Day in the Life With POTS
Here's with a day in the life with POTS and dysautonomia is like. POTS = postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which is a blood circulation disorder that leads to symptoms like dizziness, nausea, fainting, pre-syncope, blood pooling, & so many other symptoms.
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WHAT’S EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME?
The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a group of more than 13 genetic connective tissue disorders that affect the joints and ligaments, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, and autonomic nervous system, among others. The most common type of EDS is hypermobile EDS (hEDS), which used to be known at type III. Some of the most common symptoms and co-morbidities of hEDS include chronic joint pain, joint instability and dislocations, dysautonomia, and GI tract dysmotility.
MORE INFO ABOUT EDS:
🧬 www.ehlers-danlos.com/eds-types/
🧬 bit.ly/2N95xTE
MORE INFO ABOUT POTS:
💓 www.potsuk.org/what_is_pots2
❤️ cle.clinic/2p1lByR
MORE INFO ABOUT GASTROPARESIS:
💚 mayocl.in/2BRQTuR
MORE INFO ABOUT MUSCLE TENSION DYSPHONIA:
🤍 bit.ly/2MLUYXI
FTC Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored video.
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#POTS #compression #dysautonomia
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Beware of the beta blockers. I used to do what you do in my thirties, as in take a lot of beta blockers to make myself feel better. Big mistake. It made my body work harder to maintain the blood pressure and I ended up with autoimmune problems that are likely related to stress hormone receptors, as in my body does not react to excessive amount of stress hormones anymore like happens in diabetes type 2 with insulin. It was fun when it lasted, I was perky like you despite the physical exhaustion. (I do not have EDS just hyper-mobility, so my POTS was not as serious as yours when I was younger.) Now I am unable to work and vomit upon standing a lot and have to lie down for hours to digest food particularly if I eat any carbohydrates (the digestion of which require stress hormones). Just saying, nobody knows how this functions. I suggest you move to Europe when you still can. We have a welfare state and better health care, which is the only reason why I am not living on the street.
Good day. Knowing that there will be others with POTS, watching your videos; can you please use a steady tripod so your clips are not so jumpy. They cause more dizziness and nausea. Thank you for understanding.
Did you get gardasil?
Hello ! My name is Steven and i am Greek . In 2016 i ve changed my diet for 2 months, because my Psoriatic Arthritis was getting worse . Ι fasted red meat, gluten( which gave me psoriasis ), nightsade vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, sugar, dairy, coffee . I mostly ate raw fruits and vegetables(especially leafy greens whithout oil, wich are the best for autoimmune diaseses) , olives, backweed( sprouted and dehidrated ), kinoa, dates, sweet potatoes , a little brown rise and once in a wile i ate fresh fish, oil and eggs . Now, i have zero psoriasis and almost zero pain ! In 2021 dysautonomia came and i also manage it with the same diet ! The cure is amazing !!! Remember RAW not cooked vegetables . Give it a try for one month and you will see the resaults ! I hope you get better soon . Keep fighting .
The fatigue that comes with pots is freaking relentless! Lying down throughout the day is essential. I wish more people knew about and understood this condition, because it can feel so isolating xx
The fatigue can be Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The hallmark is PEM Post Exertional Malaise
If so, staying within energy envelope, and avoiding anaerobic heartrate are key
Do you ever have days or times where you feel totally normal?
@@amy-qx8kr I never have a day where I feel normal. I get moments where I feel a bit better, but it's a daily problem
@@EE-xo3qr Im sorry. I haven’t been diagnosed but have read of people who feel just fine in some instances almost as if they’ve been “cured”. I’m not on a treatment plan obviously but there are anomalies where I would expect to have symptoms and don’t, and then the opposite happens as well! Things I normally don’t struggle with become and issue.
This helped me feel so normal.. I often find myself gaslighting myself. I get sick of the constant array of symptoms because I KNOW how I sound to others. I sound like a nut / hypochondriac. But I'm not. I just have SO much going on at all times. As complex as it sounds from the outside, imagine how chaotic it is in our heads and all the things we aren't mentioning because we're still working out what's going on, what's causing it, which illness and what we need to do to fix it.
This is how I feel every day. The anxiety from it is horrible.
I went over 6 months feeling this way before I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with pots 😭 i just kept ignoring the fact that i was feeling sick all the time which i definitely shouldn't have done.
I have had this exact thought, like I have so little to show for how shitty I feel, because when you say you are tired or dizzy people just go "oh you are just dehydrated",,, not the same
I had decided not to talk about it at all. Not only cause I did not even know what was going on; but everytime I saw a doctor everything was perfecto. So, it was all in my mind.
I can relate. I'm finding I'm diagnosing myself waaaaay before Dr's are. I currently have Endometriosis, I'm pushing for a diagnosis for EDS and now I feel I have PoTs too as the last year my heartrate has been going nuts but I keep being fobbed off!
Thank you for including the "breathlessness" in your video. This is the symptom I have been most gaslit by PCPs and cardiologists about. I have repeatedly been told it is anxiety or my imagination and it is NOT a symptom of POTS. So THANK YOU for showing me that you get out of breath exactly the same way as I do!! Usually its in the morning and/or getting out of bed for me.
