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iheartcats

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Everything posted by iheartcats

  1. I've always limited my caffeine (well, after college) but had my daily iced latte from Starbucks. It has 3 espresso shots, about equal to a glass of coffee in caffeine. Occasionally, I'll have a Coke or Iced Tea. I went off caffeine for one month (ironically, during December!) and was just grouchy and feeling worse. I missed my morning drink, and I really think it gave me a boost in the morning. The cardiologist said he wanted to see and if it was helping, go ahead and have it in moderation. I'm thinking of switching to morning black tea instead of espresso for a while (or at least alternate). Interesting. I really do better with caffeine in the AM.
  2. I think I have some IBS problems again...I hadn't for a long time but now I'm having random diarrhea (yuck), not hungry, upset stomach easily, etc. I have a feeling my POTS might be causing it to flare up because I'm stressed right now about life, starting a new job, etc. And boom. Now I have IBS. What can I do to make it better?
  3. I used it this morning with no issues. I'll definitely only use it for 3 days, but I'm relieved there is a decongestant I can use! I do not want to go on antibiotics (I'm having some IBS symptoms) and that just makes things horrible.
  4. I have Livedo reticularis and no one knows why. They say sometimes it just 'is' so I get the purple ugly stuff on my arms. I hate it! It does show up with EDS, which I'm supposed to see a geneticist for when I can. I think if I have EDS, it's mild, though, and they don't think there's much they can do if it is. I just have to deal with the Livedo reticularis.
  5. Thank you - I'm not not afraid to try this one. Mucinex seems to be helping so I hope this helps clear me up so I don't have to take antibiotics!
  6. Let us know how it goes - I've not flown with POTS but I'm going to have to before long. This was a helpful thread. I hope your trip is wonderful! What kind of compression do you recommend? Like Spanx? Or real prescription ones?
  7. I have a cold that just won't leave and the doctor says we have to get it 'cleared up' and, since I can't take Sudafed, wants me to give Afrin Nasal Spray a chance. The Pharmacist and Doctor said it should be OK with POTS and my medicines because it's a local spray...it's the only decongestant I can 'safely' try. Anyone have luck with this? They said only use it three days.
  8. Is the TB test pretty safe for us POTS folk? My Dr. recently recommended it.
  9. The DMV site said we had to mail the form for plates (no cost) so I did. I understand it can take two weeks, so I'm still within that time frame. What I am concerned about is are they going to question the illness the Doctor put as it's so unknown (it's not like MS or Lupus)...? I was wondering if he should just put OI but he wanted to put POTS. Maybe I'm being extra paranoid because of so much going on.
  10. I had disability plates in my prior state for work, and now that I'm working again I need these. My current PCP filled out all the forms and I submitted them to the state via mail, per the instructions. Once received, are they usually issued by the state without difficulty? I know he put POTS down and most people have never heard of it, but it does fall under the Heart/Circulatory disorder overall. Does the DMV just look for the Doctor approval and usually grant the plates? I'm anxious about this as my job starts soon and I need to be able to park reasonably and it's hard enough to do it with the plates, almost impossible without (I can't walk blocks and blocks in the AM as you all know).
  11. What is helping me is Zyrtec (I use the generic bottle from CostCo, AllerTec I think and they are like $25 for an entire years worth) and Flonsase nasal spray. I prefer Nasacort but insurance only covers Flonase. It works well enough, though. I think the nose sprays make a huge difference for me. They seem to stop most of the sinus infections I used to get...and I was told it was a localized steroid so much safer than the other type.
  12. Blondie - Thanks for the reply. I am trying to tell myself that a big chunk of my anxiety is I've not done this in more than a year. Once I get in a routine I will hopefully be OK. I have to try. It is so hard to work with a condition like POTS - it's so silent most people will never know we have it. And it is hard to explain. I don't even know who I will eventually tell but I know it will come up (I rarely have the energy to do after-work drinks and the such, even if my drink is a ginger ale). I am glad I'm not 'alone' going through this. Being off for more than a year and then back to work is such a big change. I didn't mean for it to be this long, but in part its due to the job market so I should be thankful something came through!
  13. I've tried the Mucinex and all is well. I'm not on any anti-anxiety medications, SSRI or am not taking Ambien tonight so supposedly the codeine SHOULD be OK. Still a bit nervous, but I need some sleep.
