jhjd

Congrats! I totally understand the whole people not understanding how you feel. If you had a broken leg, nobody would question that you wouldn't want to say, walk a couple of blocks to get lunch v. drive. But you don't have a broken leg- you look healthy and people think they know what you mean when you say you're tired. But it's hard to explain the sort of bone dragging fatigue that we feel- sometimes you just can't push through it, and you're being smart (not pessimistic) to consider it and make a plan before the conference. Don't let either your family or your disease get you down! Just do your best- maybe get there a day or two before the conference so you can have down time before it starts. Also, call the conference organizers and see what you can do about reserve seating, pre-registration, etc. to minimize your standing in line time. Most of all- HAVE FUN!

So, like most of you, after years of feeling bad, I'm just now in the process of being dxd w/POTS after a saga of doctor visits culminated in an echocardiogram (side note- it's always scary to hear the technician trying to find your bp say "hmm...this can't be working right.") Haven't yet gone for TTT, as I'm switching insurance and wanted to wait until I got the one that would PAY for it, but all the sympotoms seem in place. Anyways, my question is this: have any of you ever had serious severe nausea wake you up in the middle of the night to be sick? Saturday night at about 3 a.m. I was jolted out of bed and barely made it to the bathroom in time, and I haven't felt right for the last couple of days. Hadn't eaten anything unusual or drank too much that day or anything, and DH did not have similiar symptoms, so I don't think it's food-borne. Plus, it was hours after I'd eaten anything. It's not the first time this has happened- when I asked a dr. in college about it, they told me I probably had IBS but that also I shouldn't drink so much and do whatever drugs I'd done (which was frustrating because I hadn't done anything!!!) THANKS!

I'm new to POTS (or at least newly diagnosed), but living in South Alabama, where we saw 90+ in April, I know heat. Simple stuff can really help a lot- make sure you wear breathable fabrics, keep your hair off your neck, keep drinking cool drinks, stay in the shade when possible. Also, try to stay in well ventilated areas. You might want to get a little personal fan- they make great ones that attach to water bottles so you can mist off. Jump in the pool when you can. One thing- although it might be tempting to dash into a super-cool place or drink a big glass of ice water, it's always best to try to avoid drastic temp. changes. I know it makes me feel like crap when I go from hot to cold too fast. So, if you get too hot, drink a glass of luke-warm water first, then a glass of ice water. Same thing with the shower. Walk slowly into cool buildings, spending a few minutes by the door first to let your body get adjusted. Good luck!