Are you doing well rn?
Goodness! Me too! Cardiologist says I'm normal. He says he will dismiss my breathlessness, even though that's probably my most worrying symptom.
@@JerwenSiendo-ff9lc Right this second- I'm fine. But early in the morning I am ridiculously out of breath like I just ran a marathon. And I have to hold on to the wall so I don't faint.
@@skittes3 I am guessing doctors dismiss much of what they do not understand, which is so frustrating for us. I used to think people would be MORE interested in learning about something they do not initially recognize.
When I practiced psychiatry, I had patients come in to be evaluated for anxiety when they actually had POTS. These were classic POTS symptoms with a typical presentation that somehow their PCPs insisted was anxiety. Fortunately for them, I knew the differences between the two, asked the right questions, and told them what was going on and how to manage symptoms. POTS is really not as uncommon as people seem to think it is.
I have hEDS and POTS (and Hashimotos, Lupus and MCAS) I am 42, most of these were not diagnosed until the last 5 years, I've just been treated like a hypochondriac or ignored since childhood. I just power through as best I can. I am really glad that more doctors are recognizing and treating things. My kids have hEDS too and POTS too. Thank you for sharing.
Yes hashimotos too, and growing up I was told “your on your meds why are you still tired?” Then they diagnosed me with tachycardia, but not pots.
People and Doctor's/Nurses can be so utterly horrible to us (Classical EDS & POTS for me). It can get hard to ignore the fact that most people still think you are a hypochondriac even *after* you finally get diagnosed and have *visible* non fakeable symptoms. It helps to remember that they are morons but it's hard when it's your own family.
I'm so sorry you had to go through that level of medical gaslighting. I went through the same and it's taking to recover from the psychological damage.
Its horrifying hearing all these people not get diagnosed for such a debilitating illness. I'm so thankful to have had doctors who listened and worked it out with me. At 15, I have been diagnosed HSD but the doctor has said herself that its most likely hESD when I'm old enough. I have symptoms from hESD as well. I also have been diagnosed with POTS which is so helpful because I had no idea what was going on. I hope more doctors diagnose (correctly) as time goes on and medicine realm evolves.
Ok literally I relate so much to the whole “you just need to get down” thing! For years I just thought it was normal to feel like you’re about to faint after showering or exercising, boy was I wrong! I’m still fighting for a diagnosis, doctors keep saying it’s just anxiety. It can be so frustrating when medical professionals won’t hear you out.
Yes, my daughter would just 'drop' or sit on the floor.
I washed my hair today and am just gonna be down for the rest of the day. Thank you for sharing, it makes me feel less alone to know that showers are other people’s worst enemy too.
Yes they are 🙈. Warnt it great to take a good long shower in those healthy days...long ago. Never thought such a stupid illness would exist. Thanks for your comment. Let us live our lives the best we can. Hope you have friends who come and visit. Health insurance gave me a wheel chair. Still dreaming I can walk my dogs again for hours. For how long have you been having to cope with POTS? Greetings from Bavaria 🙋♀️ How long are
Yes! I just washed my hair after avoiding it for almost a month. I just didn’t have the energy to do it and I took a nap afterwards.
Yes, I've fainted in shower. I have to turn shower off, sit down and wash myself then stand up and rinse off.
I've had pots since I was 12. I'm turning 23 this month and doctors are NOW testing me for it. My whole life I've been shamed, gaslit, and ignored about my pain. I groan at the idea of them ever saying "it could be anemia" for the 100th time. Or anxiety, oh lordy. Seeing your video and how you go about it is reassuring to me in some way. Thank you for showing us your world
I’m 26 years old, and have been dealing with many of the symptoms you’ve described (no coat hanger pain fortunately) since I was 12 years old. I always pushed through the discomfort because I was worried about other people judging me, including my family. When I tell them I can’t help them with something because I’m feeling weak enough to faint, they roll their eyes. Well, I’m having an especially “potsie” (quotes because I don’t have an official diagnosis) weekend. I felt really weak yesterday (Saturday) and I only got weaker as the day went along. It’s now Sunday, and I’ve been in bed all day, only getting up to feed the cat, use the bathroom, and keep getting gatorade and water from the fridge. This is the worst I’ve felt in a long time. I finally have a doctor’s appointment in a couple days to start the process of getting an official diagnosis. I honestly feel really emotional about this, frequently struggling to keep up with everyone else. To finally get a diagnosis to validate what I’ve dealt with for so many years… it’ll be unfortunate, but I just might cry tears of joy.
The research I've done has shown that there is a definite correlation between cervical instability and Dysautonomia - It has something to do with the vagus nerve getting pinched in the neck area. I have moderate-to-severe cervical instability, including a tipped atlas and loss of curve in my cervical spine. My neck slips out of place a lot, even sometimes during sleep because the muscles are so relaxed. It's quite painful but I never knew it was related to my autonomic dysfunction until I started looking deeper into my EDS. Which is how I found your channel too. 💜
Vagus nerve involvement also explains why POTS researchers at Vanderbilt and other research hospitals have discovered that the vagus nerve stimulating medication Mestinon (Pyridostigmine) can be an excellent treatment options for certain POTS patients. Mestinon also happens to improve digestive motility, and researchers at Mayo Clinic and additional facilities have discovered that it can be a highly effective treatment option for patients who have gastroparesis, IBS-C, intestinal dysmotility, and digestive pseudo-obstruction. I have hypermobile type Ehlers Danlos syndrome with POTS, digestive motility issues, and additional EDS issues; and Mestinon has been my miracle cure for multiple EDS issues.
