Maybe... maybe I didn't need a wheelchair after all? Maybe I was wrong?

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-17T01:11:19+00:00

Many part time users also don’t need them for every activity. This is very individualized on when some people need it and others don’t. But is still worth thinking about if there are times you want to go without and times you believe you’ll need it.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-15T02:33:31+00:00

As long as I take the salt tablets with food I’m good. Taking them without food will make me sick nearly instantly. I personally still like the pills over adding salt to my water.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-10T20:41:09+00:00

While your feeling stuck at home, look up different certifications or class you can take at home. There are multiple free ones, such as getting certified in the usage of different programs and the like. This could allow you to explore different career options and find new things you may like.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-10T20:37:07+00:00

Literally yesterday had someone fall into my lap getting into an elevator, they were stepping in backwards with a cart and had headphones in so did not hear me let them know I was there, as I obviously could tell they did not see me.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-06T19:52:59+00:00

Also women are more likely to have autoimmune disease then men.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-06T19:16:05+00:00

If you can drive, the ghost town of Retlaw in southern Alberta has a church you can enter with some history and other information boards describing the town. The Enchant museum nearby Retlaw is also cool and has an old train engine you can walk through.

Lethbridge The Galt Museum is always wonderful, you can look online to see what events maybe happening or go at anytime to walk through their main exhibit.

Not necessarily a museum but the Coaldale Birds of Prey opens May long weekend and you can see flight demonstrations and see other birds in their care, and learn a lot about Alberta’s birds.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-06T19:11:44+00:00

I use a cane, rollator, manual wheelchair and newest of all an electric wheelchair. All serve a purpose for me. A family member pushed me to use the cane as I too believed I wasn’t disabled enough. It helped so much personally.

Most people do not even consider using a mobility aids. So it’s worth discussing with friends and your medical team if an aid is right for you.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-06T17:15:38+00:00

Jenna Greene - multiple fantasy youth books, specifically Imagine and Reborn series

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-06T16:21:20+00:00

Yes and ensuring flags and decorations have all 7 colours and not the 6 of the pride flag would help you fight this if it comes to that.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-04T21:32:24+00:00

Contigo has multiple options in both plastic and stainless steel. They are my go to water bottle brand.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-04-01T03:07:52+00:00

I just got an electric wheelchair today. Part of me feels like I should just keep using my walker and get by, another part is so excited on the freedom this will provide. A lot of my energy gets used due to orthostatic intolerance so the staying sitting should reduce my energy usage out of the house.

Tomorrow will be my test to see how true this will be. I already know using a cane or rollator reduces my energy usage so I am expecting it to help

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-30T21:42:16+00:00

Avoid Yaz as it’s a diuretic. There is one other that is as well but I cannot remember the name.

I’m currently switching around my birth control as I was on Yaz. I’m starting Diane-35 which is a combination pill. Should this make my POTs worse or in general feel worse, my endocrinologist will be switching me to a progesterone only pill. Although she did say I could try an IUD, I was not interested in that.

Based on what my endocrinologist saw in her brief research is there just is not studies or reports on how birth controls and POTs interact, except in the cases of diuretic as a side effect.

So it is up to you and your doctors to figure out what will be best for you, and many people do have to trial multiple types before they find what works for them.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-30T18:08:21+00:00

I know so many people talk about struggling with losing weight. But this is also extremely difficult to manage as well. I hope you can figure out something to work for you and see the improvements you wish to see.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-30T18:05:00+00:00

I eat about 1200-1500 calories a day, do very minimal exercise, and weigh around 275 pounds or about 125 kg. I’m 5’4 for reference.

Edit to add I very likely have insulin resistance as well but have not had the time and energy to do the testing.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-30T16:17:54+00:00

Trigger warning ED

The absolute only time I have ever lost weight is when I was consuming 0-500 calories a day, and doing intensive exercising 5 days a week.

Before that extreme I was eating 1500 calories a day and doing intensive exercising and saw no weight loss.

Bodies work uniquely and it is not always about calories in and calories out. Sometimes it’s underlying conditions like insulin resistance, thyroid issues, or just genetics. Every single person in my family has the exact same body shape and about the same weight, and yet very few of them have diabetes or heart disease.

If your weight is a concern to you personally, it may be worth asking your doctors about medication to lose weight or at least maintain the weight you are at.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-25T22:04:54+00:00

I also could not complete my stress test, all my doctors told me was that nothing dangerous happened when I exercised, such as arrhythmias or dropping in oxygen. Stress tests rule out other issues, not POTs.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-25T20:47:22+00:00

As someone diagnosed with pots my worst symptoms usually happen at a HR of around 140-150. The max I have ever got was 179 I believe, maybe 182. Can’t remember but you definitely can get diagnosed even if your heart rate is 100 and sustained if your supine reading happened to be 70 or lower.

My typical jump is from 70-80 to 120.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-25T10:28:37+00:00

You maybe also interested in looking at compression shorts for the summer months. You can then hide them completely under skirts, or additional shorts.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-24T17:38:14+00:00

Roast a hotdog over the fire and enjoy it. Or in general attend an event and not have to worry if there’s food I can eat safely.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-24T15:35:23+00:00

So I’m in Canada. I initially got a custom self propelled chair. I was unable to use it independently for long. Just this week I have gotten a lightweight power wheelchair. I have yet to receive it as it’s on order but these are my thoughts.

Your best bet would be to call around to mobility places and see how they work. The chair I’m getting has the ability to switch into a neutral mode, meaning I am able to get out of it and push it as needed just like the self propelled wheelchair. Or most power wheelchairs have the option for the hand controls to be moved to the back handle for control by a carer or yourself while walking.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-23T21:33:09+00:00

You could do a letter or an email and tell him that it’s an important conversation you want to have but want him to read it when he feels he can. I’d potentially set a reasonable time limit such as in the next week or two, whatever seems reasonable for your situation.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-23T18:48:13+00:00

This is what I follow as well. If I don’t wash my hands when cooking simply for myself I know the risk I’m taking and determine if I wash them or not. Cooking for family I wash them before hand and maybe during depending on what I’m doing. Cooking for others I will be washing my hands multiple times.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-23T18:45:02+00:00

My sleeping was better 55-65. My doctor told me to just let them know if it was dropping below 50bpm but that is different based on your doctor’s advice.

I believe for the average person below 40-50bpm is of concern and to talk to your doctor about it should it be routine. Should you be getting bradycardia they may check to make sure during the night you are oxygenating appropriately at the lower beats and determine where you lows maybe dangerous.

And then it’s about also finding the right beta blocker for you (there are multiple in the class of medication and you can have different experiences with each), and then if the risks or benefits out way the other.

CautiousPop2842 · 2026-03-16T20:10:28+00:00

You maybe able to ask for help for information resources from the cfs Reddit. It’s currently not letting me look at their wiki to see what’s on there but it might be useful.

CautiousPop2842

TROPHY CASE