thechick

I believe I've had POTS for about 25 years now. I've suffered with tachycardia that long. It was originally diagnosed as Mitral Valve Prolapse, (which doesnt show up now). It got out of control January 16th of this year, 5 days after bladder surgery. Ended up in ER with heart rate at 190. since then, life has been ****. Of course you all can relate to that.

Tammy, everything you have said really does help. I know this isn't easy on my husband, and he copes the only way he knows how. He gets so angry and frustrated that he can't fix it, he has to walk away. And yes, I sometimes get resentful because I cant walk away. I too need my "mommy", and she has been an absolute blessing. In the mornings when I am going through the IBS attack, and am in so much pain I can't even speak, just cry, I call her and she talks to me until it is over. We discuss everything except my health, and she tells me stories about her childhood, and gives me something to focus on other than the pain. She's 70 years old now, and after a really rough relationship growing up, I can now say that she is my best friend. I thank God she is so healthy and strong, and pray she stays that way for many years to come.. i dont know what I would do without her. My kids dont understand. Mom has been sick their whole lives, so its just part of life for them. Two of them are manic depressive and incapable of much comfort, but really all i need are their hugs and kisses, and they do give me that. I have called and spoken with Social Security and found that I can work part time and still be eligible for disability if my income is below $840 a month. So I am going to talk with the boss today and discuss the possibility of me going down to part time with a salary just below that. I should be able to go into the store and take care of the office work and all of the website work that I do can be done from home as I feel able. Im sure he will approve as his biggest concern has always been my health. Miriam, thank you for the suggestion. I will be picking up my paycheck this morning, and will stop at the bookstore on my way home if Im able. Or maybe visit Barnes and Noble from the computer once I get home. Im looking forward to reading it. One good note, I have been leaving the browser up on the computer with this forum, and found my husband reading it last night. Hopefully he will get some ideas on how he can help because I really believe he wants to and just doesnt know how. Do any of your spouses have suggestions for him? I know that right now I am not in a place to be of much help to anyone else, but I want to thank you all for your help, kindness, concern and prayers, and please know that if I can ever be of any help to any of you, I have a shoulder to cry on, an arm to lean on, an ear to listen, and a heart to care. God Bless, Karen

Thanks for all of your replys. As to your question I have severe constipation with diareah. I know it sounds strange, but I dont know how else to describe it. It starts as constipation and hours later it turns into the other. Im in absolute agony the whole time. Great way to start the day. I've been watching what I eat and have been resting the last few days since the ablation, took the week off work to regain some strength I had lost the last 2 months, and for no reason again today... BAM... heart rate 270, chest pain, and I cant catch my breath. I totally relate to the reference to the grieving process. Thats exactly what this calls for. Im still somewhere between denial and anger, not accepting what has happened to me yet. It really hit home when I awoke in the hospital and had not yet opened my eyes, and heard my father in tears asking why, hadnt I suffered enough? Knowing what this is doing to my family is also tearing me apart. So, Im not the only one who can't be a good wife, and do the things a wife should be able to do for and with her husband? I can't say that makes me feel better, but I guess I dont feel so alone. How does your husband deal with this? Mine just avoids me and keeps himself busy. He says hes numb to my health problems, and it's just nothing new, so he can't help but be insensitive. I say it's a cop out, and if I cant depend on him who can I? Thanks for giving me an opportunity to vent... and a place to talk to people who truly understand.

Hi, I am a 44 year old woman who the doctors now believe suffers from POTS. I have to say Im amazed that it took them this long to even consider it given my symptoms. Friday I had an ablation done to attempt to solve the problem of Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, and needless to say it didn't work. Upon waking up from one of the most painful and scary procedures i've ever had they informed me that they now understand whats going on, and are scheduling me for a tilt table test in one month. I also suffer from the worst case of IBS they have ever seen, and go through what can only be called intense labor pains for 3 hours every morning of my life, can't walk straight due to improper balance, have severe lower back pain from scoliosis and a rotating tailbone, have diagnosed nerve damage causing numbness and tingling going down both legs, osteoarthritis, and lately have been having a problem with concentration and have not been able to perform my job effectively. I am a manager of a retail store. I have had a problem with tachycardia off and on most of my life, however in January, 5 days after having bladder surgery, it took off landing me in the hospital for 4 days, and hasnt slowed much since. most drugs didnt work, and the one that did, I had a bad reaction to, so medication isnt' much of an option for me. I can't even take an aspirin without it causing my heart rate to reach 150. Heart rate is in the 90's while resting, and jumps to 129 upon standing, even more when I move around, and will go as high as 170-190 bpm. needless to say, I'm short of breath all the time, light headed, although I have not yet fainted, suffer alot of nausea, and really don't feel like getting out of bed anymore. I have a wonderful understanding boss, who has been very patient with me, and I know will never fire me due to my illness, but I have a responsibility to the store, and if I am not going to improve significantly, then I need to step aside and allow him to find someone who can do the job, and be there everyday, but I dont want to lose the job if I am going to get better. This has been going on long enough and I need to make a decision soon. Can anyone tell me, realistically what to expect in the months/years to come? Im thinking that if it weren't for the IBS attacks every morning, that maybe I could have more control, but starting every day in this much agony will only make the POTS problem worse, thereby giving me not much hope of improvement. Is anyone else going through similar problems?