Living with POTS

POTS affects up to three million people in the united states alone and many more worldwide. Despite this, it is a relatively unknown illness.

Even standing up is a struggle for those diagnosed. Infact It’s main defining characteristic is the inability for those affected to stand upright without struggle due to their blood vessels not adjusting to gravity.

Other symptoms include palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, sweating, nausea, muscle weakness, joint weakness, fainting, and headaches.

Some patients have fairly mild symptoms and can continue with normal work, school, social and recreational activities.

For others, symptoms may be so severe that normal life activities, such as bathing, housework, eating, sitting upright, walking can be a terrible struggle.

Many with POTS are wheelchair bound most days. Some even have to get weekly IV's of fluid to keep them upright.

There is sadly no known cure for POTS and even though some may get better with age it is a lifelong thing. But You can donate to fundraisers such as Dysautonomia international and POTS UK, which not only help find a cure but spread awareness and support those who struggle with it.

And If you would like to listen to the uplifting stories of how those that struggle with this Illness make the most of their lives, you can read that here.

1. so basically I'm allergic gravity

2. my heart thinks I'm running a marathon everytime I stand

3. everything you do automatically like breathing and body temperature and things like that? that part's broken.

4. spin around really fast for a minute. that's how it feels but all the time.

Here are some things that help me. I’m sharing them because they would have been beneficial to me years ago. Maybe they will help someone else too. Please feel free to add anything else that works for you! 1) Use an electric toothbrush.

2) Sit down to brush teeth. (I hear you can also brush teeth while lying down, but I haven’t tried this yet)

3) Think about how you want to sit down while brushing teeth. What’s the layout of your (bath)room like + how much support does your body need? Can you sit lid of the toilet, or on the edge of the bath? Do you have another chair in the bathroom already? Could you add a stool? What kind of stool would suit you best? I use a wheelie hairdresser’s/barber’s stool in the bathroom (like this).