  14. I'm starting a new job after not working for over a year and a half and feel like I'm having anxiety attacks over this. I don't feel great with my POTS and have to take my medications to manage, but there is the 'you have to try to work and see how it goes to even think of applying for any help.' And I know I need more work 'credits' so Disability isn't really an option for me at this point. So I'm stuck trying to work and making it through. It's a desk job, but you know those can be stressful but it isn't like nursing or factory work where I'd be on my feet all the time. I also know it'll interfere with cleaning and 'having a life' - work will suck out most of my energy. I tell myself it's worse because I haven't started yet and haven't got a schedule, but it's very stressful to me and if anyone can share some tips they do to make it through work with POTS I'd appreciate it. Also, of course there's no parking and I do NOT do well on public transport because mornings are the hardest for me. I have to find hard-to-find street parking everyday and that's another stress to deal with...everything just feels overwhelming and I have to make this work out as best as possible.
  15. TrainBoysMomRocks - I know. It's hard to decide. I need to sleep without coughing all night so what is worse for my POTS - no sleep or messing with my nervous system a bit? I guess I can give it a go, because if I at least get some rest that SHOULD help the POTS and healing. I hate having to take new medicines. It's a drag! But I did take Nyquil OK for a few nights (POTS didn't get worse). So that's reassuring.
  16. Is the only reason you don't take Codeine the Klonpin? I did a 'drug interaction' and I'm not on anything that would badly interact. I got a couple of interactions, but nothing threatening. Hmmmm...I need to sleep and not cough so I may have to give it a go. Is Vicodin 'similar' to codeine at all? How it acts?
  17. I haven't used Codeine cough syrup or Mucinex for many years. So I've never taken them with POTS. Have you guys ever taken these meds with POTS? I am so congested and coughing up and feeling awful I need to sleep at night and get over this horrible cold. It's the worst I've had in YEARS. And you know POTS makes them all the more fun.
  18. My POTS really showed up after a virus, but we also had mold at our last residence. I wasn't really aware of how bad it was, but we knew we had to move because it was not helping. I've said this before, but my cat had bad asthma symptoms in the moldy place and they are 90% cleared up with him after being out of there for more than a year. I assume some people are more sensitive than others and mold can exacerbate things. You can have mold in a colder climate, too. Just takes moisture of some sort, I think.
  19. I'm making myself eat cereal - I think I do much worse if I don't eat, even if I don't want to eat. I got a flu shot, too, so I guess I caught another strain. Hope you are feeling better, Dani!
  20. I'm liking this brand OK guys, and I'm pretty sensitive to medicine. It seems to work well and it cuts easily. Plus, it's purple. It's pretty. That is something, right? But really, it does seem to be keeping my Blood Pressure tolerable!
  21. I get the sparkles too - especially when I'm hot, in the shower, etc. I think mine are blood pressure related.
  22. Oh I want to try this when I feel better...I wish someone could post a photo as I'm trying to visualize how to pull this off properly!
  23. I haven't had a flu in a long while...but I'm fatigued, body aches, sore throat, fever, etc. I think it's the flu, not cold, and I feel pretty crappy. I think I pushed myself too much this week...I felt off and now it's caught up. I'm trying to drink G2, rest when I can, and eat a bit. I know last time I had the flu POTS was really bad, but I think that was due to dehydration so I'm trying to avoid that! I do know there's not much to take for the flu...I'm too late for Tamiflu. And Dayquil makes my POTS worse.
  24. I'm on the new Upsher-Smith Midodrine. I think it's a slight adjustment. It might be a bit weaker than my other one so I think I'll have to be on the ball taking it every 6 hours or so. On the weekend I sleep in and 'miss' my morning dose sometimes so I can tell it more then...but I know generics can be 80-120% and this one probably runs on the lower end for me, but you can never be certain with POTS.
  25. Hello everyone! I am now starting my new Beta Blocker next Saturday...the reason is because my Midodrine changed generics on me. (They are in short supply so you get what you can get...). I'm adjusting to that this weekend and it is about the same, but slightly weaker. So the new Beta Blocker is next week. I want to take it, really, because it's safer for me, but I just couldn't handle two switches in one weekend as I'm sure you can all understand! I'm glad to see Metoporol works for so many people. That has eased my anxiety.
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