What is P.O.T.S?

P.O.T.S ? 
The first time I heard the term P.O.T.S, to me it sounded like some kind of horrific disease. Little did I know that soon after I would be diagnosed with just that.
P.O.T.S is short term for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. If your reaction was anything like mine, I was like "huh?".  I had no idea what that meant nor did I think I would be able to repeat it, it was a mouth-full.

It is a condition of Orthostatic Intolerance. Which is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that occurs when a person stands up. It also creates a very large increase in heart rate (tachycardia), more than 30 more beats per minute than the average person.

When a person with P.O.T.S stands up or changes positions, more blood flow goes to the lower regions of the body, so the heart and brain do not get enough blood, resulting in the person having a dizzy spell, blackouts, vertigo, or even passing out. It can also occur when you are doing any activity that requires your hands to be moving up, held up, or above your head.

The severity of each persons symptoms ranges. Luckily for me, I rarely pass out, but do get light headed when standing or getting up. Some people can have debilitating symptoms.
Laura Hillenbrand, the Author of "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" has such a severe form of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome that she actually wrote the entire book in bed!

There isn't a known cause of P.O.T.S rather several theories. One of the main theories is that it is caused from having a viral or bacterial infection such as mononucleosis. Which is how they believe I got P.O.T.S.

Finally, there isn't one set treatment. I see a specialist that uses different medications to help combat each specific symptom I get, so It would be different for every patient. Overall each treatment depends on the severity and symptoms of each individual patient.





More on me, the author and creator of this blog(Kristen):

I was diagnosed in October 2010 after months of confusion, research, and people not believing me. I finally had a name for the way I had been feeling since March 2010.  More then six months I went through fighting the school system for help because I wasn't able to attend school,  People I believed were friends who were calling me lazy and talking behind my back, and everyone at school who had no clue why I had just left out of nowhere, and dumb rumors.

I created this blog for those that are in the situation I was, and am still going through. I want everyone to know that You are not alone! It's very hard and to be frank it really sucks, but take my word, it will get better. I have grown so much from my time and experience with P.O.T.S and it has made me so much more aware and understanding of not only myself, but people and the world.
I have lost friends, but I have also gained people in my life that I can call family. I've learned who is really along for the ride and who was just on for a few minutes.

It is true that something great can come out of an awful situation. You just have to hold on tight, and believe there's no other way but up from here.


My Journey
For me, Chronic Fatigue has also been apart of my syndrome. It is exactly what it sounds like, extreme and chronic fatigue. I usually spend a lot of time sleeping, and a lot of time awake tired. It's awful feeling so exhausted after hours of sleep or not being able to sleep at night because I slept in during day time hours.

I've had people tell me "Then go to bed earlier" or "Just force yourself to get up and get going its not that hard" and to be honest it is extremely difficult. That's why this blog is named "Blaming the invisible man" because I feel as though people don't believe that I have this, or that I am trying to make it seem more severe than it really is. Its really as complicated to deal with as it is to understand. And I don't expect everyone to understand it, but at least try to.

I'm blessed I haven't been completely bedridden, but I also don't get to be a normal Teenager. So far, of the 2010-2011 school year, I have had home teaching. It is different then home-schooling, in that I get a home teacher to come to my house for the allotted time each week to teach me what is going on in school, all information is provided by my school teachers.
Home teaching is given to individuals who cannot attend full time schooling due to any medical reason. I was attending school everyday for half a day, but I then stopped all together because it became too difficult.
I'm hoping to be back sometime before the end of the year, but It depends on how I'm managing. As great as Home teaching has been, I miss school and my friends.

This is very socially debilitating as well. I have a hard time getting the energy I need to do normal activities such as hanging out with friends and having a sleep over. It's hard coming to terms with not being able to do things I used to take for granted.

Its been a very hard and long journey but I'm making my way through, trying to get to the finish line, waiting for my next chapter to begin.