Over the last few years, I've been very ill, and have had no idea what was wrong. I went through tons of testing that no one my age should have to go through: a colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood tests, cultures, biopsies, esophagus motility tests, acid reflux tests, and countless others. My doctor gave up on me saying it was pretty much only in my head. I refused to believe that.
My symptoms were severe, and varied. Headaches, nausea, lightheaded, dizzy, brain fog, cold extremities, depression, unable to get the right word or concentrate, trouble sleeping, chest pain, exercise intolerance, heart arrhythmia, visual disturbance, dyspnea, weakness, heat/chills, etc. I was unable to use the bathroom without almost passing out, or wash my hair without my arms going numb. I couldn't exercise or walk up stairs. I'd get dizzy laying down.
A pretty extensive list that my doctor felt was unworthy of exploration. He wrote me off, and I spent almost 3 years trying to find someone to help me. Finally, an angel of a GI specialist looked at the tests I'd been through, and suggested something new- a rare and little known condition called POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). One fifteen dollar test later, it was confirmed. It fit every single symptom.
During the time I was sick, I had to quit my job and school. I lost friends because I was too ill to go out. Most importantly, I lost a ton of weight. Almost 20lbs which is a lot when you're only 105lbs to start with. I couldn't keep nutrients in me, and became (technically) anorexic. I didn't have the body image issues, but I was at anorexic weight and started to become afraid of eating at all.
My goals are:
- Gain 15 lbs. I've already gained about 10 back, so I'm working hard on those extra 5. (I was around 105 for years, so I'm aiming for around there)
- Start exercising again. While POTS makes a person very exercise intolerant, I'd like to start working it back in when I can.
- Eat a better diet. This will also come after I gain weight. For now, I have to eat high calorie foods- which often aren't healthy in order to take in enough calories to gain the weight I need.
- Get out more. Whether it's the grocery store, or out with new friends, I don't care. Being so thin and being sick so often has really kept me home a lot, so somewhere in all of this work, I'd like to get out more!