Yes vagus nerve crap yes but ive had a cervical.cranial fussion n no changes
Absolutely, I agree. Cervical Instability
I've been wanting to look into this connection bc I too have a bunch of diagnosed neck issues including lots of curve, disc bulge, disc wear, and more. Any book recommendations on this connection? For me, I don't think chiropractic is helpful with pots symptoms bc I sometimes feel worse after my neck is adjusted (getting nerve pain down my elbows for a day or two AFTER being adjusted) . But I do see a PT and she does manual therapy on my neck and dry needling. Sometimes also scraping and other pt treatments. I've seen her twice monthly for at least a year now. You do have to be careful with dry needling because it can excite the sympathetic nervous system (induces flight/fight). So she's careful to not overdo it.
@@SDWits I am not aware of any books on the subject, but if you just type "cervical instability vagus nerve" into KZhead you will get a bunch of results to start your investigation. For me, I have benefitted from using neck pillows to help with support (especially if lying on my back) and improving my nutrition, as well as taking certain supplements such as vitamin D3, vitamin K2, and food based B-Complex and vitamin C as recommended by my doctor. I used to do exercises and stretches for my neck, but I actually found that, for me - less is more and I seem to have fewer symptoms if I just leave my neck alone as much as possible. Best wishes to you 💜
I recently got diagnosed with POTS and started a beta blocker and I feel like it has given me my life back! I still have fatigue but I can take showers without feeling exhausted afterward. It does make my blood pressure kinda low but I can deal with that because overall I feel so much better!
YAY I'm SO happy to hear that the beta blocker helps you too! For me, meds vs no meds is night and day
If the blood pressure gets a bit too low with the beta blocker, you could ask about Ivabradine. It works much like a beta blocker, but does not lower blood pressure. Ivabradine is the medication that Chronically Jaquie had the best success with for managing her POTS. I miss her a lot.
I was on propranolol but cardiologist told me to stop as it was making me faint even more than usual, I really want a job but I can’t stand for long I hate this illness
@@billiejoe2791 Propranolol and other beta blockers made me faint more, too. When that happens, POTS specialists will switch the patient to Ivabradine. Definitely advocate to be tried on the POTS medication Ivabradine, which won't crash your blood pressure like beta blockers. I ended up responding best on Mestinon (Pyridostigmine) to treat my POTS, since it also treats gastroparesis and IBS-C. There are several other POTS medications out there, and it usually takes time and a good doctor to go through the options to find what works best for each unique individual patient. Don't give up!
@@Dulcimerist I also have gastroparesis! But i have a telephone appointment soon with my dr and I will ask to try ibravidine and if that doesn’t work well I’ll go with the second one you mentioned, thank you for the advice x such an annoying illness to have! People don’t understand how your automatic functions can be all over the place like us
I also have POTS and everyone in my life thinks struggling in the shower is just crazy. I have such a hard time that I use a shower chair and because I also have HEDS my shoulders sublex so my husband has to help me wash my hair.
Omg I feel so related to this. My husband helps me wash and dry my hair. I simply can't hold the hair dryer after a shower even if it's luke warm water.
@@BunnyFoooFoo same! We are both pretty lucky to have amazing husband's to help us
Yes! My husband loves showers, I dread them. I feel exhausted afterwards.
Omg I'm so jealous you have a husband to do that stuff :(
@@Fckyouification I am very lucky to have such a helpful and caring husband to take care of me
I can totally relate to this, especially the showering. I’m at the point where I spend most of my time having to lie down. It’s frustrating. It is very debilitating. If I tried to do bike or treadmill, I’d pass out. Thanks for sharing your experience so I can show others what I am dealing with.
I have POTS, too, and the fatigue and struggle to shower is REAL Great video! 💕
I'm so glad you kept in the breathless bits in the video :)
You’re so pretty, I’m sorry you have to go through this. Keep being the strong person you are.
Thank you so much for this video! People really don’t understand what we go through on a daily basis!
Thank you so much for this 🥺 I just got diagnosed with POTS yesterday and this helped in so many ways
Just got diagnosed, its really helpful to see how you manage it!
Wow, it was really good to see the breathlessness - I get that too! I used to try to hide it from people but now I just let it happen. It’s taken a lot of adjusting
That coat hanger pain is for real. I just had to come lay down, because my neck and the base of my skull are bugging me. Along with intense dizziness.
I know right 😬
Ive been struggling with some kind of fainting disorder recently. And I think this might be what’s going on. Thank you so much for shedding some light!
This is my life for the past 10 months. I can relate so much to the shower issues and fatigue after doing house work for only a short amount of time. Hope we all get better!
