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iheartcats

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Posts posted by iheartcats

  1. Thankful,

    You've made me feel better. I am trying to just let it go. I don't think she was teachable...the blocking/physical behavior was overwhelming. I got away from her as quickly as possible (but I still think she parked close to make my getting out treacherous and I've pulled a muscle doing it!).

    I suppose if they push it and call the police or something, I have my documentation. But I think I'd be very upset.

  2. I was feeling miserable after work and had to run into the grocery store. I have disability plates.

    A large woman 'blocked' me on the sidewalk and confronted me about parking there. She was very rude and I couldn't get around her. She asked if I knew I parked in a disabled spot...I said yes, I have a disability. She went on that she doesn't see a placard....I said yes, because it's so bad I have PLATES.

    She was really wild and obnoxious acting and I had to do everything to control my temper. What right does she have?

    How do you even handle this, especially when someone gets physical and blocks your passage?

    And then...when I left the store...someone was parked so close I barely wiggled in and got all wet and dirty as it was raining. I literally had to shimmy in and barely made it. It was so bad a fellow with MS said how rude people were to park up against a disabled spot like that. I am not sure...but it was likely that woman.

    Still very upset, crying makes my POTS worse so I'm trying to hold it in. I'm barely hanging on with work and POTS and this just makes it worse.

  3. I have to do a round-trip flight soon and am not looking forward to it. I've not flown in...4+ years. Before my POTS diagnosis.

    I know I should take hydration tabs for water (like NUUN), carry my own snacks, take my meds, etc.

    Should I take a Doctor's note about frequent urination and that I have a disability?

    Can I use my handicap placard in another state?

    My family has helped me purchase plane tickets with 'extra legroom' - it was quite a bit more expensive for the "Premier" seating but I get more leg room AND first group boarding and I really need that. I'm really tall and I know I just can't stand being cramped with POTS.

    I'm flying alone and nervous. But I'm checking bags and have time to prepare.

  4. I am able to work (sometimes I feel like I'm just hanging on)...but that means I can't really exercise. I have to break up household chores on different evenings. It's annoying to not be able to 'just clean all at once' like my friends do.

    I don't do a ton of socializing. Just a bit, as work takes a lot of what energy I have.

    I am pretty sure I couldn't work without my meds.

  5. My blood tests came back...I'm very allergic to molds and dust mites (which I know). And a small cat allergy (again, which I know...and I'm a cat person but have told to been keep it to 'one cat' to keep it under control).

    No food allergies. They aren't sure why I hived out from cashews a few years back. Chance? Something else? Random?

    But they've told me not to worry about cross-contamination at least. I don't feel comfortable trying nuts yet...but at least it's less of a worry.

    I do wonder if MSG is a sensitivity of mine...I don't think you can test for it. But it's not good for me anyway! So I can avoid it.

  6. In part to Mack's Mom, I am now on Singulair and it's really, really, really helping. I don't know if I have MCAD...but I do have horrible allergies to pollens, dust mites, etc. and you just can't avoid those unless you live in a bubble.

    My coughing has lessened about 90%, I can breath better, I feel better. I am so happy I tried that and I hate trying new meds. Thanks, Mack's Mom! :D

  7. I get up and take my medicine with either G2 or Milk. Then I lay back down about 20 minutes for them to kick in. When I wake up at night I try to have some water so I am not way dehydrated in the morning.

    Mornings are rough. It's hard for me to get up and get ready, but I have to and found this works best.

    Like FireWatcher, I agree it's something you kinda just get used to having to deal with. It becomes your normal. I'm also aware that is going to be hard on a young person - I can't imagine getting POTS at 15. :(

    I sip on a Latte at work to get through those first couple of hours.

    But, Electrolytes are so helpful to me. I mix those in, too...makes a big difference for some of us. Can he have SmartWater or something w/out flavor?

  8. I recently reacted to a dipping sauce that said "No Added MSG" (but apparently there must have been a lot of natural occurring MSG in it due to Soy Sauce). I got a lot of hives that calmed down after about 45 minutes, but had faster heart rate, dizziness, etc. so it turned into a POTS flare.

    Now, I have to drag myself for a blood test for food allergies as I can't do a skin test (the skin test didn't show much that I had a few years back but I get severe symptoms/hives after cashews so can't eat nuts). They say the skin tests aren't 100%, but the blood tests are a bit better.

    I've never reacted to Soy, etc. but I read that MSG and certain things like Soy Sauce can cause a HISTAMINE response which, while not an allergy, can make you feel bad, give you hives, etc. (and of course flare up the POTS).

    I'll update after the blood test, but I'm wondering if this 'histamine response' affects any of you? I guess I have to avoid soy sauce and the such as it makes me feel terrible and hives are uncomfortable.

  9. Thank you for all of your help. I was worried about my job, too...how can I do that? Well, that's now a challenge with my new hours and I'm barely hanging on and I'm able to stand up, stretch, go to the restroom very frequently, salt load, etc. which would not be nearly as easy on a trial.

    I also get spells where I have to take a few minutes, have a V8 (it helps me!), etc. to get more clarity. We all know that for desk jobs if you zone out for five minutes, life goes on (I wouldn't be comfortable being a nurse, counselor, etc, with POTS like I have it)...but you can't do that in a trial. Oh, what went on the last 5-10 minutes? Sorry, can you recap it? It's not like re-reading an email or proofreading.

