JaneEyre9

I hear where you are coming from about no insurance and starting out with little experience in transcription. That is definitely tough. I'm not sure if this would make a difference or not, but have you thought of calling doctors in your area to see if they are looking for transcription help? Do you have friends in the medical profession you could ask to network for you? You might make more money transcribing that way than going through a company that also has to profit from your work. An additional idea-- there are companies that do straight transcription (not medical) that might be an additional source of income on top of an independent contractor or part time position as an MT. I'm thinking straight transcription companies might be more likely to hire someone with less experience. My impression is that you get insurance usually through full time positions. Is full-time work from home something you can swing with your health limitations? I know these are all imperfect solutions, but the comforting thing is that if you do find a decent company, your earnings will increase over time-- both as you get faster at it, and as you are promoted for increased experience. I hope I didn't sound like you could solve all your problems by getting another MT job. Though I'm not in your shoes, I do know how complicated these situations are and also how hard emotionally and financially it can be to not be able to hold down a job outside of the house. Kristen

Thanks for posting this! A note to those with milk sensitivity-- the white-chocolate cookies have milk in them. The description says gluten-free and organic, but if you aren't looking carefully, you might miss the milk in them. Everything else there is dairy free though. I'm planning what to order right now.

I'm so sorry you've been having such a rough time. I can truly empathize as I tried to work after my diagnosis with POTS and was miserable and unable to keep up. It was devastating for me as I had trained my whole life for the job I was doing, yet I could barely get there in the morning, much less perform any tasks that required brain power. As someone who is almost done with a medical transcription course, I highly recommend trying some other companies before giving up altogether on the work-at-home idea. You obviously put a lot of time and effort into the training, and I know there are a number of companies out there that have great organization and feedback. Many of these companies offer flexible independent contractor positions which stay-at-home moms LOVE due to the flexibility it gives in scheduling and taking on only the work you can handle. Here is a great general link to look for jobs: http://www.mtjobs.com/ I have heard good things about sten-tel, medquist, accuscribe, princeton, and ascend from the forum posts I've read, but there are many more good companies out there. It's not a field where you have to accept ridiculously low pay and poor treatment. That is the exception, not the norm. Doing your research pays off, so if you have a company you want to apply to, please feel free to send me the name, and I can look it up on my course forum to see if there are any posts to give you inside info. If you definitely feel that working at home is out of the question, then I agree that retrying for disability is a good option. From what I have heard and read here, most people are denied the first time in Ohio and it is a very long process to get approved. Also, if you need immediate help with your flare of symptoms, maybe you could call your specialist and speak about some of your more urgent concerns on the phone. I hope this helps a little to know you're not alone in your frustrations and experience. Hang in there! Kristen

After a series of severe chemical exposures and a diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivity by a famous specialist, I went to my primary care doctor complaining of dizziness and fatigue. I told her I never had any energy, felt sick all the time, couldn't work, and was pale constantly. Her prescription: get a tan. I can only imagine that her cure for headaches would be to wear a hat.

I hope things go well for him this week. Please keep us updated, Nina. Kristen

Hola from the Caribbean! Just kidding. I am loving my tanning lotion. Melissa-- What happens to you when you can't use a face lotion? I obviously can't say with 100% certainty that this would be ok for you, but I do have sensitive skin in terms of breakouts, and this Jergens stuff is a new product designed just for face (make sure it says "face" on it)-- noncomedogenic, oil free, and light weight. Due to my chemical sensitivities, I'm generally super careful about putting anything on my face unless it is specifically formulated for faces, and even then I usually go without any makeup-- only using mild bar soap. I have to admit, you gave me a laugh about being tan everywhere but your face. What a picture. hahaha. Lisa-- I am usually the same way about trying new products on myself-- I like to wait for someone to tell me it works for them. I was feeling extra bold and feisty that day at the store and decided to go for it! Thankfully the risk paid off-- especially since I was about to see friends I hadn't seen in a few years. Wouldn't that have been great if i had shown up orange? Em-- Thanks for clarifying that the tinted moisturizer isn't an instant tan. It is gradual which makes it more natural I think, and easier to control. All I wanted to do was take the glare off of my arms, legs, and face, and so just the couple times I used it, I succeeded. I didn't think it was doing much at first, but I tried using some hydrogen peroxide on a cut I had on my leg, and when it dripped, it bleached a little streak down to my ankle. I rinsed off the peroxide right away and it was fine, but it showed me I actually did have some color. Keep in mind i chose the Jergens for *FAIR* skin tones. I'm not responsible for the results of medium or dark, though that might give you a lot of color fast. ~The new and improved artificially bronzed Kristen

