I live with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a chronic disorder of the autonomic nervous system — the system that controls things your body is supposed to do automatically, like heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, digestion, and temperature regulation.

POTS affects me every single day, not just during flare-ups. Symptoms can include:

• Severe dizziness or near-fainting with standing, walking, or even turning my head

• Rapid heart rate, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath

• Extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest

• Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and memory issues

• Nausea, headaches, and temperature intolerance

• Weakness, shakiness, and sudden exhaustion

Many days, I look “okay” on the outside while struggling significantly on the inside. POTS is largely invisible, but its effects are very real and unpredictable.

How POTS Impacts My Life

POTS affects nearly every part of my life:

• Work: Symptoms can make it difficult to stand, walk, or focus for extended periods, sometimes forcing me to miss work or reduce hours

• Independence: Simple tasks like showering, grocery shopping, or cooking can be physically draining or unsafe during flares

• Social life: Plans often have to be canceled at the last minute because symptoms can worsen without warning

• Mental and emotional toll: Living with an unpredictable chronic illness brings stress, anxiety, and grief over the loss of normalcy

Managing POTS requires constant effort — careful hydration, increased salt intake, medications, compression garments, pacing, and frequent medical appointments — yet symptoms can still be severe despite doing everything “right.”

POTS is a lifelong condition with no cure, only management. Ongoing medical care, medications, adaptive tools, and periods of reduced ability to work create a financial strain on top of the physical challenges.

There is an intensive treatment option that could drastically improve my symptoms and quality of life. I want so badly to feel like I can live a “normal” life again. I have lost so much of my sense of self and what my life used to be. I just want to feel good again.

Support helps me focus on managing my health, maintaining stability, and preserving as much independence and quality of life as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about POTS and what living with it truly means. Your understanding, kindness, and support make a bigger difference than you may realize.