Thank you for sharing. My daughter has had this for 9 years and finally has been properly diagnosed and received her first meds. Thanks for the tips! Going to look at Comrad compression socks! Too cute!
Thank you so much for making these videos on POTS. I had heard of it and people having it but never really understood what it was. I’ve been diagnosed with hashimotos at 16 and Lupus at 25 and all through those years I’ve had symptoms that I was confused on like this neck heaviness that causes nausea and weakness, blood pulling after large meals or being hot, dizziness everyday, low blood pressure and rapid heart rate, and so much more. So thank you for sharing your experience with us I really appreciate it and have never felt more seen. I’m like 99% sure I have POTS but just need the confirmed diagnosis now.
Thank you so much for posting this. It really helped me in my journey of being diagnosed with POTS and inspired me to create a similar video about a Month in the life of POTS.
Seeing how you struggled in this vid with dysautonomia, and knowing my similar fight with energy from dysautonomia issues and studying a Master of Ecology, makes me hope so badly that you’ll get through grad school without too many illness-related issues! I was thinking of becoming a genetic counselor too but couldn’t sit 40 hours per week at a desk. Sending you good vibes and have fun on your holiday!
Izzy - I just discovered your channel when you went to visit MUSC and I cannot express how much seeing you and the other hEDS patients and scientists being successful in academia and beyond. I’m a 24yo pre-med student and was just diagnosed with hEDS, POTS, MCAS, and some of the other common comorbidities (including autism, which was completely unexpected - but I digress) earlier this year. I’m just wrapping up my second extended medical leave from school, and about to start what is hopefully my last year of undergrad - but I’m still so very sick and have been struggling with feeling discouraged because of it. I can’t imagine how many people reach out to you and don’t want to ramble for too long, but it’s so great to see someone JUST like me doing the things that I’m also aspiring to do, and I’d love to be able to connect further. Thanks for all you share and making me feel ever so slightly more capable
Thank you so much for all of your videos. They have been so helpful through the journey that our family has been on in the last 4 years. My now 9 & 13 year old daughters have been diagnosed with HSD, and hEDS. I have been almost diagnosed with most likely EDS or HSD and POTS. This video really resonated with me. I just hadn’t felt a great description as to why I felt like laying down so frequently throughout the days. With my research, I knew the medical research, but it is SO NICE to see a human describe it like you do. Thank you so very much for your videos. Also, I absolutely love your old school radio wallpaper! Sending warm.. well, maybe not warm right now, but, loving hugs from Wisconsin. ~Jen
Hi Izzy! I’ve been watching your videos for awhile now and I finally wanted to comment and thank you so much for all your videos but this one in particular. It made me really emotional honestly watching this because it made be realize how I do so many things I didn’t even realize to help my suspected POTS symptoms. Also, I suffer from a lot of coat hanger pain and had no idea that could come with POTS and it is crazy to think that there is an answer for all these different symptoms I have. I’ve been struggling for years with doctors telling me I just have bad anxiety and sometimes I want to give up but this has made me not want to give up until I find a doctor to hopefully diagnose me with POTS or some kind of dysautonomia. Thanks again ❤️
i love watching your channel and it was nice to see you at the dysautonomia conference!!
Thank you so much for watching it!!
Thank you for opening up about your experience! I live with POTS too. For me, I can do strength training, yoga, and pilates, but try to avoid doing too much cardio with my POTS.
I’m so glad that someone else understands. My brother and I both have HEDS and POTS and it makes life so difficult for us. I struggle as an adult trying to get on with life, and my brother struggles as it is now limiting his teen years.
I have POTS only mildly, but it was quite a few years where I was telling people that walking (pelvis/leg pain aside) was fine, as long as I keep moving - I feel okay, but I can't stand still. I start to feel unwell. And it used to garner raised eyebrows. I also got really confused about sweating when I got out of the shower. I always felt either overheated or unwell when in or after getting out of the shower. Especially if washing my hair as well. I only really understood what was causing it (aside from general unfitness, being overweight etc) when I got a smart watch. My smart watch gave me a really good insight as to what was going on. I've always known my heart rate was at the upper end of average and my blood pressure was at the lower end of normal, but I didn't know how much it changed when I was standing. The less I move, the higher it goes. I'm so glad I've worked out what it is though. I know over 130bpm, I start to sweat. Over 140bpm I get a strong urge to sit down (can't explain it, but I just feel like I need to sit or I'll drop). Over 150bpm I begin to feel really unwell, and over 160bpm I start to feel incredible nausea. I suppose one upside of COVID is that we got a pulse oximeter and I was able to keep more of an eye on what my heart rate was doing. I'm really appreciating see what else other people deal with who have EDS/hEDS/HSD. I've felt like such a hypochondriac or nutcase for having such bizarre and seemingly (but obviously not in the context of EDS/HSD) unconnected issues.