This is a great post-- I have also learned a lot from being here over the years--most of it I think I do now without thinking. My favorite helps are: ~Smart Water (which I carry everywhere and often hear the obvious "does that make you smarter?" comment) ~Citrucel (methycellulose powder) every day for easing IBS symptoms ~Nature Made Super B Complex vitamins ~Tilting my seat back a few degrees in the car rather than being straight upright ~Keeping a robe in the bathroom so I can lie down right after my shower ~Going to quiet restaurants or ones without waiters/waitresses so I don't feel overstimulated or have to wait for the check or slow service when I'm lightheaded. ~Ordering carryout rather than cooking if I have company so I can focus my energy on the company ~Instant chocolate pudding has considerable sodium in it I eat Amy's frozen entrees-- veggie loaf, soy mac and cheese, and soy cheese pizza. They are made from organic ingredients and have a lot of sodium. There are also gluten-free entrees from Amy's. http://www.amyskitchen.com/products/catego...prod_category=4 I also go for booths at restaurants and put my feet up at the movies, but never thought of sitting by the rail! Kristen

I looked around and you might want to try Google search with keywords like "hyperthermia" or "thermogenesis" along with either "autonomic" or "drug overdose." That seems to describe what you are experiencing. Granted, I'm not a doctor, don't know you, and only have my "Google degree," but I think searching with these terms is a good place to start. At least it might help you understand what's going on a bit more and to educate your doctors as well. Do you ever take your core temperature when you are really hot? Here are some syndromes I found associated with drug overdose that cause hyperthermia: neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), serotonin syndrome, sympathomimetic poisoning syndrome, and anticholinergic poisoning syndrome http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic562.htm From this article about sympathomimetic poisoning syndrome, it sounds like acute hyperthermia from drug overdose can be caused by excess norepinephrine that is not properly handled and can be treated with benzodiazepines. However, that is in acute cases, and since you are not taking the drugs anymore, that may not be the issue for you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonergic_syndrome Serotonin syndrome is caused by excess serotonin in the central nervous system and would be worsened by the common SSRI antidepressants. Searching for these syndromes individually and reading up on links associated with them might help you too. Some of them sound like acute rather than chronic syndromes, but it's a place to start. There are research articles on cocaine causing hyperthermic reactions, so I think there are people studying problems similar to yours. As a personal side note, I have an interest in the chronic effects of chemical exposure and have an article on my computer by a man named Martin Pall who works at Washington State University. He writes papers on the biochemical "vicious cycle" that may occur in the body of someone with chemical sensitivity and chronic illness. Here is a link to the abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17448611 What you are experiencing sounds awful, so I hope you can get some answers with these searches and talking to your doctor. Kristen

Well it's that time of year again here in Ohio, and the warm weather clothing is making me feel paler than white. I had to be in public last weekend, so I went to the drugstore and found Jergens Natural Glow Face Moisturizer for FAIR skin. It is the best! It even smells like suntan lotion, so I can pretend I've been out all day at the beach. :-) It did NOT turn me orange or make me look really dark. I just wanted to throw this recommendation out there for those of you who want a little lift. It did wonders for me emotionally to feel like I was the color of a real human. haha. Also, I got the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer (in a larger tube) for my legs and arms. I didn't want to be 2 toned! The plus side of this is that it's primarily lotion rather than a pure tanning agent, so it makes you soft without an overpowering color. Kristen (not to copy Melissa, but i think her signature face is appropriate for this post)

Sara-- Your post brought tears to my eyes. Thank God for the power of prayer indeed. Thanks for posting this as it gave me a lift just reading it. I hope your father continues to have a good recovery. Kristen

ajw-- POTS hit me when I was finishing my thesis in grad school, so just graduating was a challenge. I could not work, but desperately wanted something I could do from home. I searched and searched for something that fit my interests and need for flexibility. I found two things that might appeal to you. One is online tutoring-- PM me if you want more info on this. I do homework help for kids through a company that has a great reputation. I also had a private student for a short time. The other thing I tried is an online course in medical transcription. Since we have POTS, we know a lot of medical terminology and drug names, so this might be a good fit for some people on here. The company I chose allows me to work at my own pace and my own times, so my sleep disorder doesn't prevent me from moving along in the lessons. I just work when I am at my best and take time off when I'm sick. For anyone interested in these at-home options, please feel free to PM me for more details. Kristen

