree with you on all points. I have had IV infusions a few times and I dont know what I would have done without them! Drinking water just does not always help, you need some help sometimes, and I'd like to kick this Mr so in so in the rear for even suggesting "just drink water" I agree that we need some strond advocacy in dysautonomia's treatment research you name it, whatever I can do to help just name it!

Nina good job on getting your paper done!!! Dont worry about the redo, it'll work out!! best wishes to you Linda

hi thank you for the website, I will look at it. Linda

Hi Welcome!! I am new to the site too. But have found it to be very helpfull. I was diagnosed with POts in 2002. I have suffered with it since I was about 12 yrs old. And I am 23 now. I suffer with alot of the symptoms that you mentioned, I unfortunately have not found alot that has helped it! But I cant listen any time!! I hope that you are feeling well today and that you enjoy the forum. Best wishes too you! Linda

hey there Nina just though I'd add a though of well wishes to you, I hope that you are feeling better, and good luck on your papers!! Linda You can do it!!

Hi I went to the doctor today, and I found out that I have diabetes. I also have pots. And I am wondering if any of you also suffer from both of these conditions? ANd if you do how do you deal with it? also, does the diabetes make the POts worse ? or is it about the same as it usually is? The doc is starting me on a diabetic pill to take twice a day. I am concerned about this. But to be totally honest, I dont really know alot about diabetes, I am suppose to be starting diabetes education classes, I am sure that I am going to learn alot there, but I'd like so info now. Can the diabetes, be the cause of my fatigue?? Aside from the fatigue i get from POts?? What are the symptoms of diabetes? Are there any similarities to POts? I just cant believe this another health problem to contend with, Oh My god! I am wigging out here!!! Thanks in advance for the vent sesion! Linda

Hi I find that I get more energy around 6-7 in the evening, that is when I am able to get a few things done. Iam usuaully bad off during the day, especially when I first wake up.

Hi I seem to be worse and more symptomatic with POTS during and before my period. I'm not real sure why, but I personally think that it is hormones going nuts that cause me to feel so crappy. I find that I pass out more durin this time, and that my fatigue is so bad that I cant get out of bed at times. Which is rough. I find that if I elevate my legs alittle, it helps. Little trick I have learned. I hope that you can find some relief, or comfort in knowing your not alone in this. Best wishes to you LInda Erie Pa

Hi! i get these weird twitches in my left eye too... I agree that they will drive you looney!! Good luck to you Linda

thank you all for your replies. I appreciate the support!

Hi everyone Last night I had a frightening experience, I was jolted up in bead at about 2:30 am last night with severe chest pain, it was a tight squeezing and sharp pain in the center of my chest. I sat up because I could not breath laying down. It lasted about 10 minutes. I usually get pretty bad chest pain when I have tachycardia, but this was much different, it was down right scary. I am wondering what you all do to combat chest pains. I have an appointment to see dr. Grubb in August, I am wondering if I should call him?? Thanks Linda

Hi Tammy I have been taking Ambien 10mg for 2 years. I take it every night. I find that I suffer terrible insomnia if i dont take it. I dont experience the anxiety that you mentioned. I have had POTs since i was about 12 yrs. old, though I wasnt diagnosed till I was 20. I hope that you find some relief from your symptoms, it is so hard living with POTS.

Hello all, I am new to this site. I have been suffering from POTS for 3 years now! I get really bad dizzyness, shortness of breath, tachycardia, visual disturbances, and about a million other symptoms. I have been seen by the infamous Dr. Grubb, he is very good. And I have a specialist in Pittsburgh that I see. I am curious if anybody has anyhting to offer that helps with there pots symptoms. I drink lots of water and gatorade, and wear compression stocking when I can stand them. One thing that I have noticed that helps is eating green lives, the level of salt in them helps me feel better. Weird I know, but it helps. Thanks for listening Linda