I just started watching your videos. My husband and my eldest daughter of 21 has EDS. My daughter also has POTS and they both just started the salt pills. It has helped them so much! I wanted to thank you for all your help. At times I feel helpless and just want to do something that will help manage their issues better. Any little thing we find that helps is such a blessing. So big hugs from me to you and again thx:)
I found your channel when I first suspected I had EDS. A trip last week to the ER left my doctors and nurses highly suspect of POTS as wells. It was a (weird but good) comfort to find a recommendation on your video for POTS. I have had to monitor my heart rate closely during workouts (I love cardio) so I don’t go over 160. This past year has been especially hard, but I’m glad I found your channel as I navigate all of my increasing medical concerns. Thank you so much for the time and energy put into these videos. It means so much to someone who is just now learning that I was never lazy and have just had chronic illness the whole time that was never seen and always misdiagnosed.
Okay I'm late to this but I just found your channel and UGH TY. I have been trying to get EDS and misc related diagnoses for a few decades now and always question whether or not I have POTS because its hard to accurately measure a quickly changing heartbeat with consumer products, so my numbers vary all over the place. BUT the way you described how all of the symptoms feel, like every one of them is "yes I feel that way too!"
I really like watching ur vids. I have been diagnosed with hEds, all symptoms make sense now! xx
I remember so often blacking out in high school trying to walk between classes. My friends knew and would look for me.
i just got a tentative PoTS dx. i feel incredibly blessed to have already been using compression socks & clonidine (propranolol alternative) daily for other reasons, so i already have tools under my belt to manage symptoms. thank you for showing what you do every day, this is super helpful for a baby PoTS patient
I'm glad I found this video. You are lucky you found out at a younger age. I've been struggling for years and just found out about POTS. I have a long list of other things also which doesn't help the situation. Thank you for sharing I'm going to show my husband
Just bought some comrad socks! Thanks for the recommedation. I'll let you know how I like them!
How do you like the comrad socks? I'm thinking about maybe getting some but idk if I actually need compression socks
Its been 10 years since I was given a diagnosis of POTS through the tilt table testing. This has effected me since I was a teen and Apparently this isn't very common in men. It sucks to feel so exhausted, like car running on empty, and still be forced to work and suck it up. There are symptoms I have that are telltale signs but was never told about since 10 years ago they said there's not too much known at this time. I guess since I've seen so many, like you, speaking out now, it's time I can get back to trying to treat this. Thank you for this video. Its a little comforting to know its not just me.
Thanks Izzy. Good job. You make a difference in many people's lives. It helps me a lot to see that I am not crazy ...It is just POTS. No, no "just "! POTS sucks. Got it after a flue shot. Whished I had never taken it. And thanks for the compression socks. Look great, will try to get some fancy ones. Mine are beige and black 🤪 All the best to you ❤
I just fainted on my table tilt test yesterday so I think I’ll be getting the POTS diagnosis in a couple days! Ty for making this video to help teach other people with pots how to manage!❤️
I hope the tilt table test is informative...especially since the process of getting it done made you faint!
I'll get my results Thursday so hopefully I can get some help and treatment soon!💕 From your video and some reading I know that beta blockers can help so I'll see what my cardiologist will suggest! Btw I have eds as well!💜🦓
@@IzzyKDNAiam tillt tabl test postve my semptom . heart rat selp 70 and standg 150 dzinens fatig
@@duckiguess5958 I have hEDS and had my tilt table back in 1996. Back then they didn't know I had hEDS, and they put me on drugs that increase my blood pressure (Florinef was one of them), which can be dangerous for people who have EDS. Eventually they tried beta blockers, but I had adverse reactions to them. Beta blockers can work for many people, though. If they don't work for you, don't give up! Other great POTS medications include Ivabradine, Mestinon, Guanfacine, and Clonidine. I'm on Mestinon since it treats both POTS and gastroparesis/dysmotility.
@@Dulcimerist ty for letting me know! I would be intrested in Mestinon since i get gastroparesis too!!
Tip: If you have a hard time showering, I recommend using a leave in conditioner, it's a hair cream you can apply after the shower while your hair is still wet (I recommend Paul Mitchell brand) 🙂
I know exactly what you're saying about the fatigue. People think if I take a nap, it will go away! Oh, how, I wish!
Compression socks DO help me but I can’t get them on without dislocating my thumbs (and usually a few fingertips as well).
I love the Corespun cotton 20-30mmHg compression socks by Therafirm. My insurance covers them and they are the easiest ones to put on that I've found. I still have trouble putting them on if I've just showered or put on lotion, so showering at night helps me avoid this.
Can you do a video on how to discuss chronic illness in the workplace? Like how to tell your boss you have or have just been diagnosed with a chronic illness?
I was recently diagnosed with POTS and all the time when i wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom i have always noticed that i was stumbling and tripping over things and i felt a bit dizzy, but i just thought that i was more clumsy in the morning. But since researching and being more aware of my symptoms it is apparent that ot was from my POTS
I've had POTS for 18 years now ...LDN has really helped...with energy and quality of life !