Hi Patti-- I am prone to sinus infections and have allergies, so I asked Dr. Grubb what he would suggest for treating these things if I can't handle the heart rate increase of a decongestant. He highly recommended (and personally uses) a neti pot. Recently my mom got me one from the drug store to try out, and it's a very simple way to clear congestion, reduce swelling of the sinuses, and to make a less friendly environment for bugs to grow. I don't know if it will work for Chrissy, but it might be worth a shot if you haven't tried it. There aren't really any side effects, and it's easy to use whenever you have congestion-- even multiple times a day. Sorry to hear Chrissy is still having problems with her sinuses even after her surgery. Has she been able to try living/staying in different places to be sure it's not an environmental trigger? Take care, Kristen

Like Ernie said-- IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, so it's important that a GI doc at least take a look at you. I had an endoscopy before my diagnosis. It helped me to take Citrucel fiber with juice once daily, and my stomach is much better behaved on that therapy. I still have flares from time to time, but they are usually milder than they were before. In the past I have had abdominal pain so bad that i was literally crying out for it to stop and curled in a ball on the toilet. The up side to an IBS diagnosis is that with good diet, and regular fiber, my situation did get better. Hope you can find the answers you are looking for-- I've been battling stomach problems for almost my entire life, so I know how awful it can be. Kristen

Hey Carla-- Just checking in to see how things are going with you. You have been in my thoughts because of your dad. My family went through a similar struggle, and I know how agonizing it can be, as well as physically and emotionally draining. Do you have help and support from friends or family nearby? Anyway, let us know how you are when you have time. (hugs) Kristen

Make sure you remember that salt is 39% sodium, so 4-11 grams of salt would be the same as 1.56-4.29 grams of sodium, like you would see on a nutrition label. Nutrition labels typically show sodium in mg, so that would be 1,560 mg to 4,290 mg per day. (Almost completely achieved by eating a 6-inch cold cut combo Subway sandwich in one sitting!) When I was diagnosed, my doctor told me to eat 8 grams of salt a day. I thought I needed 8,000 mg of sodium, so I got really upset. When I finally realized it was more like 3,000 mg, I found that to be pretty reasonable. Things like deli meat and adding table salt to my toast in the morning really made it add up. I also like things with soy sauce (almost 1,000 mg in a tablespoon of restaurant soy sauce!), burritos, potatoes chips, popcorn with salt, hot dogs, grilled cheese, eggs with salt on them, and soup. A single serving of Campbell's Homestyle chicken noodle has 700 mg of sodium in it. Pickles, V8 juice (480 mg sodium), and tv dinners are also great options. I think the main thing is to slowly increase the amount of salt consumed, and your tongue will become accustomed to it. I've found that I now crave salt and add table salt to compensate for days when I eat "regular food" with the family. It's easy to throw extra salt on a potato and piece of chicken to boost your sodium for that meal. After a while, you will find your balance and won't have to count or estimate mg of sodium. You'll just know what makes you feel good. The numbers are a guideline, not a hard and fast rule for each day. Hope this helps! Kristen

I've personally found some relief from starting Motrin several days to a week before my period to prevent the build up of prostaglandin in my system. I continue the Motrin for the first couple days of flow as well. This has made a big difference for me being able to tolerate my extremely painful my cramps. I share your frustration with not being able to use birth control pills. I take a daily vitamin B complex supplement as well, and I think that makes a difference. Any amount of regular exercise you can handle can also make a difference in severity of cramps. Have you investigated the possibility of endometriosis? That can cause severe pain like you describe.

Hi Carla-- I was just thinking of you today and wondering how you and your father are doing. I'm sory to hear that this overwhelming process is going on with the chemo. It must be so difficult for you to go through this. How are you feeling physically? Are you still working at your full time job through all this? Take care, Kristen

Angela, I'm so happy for you! You've been such a positive influence here and in my own outlook, so reading this was a real joy! I'm sure it did wonders for your confidence and emotions to get out into the "working world." If you can handle that, you can handle studying for sure, so good for you! Will you be living on campus at all or always driving to your classes? I drove to mine when I attended college, and you probably have considered this, but if you arrange your classes so that you only need to be on campus a few days a week, that can really help conserve energy! I had a few semesters where i got to take Tuesdays and Thursdays to just study at home. It gave me a chance to catch up on sleep and really dedicate myself to studying. Keep us updated, and congratulations on this big step forward. Kristen

I started getting the "tight" feeling in my throat after an anaphylactic reaction to CT contrast at the end of 2005. It lingered for a week or two after the event, and I thought I was being anxious about it, but it finally went away. It has returned once in a while since then, which really bugs me, but I think it's primarily just after I eat peanut butter. I'm definitely planning a trip to my allergist soon, but just wanted to chime in that I have it too, and I don't think mine is "just POTS."

