inOne year ago.
It was 6:30 in the morning and I was getting ready for work. Less than five minutes after getting out of the shower, something felt off. I was instantly hit by nausea and my field of vision started to diminish. I sat down hoping it would go away, but it didn’t. Knowing something was wrong, I got up to unlock the door incase I needed help. One moment I was reaching for the handle and the next I was waking up in the bathtub. I had blacked out – fallen into the shower, ripping the curtain down and hitting my head on the wall in the process. I woke up not knowing where I was or even why I was there. My first thought was that I needed to shower. I mean, why else would I be sitting in the tub? Then it hit me a few seconds later. Panic set in. I had already showered, but didn’t remember it. And how long had I been passed out in the tub? After gathering my bearings I went to wake my roommate. I had almost made it to her door when it happened again. This time, I fell face first onto the floor. After waking up – again – I tried for help once more. Third times a charm, right?
I eventually woke her up (again, my sincerest apologies for the rude 6:30 am wake up call) and she helped me to bed. She called into work, telling them I wouldn’t make it and I got on the phone with my parents. A short while later and I was on my way to the emergency room. Three hours of poking and prodding. When all was said and done I was told it the cause was low blood sugar. Well, my primary doctor wasn’t all too convinced with the diagnosis. You see, I had a history of lightheadedness before this occurred. More often than not when I stood up I’d instantly get dizzy and have to wait a few moments to regain myself. She believed these two instances were connected and thats where it all began.
I was sent to a neurologist. After a few visits, two straight hours of testing – all of which I was strapped to a table – and an EKG she believed I had an autonomic disorder. But – and there’s always a but – she wanted further confirmation. Cue the cardiologist. Again, visit after visit, test after test and I was finally diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Try saying that three times fast.
POTS is a form of dysautonomia – a term used to described various conditions in which the autonomic nervous system (aka the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed) does not function properly. A lot to take in, right? Just think how I felt when this was all thrown at me, and all at the ripe age of 22. Long story short, its an issue with my heart rate, blood pressure and circulation.
Ever wonder why my hands and feet are always cold, or turn red and purple at times? That’s POTS (circulation & blood pooling). Or why when I stand I zone out for a few seconds? Also POTS (blood pressure).
Lightheadedness, fainting, weakness, heart palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, GI issues – all the lovely symptoms I deal with. Not necessarily on a daily basis, thankfully. Some days are better than others. There are times when none of these occur. But then there are the days when it all hits me at once. The nausea, lightheadedness, headaches, palpitations, and twinges and pains in my chest – they make sure they’re known. I take medication to help manage some of the symptoms, but it does just that – manages them. I also work out on a consistent basis, drink my weight in water, salt my food whenever I can and try to stay away from alcohol and caffeine – all so I can relieve just some of the symptoms. And the cause of it all? Still to be determined.
There’s no one specific cause of POTS. My doctors and I still don’t know what exactly brought this condition about in me. I can say, though, that 365 days later I’m still standing. I’ve learned how to manage everything. There are days I want to curl in a ball and cry; when everything hits me all at once. But then there are the others when I feel on top of the world. Those are the days I don’t realize there is an underlying condition.
There are only a handful of times within the last year where I almost had a repeat of the experience that started it all. I’m lucky enough to be on the less severe end of the spectrum – it could always be worse. POTS is one of those “hidden” conditions not readily apparent to other people. It’s a diagnosis I never expected to get, but I’m taking it all in stride. I mean, how cool is it that my feet turn purple?
So, all seriousness aside I think we should celebrate with the one thing they advised against me doing – drinking. Cheers, everybody!
It was 6:30 in the morning and I was getting ready for work. Less than five minutes after getting out of the shower, something felt off. I was instantly hit by nausea and my field of vision started to diminish. I sat down hoping it would go away, but it didn’t. Knowing something was wrong, I got up to unlock the door incase I needed help. One moment I was reaching for the handle and the next I was waking up in the bathtub. I had blacked out – fallen into the shower, ripping the curtain down and hitting my head on the wall in the process. I woke up not knowing where I was or even why I was there. My first thought was that I needed to shower. I mean, why else would I be sitting in the tub? Then it hit me a few seconds later. Panic set in. I had already showered, but didn’t remember it. And how long had I been passed out in the tub? After gathering my bearings I went to wake my roommate. I had almost made it to her door when it happened again. This time, I fell face first onto the floor. After waking up – again – I tried for help once more. Third times a charm, right?
I eventually woke her up (again, my sincerest apologies for the rude 6:30 am wake up call) and she helped me to bed. She called into work, telling them I wouldn’t make it and I got on the phone with my parents. A short while later and I was on my way to the emergency room. Three hours of poking and prodding. When all was said and done I was told it the cause was low blood sugar. Well, my primary doctor wasn’t all too convinced with the diagnosis. You see, I had a history of lightheadedness before this occurred. More often than not when I stood up I’d instantly get dizzy and have to wait a few moments to regain myself. She believed these two instances were connected and thats where it all began.
I was sent to a neurologist. After a few visits, two straight hours of testing – all of which I was strapped to a table – and an EKG she believed I had an autonomic disorder. But – and there’s always a but – she wanted further confirmation. Cue the cardiologist. Again, visit after visit, test after test and I was finally diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Try saying that three times fast.
POTS is a form of dysautonomia – a term used to described various conditions in which the autonomic nervous system (aka the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed) does not function properly. A lot to take in, right? Just think how I felt when this was all thrown at me, and all at the ripe age of 22. Long story short, its an issue with my heart rate, blood pressure and circulation.
Ever wonder why my hands and feet are always cold, or turn red and purple at times? That’s POTS (circulation & blood pooling). Or why when I stand I zone out for a few seconds? Also POTS (blood pressure).
Lightheadedness, fainting, weakness, heart palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, GI issues – all the lovely symptoms I deal with. Not necessarily on a daily basis, thankfully. Some days are better than others. There are times when none of these occur. But then there are the days when it all hits me at once. The nausea, lightheadedness, headaches, palpitations, and twinges and pains in my chest – they make sure they’re known. I take medication to help manage some of the symptoms, but it does just that – manages them. I also work out on a consistent basis, drink my weight in water, salt my food whenever I can and try to stay away from alcohol and caffeine – all so I can relieve just some of the symptoms. And the cause of it all? Still to be determined.
There’s no one specific cause of POTS. My doctors and I still don’t know what exactly brought this condition about in me. I can say, though, that 365 days later I’m still standing. I’ve learned how to manage everything. There are days I want to curl in a ball and cry; when everything hits me all at once. But then there are the others when I feel on top of the world. Those are the days I don’t realize there is an underlying condition.
There are only a handful of times within the last year where I almost had a repeat of the experience that started it all. I’m lucky enough to be on the less severe end of the spectrum – it could always be worse. POTS is one of those “hidden” conditions not readily apparent to other people. It’s a diagnosis I never expected to get, but I’m taking it all in stride. I mean, how cool is it that my feet turn purple?
So, all seriousness aside I think we should celebrate with the one thing they advised against me doing – drinking. Cheers, everybody!