I’m glad you made this video I suffer with hypotheyroidism rabid heart rate which is part of my post trumatric stress disorder I take proparnal when I’m exsperineing a ptsd episode my heart rate goes up due to the fight and flight response I have nightmares and tremors and I have blacked out thank you for bringing awarness abs why it’s sucks that we have to check are heart rate three times a day
Compression socks have always caused me pain to wear and more pain after I take them off, but I don't know what pressure/tightness levels I've been given. Had no idea I could choose something with low to moderate pressure. Thanks for the link. I might try it and I'm sure my mom would be interested. Great vid and editing. Thank you! 👋🥰❤️
Your smile is an inspiration to anyone with dealing with a chronic condition. 😊
I recently got diagnosed POTS and this video is helping understand what I can do to help the pain.
Can you walk? Me i cannot.. I barely go to toilet coz i get so dizzy and i feel i would faint
Great video!
Propranolol is a life saver alongside midodrine for me. Especially in the Florida summers. Compression socks have never done much to me other than make me feel really hot. I understand that shower struggle. I literally just sit on the floor of the tub throughout my shower or practically lay there. Either way though I end up laying around after I shower to regain some energy.
I always sleep with 3 pillows on top of eachother instead of one pillow, it really helps
It’s so nice to hear someone else say the things that I feel! You have done such a great job of explaining it all too! This vid, like so many of your vids, helps me feel so validated in my experience and more confidence in sharing that with others. Thank you♥️
I'm so glad to hear it was relatable and validating! It's nice to see someone else dealing with something similar!
Been having some pretty strong POTS symptoms these past week or so. I made the mistake of doing too much exercise when I had a really good day and now we're paying for it. :Z It feels so good to see someone else who has to lie down after pretty much every activity. It's pretty disheartening and lonely otherwise. So your channel means a lot.
Physical. E ertion, followed by "paying for it" is PEM Post Exertional Malaise. PEM is the hallmark for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
@@leslie6189 Thanks for letting me know. Maybe I'll need to ask a doctor if I might have that. But how to know what is normal tiredness after exertion, I mean everyone gets tired after working out though?
@@specialagentA PEM is usually remarkable. Sometimes it can be delayed, and hard to trace what made a person so tired. There's a good video to watch called mitochondria not hypochondria, produced. By the CCDP Complex Chronic Disease Program at BC Women’s Hospital. And you can look up Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, CFS, ME/CFS, SEID Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease.. Lots of info online, and if it resonates, you could chat with a professional about it, but do look online
Exercise intolerance is also part of pots.
@@vikhashiniananth7601 This is good to know, thanks!
Love this just diagnosed with pots
Dizzy ness and brain fog is always fun! It’s like a bad night out just in the shower. I had it really bad today and I just class it as a danger shower. Makes log press at the gym really fun too, safety’s are essential! Also after the heavy squats and deadlifts it’s a write off the day after!
It's always encouraging to see other people talking about their life with pots, thank you
I have had an ongoing dizziness problem for nearly 2 years now. First I got RSV(look it up if u don’t know) and that made me dizzy for a year then for the whole of last year I was dizzy and they had know idea why then just a few days ago I went to the doctors and he didn’t know what was happening so he sent me in for a blood test and it was all fine so now I am getting referred to the children’s hospital because they think that it is pots. But this video has made me get a deeper understanding of what pots is so thank you.
I was recently diagnosed and I started taking SSS tonic. It’s an iron and b vitamin supplement. Since using it I don’t have any headaches and my body doesn’t feel like I’m low on blood. Beta blockers made me feel much worse. Note: I do not have an iron deficiency and I’m not anemic. I hope this tonic helps anyone reading this because it’s been a game changer for me.
The whole "2 conditions working against each other" thing can be so annoying! I have fibromyalgia and the muscle pain from that feels a lot better after a long, hot shower, but I also have orthostatic hypotension which is worsened by heat, so when both are bad at the same time I'm like.... well I dunno what to do then
Could you explain the symptoms of those two diseases please?
About 3 months into my POTS diagnosis after dealing with symptoms for 11 years and countless drs dismissing my symptoms are just telling me I had anxiety issues. Propranolol twice a day is my current sweet spot but I have to watch my blood pressure because I deal with Orthostatic hypotension coming out of a squat or bending over. Showers on bad days are a definite no go and that fatigue is REAL!!! Mid afternoon naps are the only way I make it thru the day. POTS life is a rough beast for sure.
Dysautonomia & EDS girl here, you do so well not using a wheelchair full time and not having a full time carer. I have a carer and I use a wheelchair full time. Showers are the absolute worst! It’s so nice to see you have your independence, but I can see how hard you’re trying to keep it. I faint multiple times a day and have pre syncope. I could see you being hit by it throughout the video. It’ll be cool to see that unedited. I wonder if you could set up some cameras to film all day and if you do manage to capture it on you blog camera then you could get the footage from the all day. To show a real day in the life with Dysautonomia. Thank you for making this video, to bring awareness. It took me 24 years for me to get diagnosed, been diagnosed for 4 years now. I do the bike to keep my thigh muscles, because I’ve put on so much weight with atrophied muscles, your BMR reduces with less muscle. Not found it’s help my POTS at all. But any exercise is really good, helps me get my frustration out. Being disabled is so frustrating when you can’t run around and do the things you want to do.
I didn’t think I had POTs and I don’t think I had it so bad until I had COVID my resting goes from 80s/90s to 150s when I stand. Your video made me check. I thought getting a headache or feeling weird was normal.
