Megan

You're both in my prayers.

Meg

Good luck!

Meg

I hope you and your husband start feeling better soon!

Meg

I know there have been other discussions on this, and I'll search for them later, but I'm so foggy-brained I can barely focus on what I'm thinking.

My school doesn't have a disability office. Instead, I go to the office of the dean. This seems to work fine for people with ADHD and dyslexia, but I'm such a unique case to them that they have apparently called in experts because they don't know what to do with me.

I go to a private school and, at least in the English department, after 2 absences you fail a class. This doesn't apply to me, although profs are allowed to appeal to a committee to try to stop unlimited absence allowance. (Apparently I have a good advocate on the current committee, because thus far no one has succeeded.)

I'm have a heck of a quarter right now, though, and I'm really behind in my work. This is due to waking up without vision, periods of unconsciousness, loss of use of my legs, etc, etc, any POTS symptom that makes it difficult for me to function outside of my bed. On the one hand, the dean's office is trying to help me. The assistant who does the work believes that I'm intelligent and hard-working and tries to do what she can for me. The head of my academic department, though, is "expressing concerns" again. She thinks that I'm being allowed too many benefits, and is worried about fairness to other students and such. I understand that being sick doesn't make me queen and I don't expect to be treated that way. I DO expect people to at least TRY to understand that I'm so far behind because at times I am not capable of doing the work, period. I'm busting my butt when I can, but lately I've needed 10-12 hours of sleep at night and that makes things difficult.

I know that I can do this work, I just can't do it on their schedule. I'm in my junior year, and I've made it through as a full time student so far, even if I have to go as minimum full time. I'm not willing to give up my full time status right now when I know I've hit a rough patch that I can get through. (Next quarter I am taking a lighter/easier load, which will help) One option I've been given is to withdraw for the quarter, but our quarters are 10 weeks long and this is week 7. I would be losing A LOT of work into classes that I'll have to take again if I withdraw.

Mostly I guess this is a rant, but for those of you in college or who have been through college with POTS, what does your university do to help you or what is the policy? Does it work for you or do you feel like you're always fighting the system?

I'm frustrated to tears.

Meg

I get a flu shot every year, and did before the POTS diagnosis. Having asthma puts me at higher risk. I actually think that a bad case of flu was one of the things that irritated my POTS and made it flare up enough to be noticeable.

Meg

I don't know, but I hope you find something!

Meg

congrats on a diagnosis! (although that's not a fun way to get one)

Meg

Did he mean a laporoscopy? I had one a couple of years ago to look for endometriosis. My gyno went into my abdomen through my belly button to look for problematic areas. With this surgery he can see better what's going on in the inside. That'd be my best guess at what he meant. If that does turn out to be what he wants to do, I might be able to answer some questions for you.

Meg

Good luck with the surgery. Prayers going your way!

Meg

This makes me wonder if my occasion insisting to my roommate or my boyfriend that something is on fire is related to my migraines. I never really thought of smelling smoke (when it's not there) to be a symptom. Hmm...

Meg

I often get "little black bugs," especially in my periphery vision. Occasionally, I lose all sight completely. Apparently it's nothing to worry about-my sight always comes back, usually after lying down with the lights out for a while and sometimes only after I pass out (completely unconscious). I've always wondered if it had something to do with my huge pupils taking in too much light and therefore sometimes needing to just shut down for a while.

Meg

I'm glad your birthday was better than you expected it to be!

Meg

Happy Birthday to you both!!

Meg

I have autonomic flares coming off of any med. It doesn't seem to matter if the med is said to have withdrawal symptoms or not. I'm so sensitive that everything gets me. So while I haven't been in this specific position, I wouldn't be surprised if you are feeling autonomic stuff.

Meg

Good luck with further testing. I hope that if you do have to have surgery, it goes well for you.

Meg

That last picture is one of the most adorable things I've ever seen!

Meg

Are you by chance taking Florinef? I had to start a potassium supplement when I started it because it made my levels drop. Other than that, I don't know much about levels, but I hope you figure things out.

Meg

Hi Mom.

Meg

You are in my thoughts and prayers! I hope you can avoid that crazy med effect happening again.

Meg

They are both so beautiful and adorable! I'm so glad that you & Teri (& Wilbur) have found an addition to the family.

Meg

I'm glad she's feeling a bit better now!

Meg

Flop,

I didn't know that about going off Florinef. Thanks for sharing!

Meg

I'm so sorry your parents don't understand. Hang in there, there are people who do.

Meg

I'm glad you had a wonderful birthday celebration!

Meg

I do have pain in this area, heart pain, attributed to POTS. I've spoken to my doctor about it and have been told not to worry about it but to ride it out. If it's new to you, however, you probably want to go to your dr and ask about it to make sure nothing is wrong.

Meg