    And then there's the you never know when you'll have a flare and need to miss - that's not good for a trial. I can adjust my lunch hour at work, I can't do that on jury.

    Hopefully, they'll be understanding. But I thank you for all the tips.

  10. Hi guys,

    When it rains, it pours. I have a jury summons. My doctor gave me an RX that I am unable to serve at this time...but I hear in California it's not always that easy. They still make you get up and question you.

    When I'm up, hydrated, dressed nice, etc. I don't look sick. Many of you know how this is! I wear make-up to work and fix my hair (as much as I can!), and dress nicely. It's just how I am. Well, when I feel up to it, it makes me feel better to dress nice.

    Anyway. Do you have ideas how I can explain quickly to the judge how POTS and jury duty don't go together well and that, while I don't look sick, I am? I know the stresses of a trial could throw me for a nasty flare, I have to go to the bathroom all the time, stay hydrated, stand and move about a bit when I need to. All those things I can do at work...but not during a trial.

    Any thoughts/ideas are appreciated! Would it be over the top to take the judge a print out about POTS?

  11. Thank you everyone! I had G2 on hand (but boy, apple juice sounds good) so, while I am sick of it, I've drank a lot of it. I'm feeling better (still tired, have to shake this fatigue), but the worst of it is over.

    I'll have to check out the Pedialyte to have some on hand. I am supposed to avoid acidic foods so am missing my V8. But...I think I'll be OK for it in a couple of days. That stuff is a super help.

    Boy, a virus/food poisoning is the worst thing ever!

  12. I wish him well. I'm trying to hold on working full-time while I can...and my heart is in it. So I totally know what he's feeling.

    The one thing (and this is so hard for me to get across, even!) is I can't do 'outside work' activities (grabbing a drink after work, long lunch break walks, etc.). People don't get it, but I just don't have the energy to throw out for that. I think you'll really have to be there and support him when he can't just do all the extra things kids do outside of school. Sometimes, that's the most frustrating.

    It's hard to get up and get going in the AM, too, so I really try to hydrate in the mornings. Mornings have always been the worst for me and it's getting past that everyday!

  13. My work schedule was just tolerable because it had two 1-9 shifts so I could do Doctor Appointments and rest up those two mornings. You know how POTS likes to be worse in the AM.

    Well, now I've been changed to a 9-5 M-F instead (which some people think is a 'good thing'...not so much for me! I wasn't excited!).

    I've already fought a couple illnesses as of late and am going through fatigue/exhaustion from a bad virus right now. I don't have much time off so I really have to work around this (and it's tough) and try to limit my doctor visits (and if I am careful I can book a PCP before my morning start time if I book far enough in advance, but not my specialists).

    So I do all I can...but sometimes it doesn't feel like enough. This was a 'shock'- I was NOT expecting this shift change and it's going to be very rough adjusting to. I'm also to the point of having anxiety which is adding to my POTS flare. I literally feel like I am going to burst out into tears (isn't that silly? but I do feel like that).

    On top of that, we're short-staffed for a bit and that's extra work and extra stress. It's supposed to be temporary, but still it's adding to all this. What can I do?

  14. I am on Ceftin antibiotic and they advise not to use Zantac (and similar drugs) as it can decrease the absorption of the antibiotic. I thought I'd be OK going off Zantac for 10 days. Well, no.

    Tonight I got random hives while eating dinner (the same pasta I eat at least once a week), but I felt more hot and just overstimulated. I think it's just the annoying 'random hives' because of the eating, being hot, etc. and this was much more under control while on Zantac. Who knew it could do so much to help! Of course, I feel all POTSY from the hives incident.

    I called a pharmacist (my pharmacy is closed) and from what she can tell, if I take Ceftin with food and don't take Zantac within 2 hours of the Cefin, I should be able to take my Zantac so I'm waiting to take my Zantac dose for today. I figure I can take it in the afternoon between Ceftin for the rest of the week.

    It could just be a random coincidence, but I think being off the Zantac had something to do with my reaction.

  15. Hi everyone,

    I haven't been on lately as I've been too wiped out after work and such, you know how it is!

    Unfortunately, I came down with a cold last week and the thing won't go away. It's mostly turned into cough and congestion and fatigue a week later and the congestion is really getting to me. I'm just feeling so exhausted, too, as you know how colds/etc. wear us down more.

    I'm barely getting through my job (I've only been there a short time so I'm in a no-choice situation). :unsure

    Could severe congestion a week after a cold be a sinus infection? I've put a call into the Dr. but haven't heard back yet...what can I do to make it better? I've been on Mucinex.

    And...how can I get back on my feet with POTS after this? I'm so tired and at least have to get back to my baseline to not be feeling completely awful everyday.

    Thanks for listening, it's been a bad week!

  16. LOVE IT- no side effects. It really helps with any chest pain- when breathing in & with asthma-type coughing. (I don't have traditional asthma either.)

    Yeah! I just started it today and no immediate reactions so hopefully it'll be a helpful one for me. I was told it can take a couple of weeks to notice a real difference.

    I'm glad they don't think I have asthma, just similar to what you have. It'll be GREAT if this helps. :D

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