I was diagnosed with pots last year and I’m 17 now and my parents both never take me seriously when I tell them I physically can’t do certain things at times because I’m either about to have a fainting episode, or I’m having really bad fatigue. And they’re like “oh well me and ur mom are old and we still do things” 🤦♀️
Having an “invisible illness” is so difficult at times. I’m sorry your parents are not understanding of your issues. Maybe have your dr explain how debilitating it really can be to them. People take basic functions like having normal energy to even have a conversation or shower for granted.
İ am 21 an also feel the same things. How do you feel right now , is everything well
@@leylahasanova480 hey Leyla do you have instagram I am as well 21 and i have the same symptoms. When I stand my heart rate is super high and I can’t even do anything especially with heart palpitations
I hate that so much. "Oh haha lazy teenager" no I literally feel 80 and like I'm on the brink of death 😐 living is exhausting
@@sav2823 right but I think i found my soluation I have hiatal Hernia I think that is what is causing my fast heart rate and heart palpations especally after a meal it sucks so bad. got blood work done everything came back fine. CT scan everything showed normal. EKG normal. no signs of blood clots nothing just the hiatal hernia forsure. i wonder how big it is that it is messing up my day to day living.
I have pots also and I have switched to only taking baths! It has helped so much
Hey Izzy! Thanks for the video. I just restarted Propanalol 10mg 2x a day. I had tried 60mg 2x a day for migraines before and it didn't help. But since I got the hyperadrenergic POTS diagnosis beginning of this year I got it again and I think the lesser dose may help more. Not drop my already low BP like you, my regular is 90s/60s any higher I get migraines and super sick. And any lower I crash, faint and blackout so fast. I just gotta stay there lol. But I finally stood up today with just a 85 hr instead of 150 lmao 🤣 I was geeked for it. Like this is strange lmao. I am hoping all the other things get better, because the convulsions suck from PNES they say it is, but my Dr said it was the POTS too. I am training my service dog and he alerts me to thos and when my HR is too high to sit down. It's amazing. He is smarter than me lol. But loved the video and go shower chair and stool. Heat go away lol.
Thank you!
THANK YOU xxx
Thanks for this!!! I have POTS and follow a regimen very similar to yours. I just take a different beta-blocker;) I cringed a bit hearing you say you shower in the morning!! Even if I've taken medication, I absolutely cannot shower in the morning. I'll be totally sick and exhausted. I stick to afternoon showers! Maybe it's because I'm super hydrated then and have taken more medication so my symptoms are pretty under control. It's a comfort knowing there is another person out there like me! (I have diagnosed POTS, and likely have EDS and MCAS. Seeing a geneticist to try and get diagnosed in September!)
Omg wait no I literally HATEEEE showering in the morning for the same reason as you 😂. I shower in the morning only if I was feeling too sick to do it the night before. Morning showers are ROUGHHHHH.
@@IzzyKDNA They’re so not fun! Thankful for shower chairs, though. A lifesaver.
I waiting for November lol
Im leaving my state in maybe 2 months to see a POTS specialist. Ive been struggling so much and my symptoms have been getting so much worse to the point that even if my POTS isn't bad I still don't feel normal if that makes sense. And something else that is a struggle is my best friend still doesn't understand that I have a chronic illness so if I experience any symptoms when we hang out together she says "your probably dehydrated" or something like that. so its hard to find people who understand. I'm no longer in public school because of it, and am now homeschooling which is STILL hard for me. But I'm so happy I can come onto KZhead and find people who relate to my situation! it makes me feel less alone and more like people understand me!!
How are you know did you end up having pots?
Thank you for this video and showing the breathlessness. I wondered why I am so breathless sometimes and was not sure if it was from the POTS. My POTS is pretty mild but it is hard to explain sometimes why I just need to lay down. It makes me feel like I am just lazy or something but your video is very comforting. I also have a lot of neck pain and do not have EDS. Never heard about this coat hanger syndrome before so I'm going to do some research into it. You really are amazing and I am so excited to watch you throughout your career.
I totally relate 🥺😔And am in Africa, I don't even know how I will get the necessary help, because most doctors in my country are not helpful. I go for appointments and they just send me back home that nothing is wrong with me😭yet I feel sick💔💔💔
I’m getting. Tested for it atm xxx hopefully I’ll get a diagnoses xxxx
Thanks I didn't know i had it till you.
I take imdur
Hi Izzy. I have hair like yours. You look like a beautiful mermaid. Have you tried Cantu leave in conditioner?? It is a life changer. I tried everything. Cantu is amazing. Thanks for the video.
I am thankful everyday for my beta blocker (atenolol). Before I had that medication, I would feel like I was going to die every single day in high school. I grew up in Palm Springs, and it was over 100 degrees for multiple months of the year. Walking to class or standing waiting for my mom to get me was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I couldn’t even grocery shop anymore. Now with the atenolol I am able to do all those things! I still cannot take hot showers, but I even work as a cashier without fainting!! Every once in awhile I’ll sleep for like 16 hours and miss a dose, and all those bad symptoms return.