Hi Rachel-- Sorry to hear that the Epogen caused such discouraging side effects. The flu feeling better does not sound very good!!! Wish I had some words of wisdom, but all I can offer is a hug. ((Hug)) Kristen

Hi Mary, I'm not a doctor, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night! Haha. Just kidding. I did graduate work studying cardiac rhythm and imaging, so this is just my amateur stab at your report. Sinus rhythm is your normal heart rhythm, where each beat originates from your heart's natural pacing area-- the sinus node. Your low heart rate of 46 appears to be when you were sleeping-- this is measuring the same thing as your long R to R interval. That seems to be during a time when you were sleeping (7:38am), and it's normal to have a lower heart rate while sleeping. Your high heart rate of 156 may have occurred when you were doing something active at around 3pm. A lot of times if we are walking or doing some chore around the house, our heart rate can shoot up quickly without us realizing it's gotten so high. Your average heart rate is just that, average for night and day, and though 99 is a high-normal pulse, it is probably not out of the ordinary as an average. Ectopic beats (supraventricular means above the ventricles, and ventricular) are not harmful as isolated cases and are common even in healthy people. It just means that for whatever reason, a particular beat originated from somewhere other than the sinus node (the natural pacemaker of your heart). These beats can cause problems if there is underlying heart disease or damage, but on their own, they are not harmful. I think bigeminy relates to pairings of ectopic and normal beats. The fact you reported dizziness two times when your heart rate was above 100 makes sense-- 100 beats per minute is tachycardia (fast heart rate), so it's common to feel symptomatic when your heart rate gets high like that-- especially if you are just standing or sitting still. The fact you didn't feel symptomatic when you were at your peak heart rate suggests to me that you were doing a somewhat strenuous activity at that time and didn't notice your high heart rate at the moment. (But that's just an editorial opinion from my own experience monitoring my own heart rate.) I know it is frustrating when you are monitored on a mild symptom day. One thing my doctor did was put me on a heart monitor that I could wear for a couple weeks, and so when I felt symptomatic, I would press a button to record my heart rhythm. It's important to know that during your episodes of symptoms you are only having sinus tachycardia because other forms of tachycardia or arrhythmias can be dangerous. It seems from this report that there is nothing extremely dangerous reported, and that's probably what your doctor meant by "nothing" being found. It definitely does NOT mean you are not sick or that you have nothing wrong with you. Like I said, I'm NOT an MD and not an expert, but from what I know in my past graduate education and research, I wanted to try to explain some of these terms to help put your mind at ease a bit. A good plan might be asking your doctor about your more serious symptom days and/or getting a second opinion from a cardiologist familiar with POTS in your area. Kristen

Happy to read about your good experience, Morgan! It will be interesting to see what the sleep study shows. Kristen

Amy, I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't imagine what you are going through, but I prayed for you. Kristen

Dear Carla-- What you're going through is devastating. From a family with 2 generations of only children, I understand the enormous stress that your dad's illness places on your shoulders, when you yourself need help. I will pray for you, your dad and your step-mom. My heart goes out to you. It's so difficult to want to be strong for the ones you love when you are barely able to make it through each day. May God's grace rest on you, Kristen

This is something I experience quite frequently when I have to stand for any extended period. I find the best way to cope is to: 1) Not panic-- this just makes things worse 2) Dress in layers so you can cool off by taking off a layer or two 3) Carry a water bottle with you 4) Squat down closer to the floor-- if in a store, you can just pretend (or actually) look at something on a lower shelf 5) Raise yourself up and down on your tip toes a few times to flex your calf muscles and circulate your blood 6) Look for a place to sit down As far as being with friends, I try to warn them ahead of time of what might happen-- i.e. I might get dizzy and not act like myself. If you can't or don't feel like you can talk to them ahead of time, you can always say, "I'm feeling a little lightheaded, so don't take it personally if I seem out of it." Most people should be concerned if they see you sweating, pale, or not feeling well and one friend might volunteer to find you a chair or accompany you to the bathroom. Those are just some thoughts off the top of my head. Stores are tough places to go, but if you go when you are well hydrated and not right after a meal, you might have more success! You can also use a wheelchair, but I understand how you might want to walk if you are able most of the time. Hope this helps! kristen