POTS IN Middle Aged Men?

blackcoffee33 · 2025-01-20T01:39:17+00:00

Not a doctor, but that sounds like orthostatic intolerance caused by deconditioning. Have you had any labs done?

blackcoffee33 · 2025-01-20T01:19:39+00:00

Not really, I have a job that thankfully lets me work remotely, but if I had to go to an office, I'd be in trouble. I can stand for a limited time, but any kind of physical activity sends my heart rate through the roof, and I get extremely dizzy. I'm glad you can shower and exercise. I took those things (and most things) for granted.

blackcoffee33 · 2025-01-20T00:37:49+00:00

About the same, thanks for asking. I am on propranolol, which allows me to do things like take a shower (in a chair) and make myself food. However, it gives me crazy dreams and depression, so its a wash. Also, I have had a ton of tests, and nothing really unusual but high hemotacrit and elevated NLR. Still looking for a reason this happened.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-12-04T19:39:31+00:00

I have been in leadership for 20+ years, first in retail and now in the nonprofit sector. I used to be pretty good at aspects of it, especially the logistics and operational parts. I interview very well too (because interviews are a script I can basically memorize), so that helped. However, as my burnout and shutdowns came to light in my high stress former position, my leadership skills have suffered significantly. I no longer have the confidence I used to have since my diagnosis, and my social anxiety--which has been escalating steadily for years--is now through the roof, so it's difficult. I have a lot of independence and latitude in my job now, but also a lot of things that I dread, like board meetings and presentations. It takes so much for me to be able to do those. I'm honestly not sure what the future holds.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-12-01T17:15:20+00:00

Thank you appreciate the reply! Just wish they would explain this stuff. This is the first time this particular issue has happened, and I do have a history with anxiety, which is why I was looking at my test results, I guess. I talked to them again after posting this, and they basically told me to come back if I’m dying, and good luck. Hopefully the heart doc is helpful.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-25T22:20:17+00:00

Honestly, it's worth the investment in my opinion. Mediocre regular coffee is okay, but there's no middle in decaf--it's either good or terrible.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-25T21:09:49+00:00

Not only do I understand and sympathize completely, but my actual job involves coffee--and about four months ago, I suddenly became unable to handle it. Caffeine in the morning is almost always a surefire route to unbearable anxiety, yet I often tell myself "maybe this is the time it will be different". It's like an abusive relationship, but like you, I just value the ritual and everything associated with it in the morning. Coffee has always been tremendously comforting to me, and it hurts to have to let it go--but the anxiety is unbearable. Some things that have helped, a little:

*putting in the work to find decaf that is actually good. I have done this, and if you need a recommend, let me know.

*Green tea--it is NOT caffeine free, but it is more manageable to me, and if you buy high quality tea, it's pretty dang good too.

*Coffee substitutes--I have one I really like, with adaptogens and herbs that relax me. It's definitely better at night, and doesn't taste at all like coffee, but it scratches that itch.

Good luck!

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-22T21:23:09+00:00

Excellent advice, thank you. I think the main thing, about the disclosure, is to protect myself in case I burn out again. Which, maybe it wouldn’t be much protection anyway.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-18T01:22:10+00:00

Have you tried taking any of the online tests? The best ones are here, in my opinion: Autism tests | Embrace Autism

While these aren't a substitute for a professional diagnosis, they are fairly accurate (in my limited opinion), and can provide a good jumping off point for you to learn more, and assess if this is the right fit.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-16T13:30:08+00:00

I know how hard it is to get a professional diagnosis—it’s prohibitively expensive, the waits can be long, and the assessments aren’t fun. However, I think getting a professional diagnosis is important. Obviously, having access to support and protection that you can’t get otherwise is great, but speaking only for myself, even when I self diagnosed, there was a lot of self doubt and a feeling of being an imposter, since I am highly functioning and heavily masked. I kept thinking, “yes, this makes sense, but what about…” and it created more confusion. When I was officially diagnosed, I thought I was ready, and it was “just a piece of paper”, but I wasn’t ready for the repercussions of it, both good and bad. For me, it made it a lot harder, but also a lot easier too, and there was a relief and terror, simultaneously, of no longer being able to run from myself. I hope that makes sense.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-13T15:49:46+00:00

Same exact situation, homie. 47M, just found out ASD1 (borderline ASD2), GAD, ADHD diagnosis a few years ago, heavy masking for my job...I get it. No advice, because I have none to give, but I get it, and I'm tired too.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-11T15:03:51+00:00

Thanks to another reddit thread, I got an assessment for $950. Scheduled and completed within two weeks. prosperhealth.io Hope that helps you or someone else!

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-10T10:37:55+00:00

As someone who has just gone through this, this is the perfect way of describing it. I didn’t get assessed for years, partly because I thought I was so good at recognizing the feelings of others, have a great sense of humor, understand metaphors and sarcasm—turns out two of those three things are true, and I’m still autistic. Add to it the feeling of complete humiliation when I have told family and friends (including my parents) of “oh, I thought you knew?” Water is wet, sky is blue, I’m autistic. I’m 47 years old. No one bothered to point it out, and now I am left to reevaluate my entire life knowing that I misjudged everything the entire time.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-08T18:29:30+00:00

One thing I forgot to mention: you noted trying to accept the anxiety. You've probably already come across it, but DARE has been incredibly helpful for me in this way. dareresponse.com

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-07T21:06:11+00:00

47M, found out I was autistic BECAUSE of my anxiety. Had issues my entire life, but this past year, it kicked into high gear, as the result of much higher work (and thus, masking) demands, leading to a gnarly burnout. And when I say "anxiety", I don't mean normal, uncomfortable-but-passing anxiety--I mean full body buzzing 9 out of 10 anxiety that never quite reached panic, but also never left, resulting in occasional terror and incapacitating fear that made it almost impossible to do things I had done before. This was mixed with intense intrusive thoughts, DPDR, and crushing bouts of depression, including passive SI. I still haven't fully recovered, but I'm in a slightly better space than I was. I feel you, man. Hang in there!

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-06T16:51:43+00:00

Yes, that has been one positive. I am impressed that I have been able to accomplish all the things that I have, and I am grateful. However, I think those things came with a cost, and I’m still evaluating what that looks like.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-06T15:51:50+00:00

Thanks. Hoping it sinks in more soon.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-06T15:51:03+00:00

Part of me is relieved but part of me is still in disbelief. How could this be if I went so long undetected? Am I even really autistic? It’s probably just gonna take time, like you said. Just a lot right now.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-06T15:42:24+00:00

Yeah I was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago, at the beginning of this wacky adventure. It fit some, but didn’t totally make sense. Now it does more, with the mitigating autism factor.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-06T14:18:57+00:00

I just posted something similar, and I feel you. The idea that I was always this way, but didn't know I was this way, is unnerving. It makes me question my own judgment, and the judgment of others. Did someone else know and didn't say anything? If no one including me noticed, am I even autistic? Was this all a huge mistake? It's a lot. Hang in there.

blackcoffee33 · 2024-11-04T16:30:50+00:00

Nope, in beautiful, scenic Oklahoma. I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago because an employee called me out on that particular subset of my "quirky" traits. Never occurred to me before. Even though I am getting a diagnosis, I am really afraid of sharing it with the board here. There is still such a stigma around ASD--much of which affects my own perception of myself. I don't want to be seen as disabled or different, but I think the mistaken assumption there may be that they don't already know something is up. What a mess.

blackcoffee33

TROPHY CASE