I’m the same-I take 10mg of propranolol daily (a super low dose) and it is definitely a godsend. They seem to be doing something other than just lowering heart rate. Propranolol crosses the blood brain barrier so it may cause a change neurological speaking.
Did you ever feel like your heart was just pounding really hard and it would scare you? I have the same symptoms you say and just feel like i can’t go anywhere and have to just bend over /:
My heart races and I can't breathe when I get too hot. Its very uncomfortable and I wonder if I'm overreacting...
This video is really informative. Thank you for uploading this.
I’m 26 years old, and have been dealing with many of the symptoms you’ve described (no cost hanger pain fortunately) since I was 12 years old. I always pushed through because I was worried about other people judging me, including my family. When I tell them I can’t help them with something because I’m feeling weak enough to faint, they roll their eyes. Well, I’m having an especially potsie weekend. I felt really weak yesterday (Saturday) and I only got weaker as the day went along. It’s now Sunday, and I’ve been in bed all day, only getting up to feed the cat, use the bathroom, and keep getting gatorade and water from the fridge. This is the worst I’ve felt in a long time. I finally have a doctor’s appointment in a couple days to start the process of getting an official diagnosis. I honestly feel really emotional about this, and to finally get a diagnosis to validate what I’ve dealt with for so many years… it’ll be unfortunate, but I just might cry tears of joy. It’s such a struggle having days where you’re just trying to keep up with everyone else.
Same here plz update !!
Any update?
I’m in metoprolol and it’s made life a lot easier, but omg the breathlessness between any movement is so accurate, I feel you so hard with that!
You are taking metaprolol alone ...Please reply??😢😢Is it effective alone ..What dosage?
@@karthigasundar9319 yeah I’m on it alone! I’m on 75 mg a day of the extended release! It’s helped my heart immensely but I still have lots of symptoms still.
Within how many days can you see changes??😢..I have severe brain fog
@@karthigasundar9319 I felt the meds same day as soon as they kicked in. But for me at least the beta blockers only help my heart. Nothing else (dizziness, vertigo, blood pooling, brain fog, fatigue, etc) has changed at all from the meds.
I just got diagnosed with POTS an they gave me Metoprolol am I'm only suppose to take 12.5 but I'm so scared to take it because I also suffer from Anxiety and I get so scared something bad will happen to me. Are you still in the medicine have you gotten any side effects? I'm so scared something will happen with it. So I haven't even token it. Maybe you can east my anxiety on the medication. On you experience.
I use a waterless leave in body wash meant for bedbound people. It helps me on days when showers are impossible.
YOUR CATS ARE SO CUTE.
That was a really useful video, Izzzy. Thank you from someone who was diagnosed and just left to get on with life xxxxxxx
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh my god, your staring “spell” at 2:38 is something that’s happened me since I was little. Probably since an infant because I know I had staring spells then that got me evaluated for seizures. And I’d have mild POTS symptoms for most of my life that flared up massively when I was fourteen. Luckily, once I started on treatment I responded really well and I consider myself in a remission of sorts. But I still have the occasional POTS symptom, more often than I realize if the staring spell is considered a part of POTS.
Thanks for sharing with us how to live with POTS. please more video 🦋 i ve also the same things and İ don't know how to live with this 🌝
I 've had the weird neck pain all my life, I used to think it was just a muscle EDS thing. However, I recently had a tiltable test and when I stand there was a 39% reduction in cerebral blood flow, which causes the pain. It's ischemic in nature, and like you said, a signal your body sends that you need to lie down to restore the blood flow. Now that I lie down more during the day the pain gets less. I was also put on beta blockers. My heart rate without beta blockers would go from 60 to 160 and now it only goes up to 110, which gives me a bit more of leg time. I'm not taking midodrine but I drink liquorice tea to help with blood volume and blood pressure. I have it with electrolytes first thing in the morning before I will even get out of bed.
Your apartment is superrrr cute haha! That’s all I could think of watching this lol
My doctor said compression socks should really be over the knee for POTS. Mine go to mid thigh. Something to look into since I saw yours were below knee!
thank u for helping me feel less isolated I'm almost 15 now I've had this for a while but I've been more dizzie and fatigued lately and i started taking supplements maybe theyll start to help
I have to do the same thing in the morning… I’m currently sitting up in bed watching KZhead for a few minutes before I try to stand up 😂
They have some compression Socks that are made in American and are awesome. They come in many different colors.
Oh my gosh I thought all of this was normal for sooo long
so off-topic, but i need to know where you got your adorable glasses?!
I have been learning more about my pots because of the standing or movement based tachycardia so I realized I probably have had it for years because showers were the worst for a long time. If I ever took a hot shower( Vs the lukewarm ones I take now) I would get super nauseas with belly cramps , short of breath and my heart would be racing. I would have to quickly stumble out of the shower or turn it to real cold to minimize the pain 😐
@izzy are you a video editor for a living? I ask because I am :) I like wearing Comrad's in the winter and Doc Miller Sports calf sleeves in the summer.... Most of the year really. Comrad's are great but too hot sometimes, like most compression socks. And I totally get that "I need to lay down feeling". It's an instant feeling of exhaustion.