Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome & Me

POTS is a form of dysautonomia; it is a chronic, life-altering condition that affects the nervous system. There is no cure, it is managed through symptom treatment. The following is not medical advice. Do not change your physical activity without first speaking to your doctor. Everyone's experience with this (or any) chronic disease is different, this is my personal story. 

April 2014 was my first POTS episode, and my health quickly deteriorated thereafter. I was forced to stop working, driving, and struggled to function independently. I was a full time cane user, and part time wheelchair user by 2019. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it abruptly stopped the IV-infusions we'd been using for years to help my symptoms. Things would get a lot worse before they started to get better. Summer of 2020 after multiple heart episodes, I met with a cardiologist who had new, encouraging research, regarding POTS patients and exercise. He believed the best hope I had was to become as fit as I possibly could. Exercise intolerance, fainting upon exertion, nausea, dizziness, fatigue.. how could my POTS and exercise go together? His words seemed hilarious, impossible, but for me also hopeful. 

Challenge accepted. 

This started the hardest and most important journey of my life and brings me to where I am today. Yes, I still have POTS. I still have to manage my symptoms daily. But my functional ability? My quality of life? My life is forever changed - I'm reaching heights I never imagined possible. 

Your story is unique to you, your experience different than anyone else's. You may not have health struggles, but challenges of another kind. One persons 5K is another's marathon. Hard is hard. Whatever your story, whatever you're battling, if you need someone in your corner who *gets it* - let's connect.

Oh, the cane and wheelchair? They're collecting dust.