I'm a 29 y/o RN who has become basically debilitated with this diagnosis of P.O.T.S. I've been MISDIAGNOSED for too many years, but finally found a MD this year who actually KNEW about DYSAUTONOMIA/P.O.T.S and was able to correctly diagnose me!
LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS I SUFFER FROM ON A DAILY BASIS:

(#1) I now have LITTLE ENERGY majority of the time: when I walk up A flight of stairs I have to stop mid-way b/c I'm out of breath and my heart feels as though it's going to pound out of my chest b/c my heart rate can reach up to the 160s

(#2) I get very light-headed and dizzy with falling episodes.

(#3)I'm even unable to stand for long periods of time or even go dancing with friends. These are some things I dream about doing again on day!!!

(#4) "foggy" thinking,

(#5)Urinary retention that sometimes can lead me in an exciting trip to the ER=)(SARCASM) with a Foley catheter 3 days and still at times I have to self-cath myself to urinate

(#6)heart rate in the 120s-180s upon standing,

(#7)Hot and cold flashes(my friend debbs told me that I was already hot, it just comes in flashes now!<3 HER!)too funny, and from my moms great friend carol; I'm experiencing sudden tropical experiences

(#8) generalized muscle and joint pains
,
(#9)GI problems

(#10)depression

(#11) blood pooling in my lower legs due to poor circulation/giving them a reddish/grey color=I now have to wear very fashionable compression stocking daily to promote better circulation;)

(#12) extreme nausea majority of the time now! .As a result of the chronic nausea and weight loss;my doctor thought it was best to place a PEG TUBE(feeding tube through my stomach)so I will be nourished.(I put a pic with my album)

(#13) poor concentration

(#14) unable to take showers now R/T becoming light-headed and dizzy; I finally broke down and bought my very own shower chair, which will not remain that geriatric color, but will be sprayed hot pink;)

(#15) blurred vision while standing at times.

(#16) I now have a mediport so I can receive infusions twice a week to keep my blood pressure up

~Just a few examples of things I go through on a day-to-day basis

NOT DISABLED; DIZZYABLED!!!

I was a patient at the MAYO CLINIC in Jacksonville, FL trying to find treatments that are effective and relief!!! . Unfortunately, treatment for POTS remains trial and error.

MY HOPE IS TO PROMOTE AS MUCH AWARENESS AS I CAN ABOUT DYSAUTONOMIA BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH MAJORITY OF MDs HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND THAT RESULTS IN PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF GOING UNDIAGNOSED FOR YEARS SUFFERING! MANY PATIENT WITH POTS;INCLUDING MYSELF START TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THEIR S/SX ARE ALL IN THEIR HEAD B/C MANY MDs TELL PEOPLE WITH POTS THIS B/C THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE DISORDER!
BUT, FINALLY I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS!!!! IT'S NOT ALL IN MY HEAD NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO SUFFERS FROM POTS!!!

THIS IS WHY I'M TRYING TO SPREAD THE WORD FOR THIS RARE DISORDER AND ENCOURAGE ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO SO AS WELL!

I'M SHARING THIS POEM THAT ONE OF MY DEAR POTSy GIRL FRIENDS HAD WRITTEN THAT IS VERY POWERFUL AND SPEAKS THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WITH POTS FEEL, BUT DON'T SHARE. SHE REQUESTED TO STAY ANONYMOUS AT THIS TIME.:

"POTS
Heart racing, hands shaking, mind spacing, stomach knotting, and I
feel like falling.

Pale faces, wishing I could trade places, feeling weakness it's making
me speechless

Friends calling, I sit here balling wishing I had the strength to go
out while friendships start falling.

Looking normal though feeling a bit hormonal, mood changes and feeling
anxious. Trying to live a life in the middle of a fight with my own
body that I no longer have control of.

Eating tums, and there is no yum, popping pills because I'm ill,
staying home all alone, watching tv just my dog and me.

They don't understand they don't feel my bodies demand. I'm not lazy
nor am I crazy just because I'm sick and it's not visable doesn't
mean I'm still invincible. Being young and living on tums, constantly
tired is the going to get me fired?

I get tired of fighting, tired of laying and tired of explaining with
one question remaining.

WILL THIS ILLNESS EVER END?"

~AS MUCH AS I TRY TO KEEP A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON THIS BLEAK SUBJECT, IT GETS DOWN RIGHT DISCOURAGING and HOPELESS AT TIMES.