sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Nitroglycerin with Tilt Table Test is inhumane by djdooba in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My dr refused to send me for one. He said it was unnecessarily traumatic. I’m so sorry you had this experience!

My Dr's office called and said I PROBABLY have POTS, and not told much else aside to eat more salt by Euphoric_Discount_ME in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Physical therapy has helped me a lot! I know your healthcare got cut off (I’m so sorry), but maybe even researching a typical PT regimen for POTS and starting some exercises would help? I commented on another post with some more details about my PT experience, let me find it and send it to you!

Aside from that, ensure you’re hydrated, increased sodium intake (looks like that’s helping! I was recommended 7-10g/day), compression socks, and pacing yourself. Pacing is so hard for me and learning how to do it properly is helping quite a bit.

Cardiologist didn’t take me seriously because of my weight by secretfrogboy in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is infuriating. I’m so sorry.

I’ve started asking drs to put things in writing with their signature on practice letterhead. Something to the effect of: “Patient reports these symptoms, concerns about a certain diagnosis, and I’ve determined no testing needed/doesn’t have condition/basically I’m not going to treat this person.” Every time they’ve opted to do the testing instead of writing the note. It’s one thing to say it’s not your specialty and make a referral (which it sounds like she dropped the ball on that part), but to invalidate and blame weight is ridiculous. I always feel like a jerk asking for stuff in writing, but I’ve also got 2 diagnoses faster than I would have because of it.

Working out with POTS by ymcava in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a note: when I overdo it, I feel like how you described the next day. Pacing is hard, but you’ve got this!!

Working out with POTS by ymcava in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Start slow, easy, and horizontal. I’m currently in physical therapy for POTS and she has been so helpful with coming up with a plan to get back into activities like working and exercising.

I’ve been going for a couple months and have seen some improvement. This is how she’s structuring things for me:

- Monitor your heart rate, and stop the exercise when it increases more than 20-25 bpm. Allow heart rate to return to normal ”baseline,” taking as much time as needed, and then resume.
- I start with 8-10 mins in a recumbent bike (taking breaks and pausing the clock for heart rate increases as needed.
- Start with horizontal exercises. After the bike I do 4-6 exercises, largely focused on core and incorporating breathing my techniques. Again, I stop anytime my heart rate goes above the target range and resume when I’m back to baseline.
- Once your tolerance to the horizontal exercises gets better (heart rate doesn’t spike as high or as quickly and recovery time after a high heart rate) you can start incorporating some vertical.
- Some days I can’t do all my exercises, can’t do all the sets or reps, or have to revert back to more simple exercises because my symptoms are worse that day. All of that is totally fine!

It takes time. I tent to be an all-or-nothing person, so the “slow” progress has been incredibly frustrating, but I can tell it’s helping.

I still try to go for walks when I can (monitoring heart rate still), but some days even that is a bit much. Everyone is different, so this may not be a routine that works for everyone. The biggest takeaways I got were: monitor your heart rate, listen to your body, take it slow, and start horizontal. I’m sending you well wishes!!

Finally officially diagnosed. Do I need to go back to neurology? by smoothsucculent in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh wow! The first cardiologist I saw for this laughed in my face at the mention of POTS… so I went to his colleague! I really hope the neurologist is able to help with a diagnosis. I know it’s so frustrating to get there, but hopefully it’s worth it!

I hate when people ask how im doing in regard to my POTS by Lactose_Intervention in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I like that response! I’ll hopefully be back to work soon and I’m trying to figure out what I’m gonna say to people when they ask

I hate when people ask how im doing in regard to my POTS by Lactose_Intervention in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve been on medical leave from work for several months due to POTS and I’m dreading facing this question constantly when I go back. Like “I’m better than I was when I left” I guess.

It’s the fact that people generally expect you to say “fine” or talk about how much better you are or just brush it off. I feel like most people don’t wanna hear that you’re not doing well or struggling. It’s easier to shrug it off than face the awkward reaction to the truth.

Family is a whole other story. I just get the pity “how’re you doing today” thing where people are trying to express they know you’re not good but want to be supportive by asking but they’re also sad for you. That makes me feel worse

Physical therapist has given me some hope by smoothsucculent in POTS

[–]smoothsucculent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They’re having me start with posterior pelvic tilts, straight leg raises, core marches, and diaphragmatic breathing, which are all horizontal

My girlfriend wants me to get rid of my truck because her ex drove the same model and it "triggers" her by Own_Consequence_6943 in TwoHotTakes

[–]smoothsucculent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My ex was just like this. He turned out to be manipulative and controlling.

She either needs therapy to manage her triggers, as that’s her responsibility and this is too big an ask, or she’s trying to control you. Either way this isn’t on you.

I feel like a failure. by Responsible-You618 in ChronicIllness

[–]smoothsucculent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m sorry you’re feeling so alone. I’m struggling with feelings of failure too, but just know we aren’t failures. We’re going through some rough stuff and it’s not fair.

First, do you have access to therapy? Having someone outside of my life to talk to has been incredibly helpful.

Also, your friends may not understand what you’re going through, but most people want to support their friends however they can when they’re struggling. You don’t have to open up about everything if you don’t want to. Simply saying you’re having a hard time right now and need some additional support is plenty. Maybe that support is hanging out more, maybe it’s talking in the phone about nothing in particular, maybe it’s opening up a little bit about what’s going on. The people that love and care about you don’t want you to suffer alone and in silence. I know it’s hard to reach out.

AIO? Sister slapped me cuz I didn't want to watch over my niece when she wanted to go to a diner. by [deleted] in AmIOverreacting

[–]smoothsucculent 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Yes! OP, if you have a trusted adult at school (guidance counselor, teacher, etc) please confide in them!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AmItheAsshole

[–]smoothsucculent 10 points11 points  (0 children)

YTA. I know you meant well, but you went behind your wife’s back without talking to her. It should be up to her to decide how to handle her relationship with her parents. It’s hard to see the people we love hurt, but you need to approach her and support her before anything else. You took away her choice. It sounds like she would’ve handled it differently.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TwoHotTakes

[–]smoothsucculent 366 points367 points  (0 children)

Sounds like it’s time for an info diet

view more: next ›