After being sick for so long, I finally have a name for my illness: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, otherwise known as P.O.T.S.

A cardiac condition that's stripped me of my health, weight (causing me to drop to anorexic weight), self confidence, friends, jobs and continuing my education.

My goals are simple: gain weight, be healthier, and get out more. Basically, get my life back!

I'm also hoping to spread some awareness on this little known condition, and to highlight the struggles of the underweight and people with "invisible illnesses."

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Let the fear set in...

In the last few days/weeks, my arrhythmia has gotten worse, and my heart pounds more often. We're talking pounding so hard that my body vibrates...even my boyfriend can feel it sitting next to me on the couch.

I can't help worrying (irrationally, I'm sure) that I'm having mini heart attacks when I get chest pains and palpitations; or that they're damaging my heart in some way. I understand why they say that the quality of life a POTS patient has feels/is similar to someone with congestive heart failure.

I'm glad I've decided to go for a stress test and an echo of my heart. Even though it's not for two weeks still, I'm comforted (slightly) knowing that it's coming and going to happen.

No 23-year-old should have to worry about whether or not they're having a heart attack/going to have a heart attack.

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