Five years ago, my life split into two parts: the person I used to be, and the person I am still learning how to become. Before HyperPOTS, I was an Intensive Care, Trauma ICU, and Cardiovascular ICU registered nurse for about 15 years. Before that, I worked as an EMT for about 8 years in prehospital care and ski patrol. I was used to emergencies, monitors, medications, crashing patients, long shifts, and high pressure. I was also used to movement. I ran marathons. I trained f

Food can become one of the hardest parts of living with POTS when mast cell activation syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, or severe food reactions are also in the picture. A meal that looks “healthy” on paper can trigger flushing, dizziness, nausea, adrenaline surges, itching, brain fog, palpitations, or a full-body feeling of alarm. That does not mean the body is broken beyond repair. It often means the nervous system, immune system, gut, and mast cells are stuck in a

A patient can look calm, speak clearly, and still be in physiologic distress. That is one of the hardest truths about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, known as POTS. For many patients, a flare can feel like the body has lost its ability to regulate the most basic functions: heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, blood volume, digestion, and the simple act of standing upright. For the past five and a half years, I have been in and out of emergency rooms with severe

A POTS flare that arrives right before a period can feel brutally predictable. One week, symptoms are manageable. Then the days before bleeding starts bring tachycardia, dizziness, weakness, nausea, air hunger, brain fog, heat intolerance, and that heavy “my body is crashing” feeling. For many people with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, symptoms do not stay the same all month. They shift with hormones, bleeding, inflammation, sleep changes, pain, hydration, and blo

Dizziness is hard enough to explain when it comes from one condition. When POTS, vestibular migraine, and Meniere’s disease overlap, symptoms can blur together fast. Lightheadedness, spinning, ear pressure, nausea, sound sensitivity, fatigue, and brain fog can all show up in the same week, sometimes in the same day. That overlap can make symptom tracking stressful. It can also make treatment feel like guesswork. The goal is not to label every sensation perfectly in the moment

Living with Hyperadrenergic Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can feel like navigating a stormy sea. Your body’s response to standing up or moving can be unpredictable, and exercise might seem like a distant shore. But here’s the good news: with the right approach, exercise can become a powerful ally in managing POTS symptoms. Today, I want to share how adapting your fitness routine can help you regain control and improve your quality of life. Understanding Ada

Histamine intolerance can feel confusing because the triggers are not always obvious. A meal that seems healthy can cause flushing. A stressful morning can lead to itching, headaches, or stomach upset. A poor night of sleep can make the next day feel like an allergic reaction, even when there is no clear allergy. One helpful way to understand it is the histamine bucket. Your body can handle a certain amount of histamine from food, stress, hormones, illness, and the environmen

A patient can walk into an emergency room with a racing heart, crushing weakness, tremors, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, flushing, nausea, and the terrifying sense that their body is losing control. Too often, if that patient has POTS, the first label they receive is anxiety. That label can follow them through triage, into the exam room, onto the discharge paperwork, and back home without the crisis ever being understood. For people living with postural or

Understanding the Financial Impact of POTS POTS is often invisible from the outside. A person may look fine while sitting, then feel shaky, lightheaded, or close to fainting after standing. That gap between appearance and reality can make it harder to ask for help, explain limits, or prove how much the condition affects daily life. Financial strain can build from many directions: Missed work hours or job loss Reduced ability to drive Frequent medical appointments Specialist c

POTS can make the body feel like the alarm system is stuck on high. Standing up may bring a racing heart, dizziness, shakiness, fatigue, nausea, brain fog, or a sense that the body is overreacting to normal life. For many people, the hardest part is not just the symptoms. It is the feeling that the nervous system has forgotten how to settle. That is where neuroplasticity becomes useful. Neuroplasticity does not mean symptoms are “all in your head.” POTS, or postural orthostat

Living with hyperadrenergic POTS can feel like navigating a stormy sea. The waves of symptoms can be unpredictable, and finding steady ground often means paying close attention to what we eat. Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing this condition, and I want to share some comforting, delicious recipes that can help you feel more in control and nourished. These meals are designed with your unique needs in mind, focusing on ingredients that support your body without overwhe

There was a point in my POTS journey when my medication list looked impossible. Before I was properly diagnosed with hyperadrenergic POTS, often called HyperPOTS, I was taking a large amount of antihistamines. Not just a little more than usual. A lot. Enough that my doctors were surprised my body could tolerate it. The strange part was not only that I could handle the medications. It was that they were not helping the way everyone expected. I was taking more, waiting for reli

A racing heart after standing can feel alarming, especially when it comes with dizziness, brain fog, tremors, nausea, or exhaustion. For people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, better known as POTS, that reaction is not simple nervousness or poor fitness. It is a problem with the autonomic nervous system, the part of the body that controls heart rate, blood pressure, blood vessel tone, digestion, sweating, and temperature regulation. POTS is diagnosed when hear

Some illnesses do not arrive with one clear symptom or one clear test result. They arrive as a pattern that keeps changing shape. For me, living with POTS and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities has felt like trying to solve a puzzle while the pieces are still moving. One day the main problem was dizziness. Another day it was a racing heart. Then it was food reactions, medication reactions, scent reactions, adrenaline surges, nausea, tremors, flushing, weakness, and a body that s

Living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) changes more than just your physical health. It reshapes relationships, shifts family dynamics, and often places a heavy emotional weight on those closest to you. For someone who once thrived on independence and strength, the transition to relying on others can feel like a loss of freedom. This shift does not only affect the person with POTS but also deeply impacts family and friends who step in to help. Understandi

Some days with POTS, standing up can feel like asking your body to climb a hill it cannot see. A quick trip to the kitchen may bring dizziness, a racing heart, shaky legs, brain fog, nausea, or that heavy “I need to sit down now” feeling. For me, hydration has been one of the biggest pieces of managing those symptoms. It has not been a cure. POTS is more complex than simply drinking more water. But when my fluid levels are low, my body lets me know fast. My heart rate jumps h

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a condition that affects many individuals, yet it remains relatively unknown to the general public. This guide aims to shed light on POTS, providing patients and their families with essential information about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and coping strategies. Eye-level view of a medical professional discussing symptoms with a patient What is POTS? POTS is a form of dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic n

Living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can be a challenging journey filled with unique experiences and personal stories. For many, this condition is not just a medical diagnosis; it shapes daily life, relationships, and self-identity. In this blog post, we will explore personal stories from individuals living with POTS, shedding light on their struggles, triumphs, and the lessons learned along the way. Understanding POTS Before diving into personal stori

Living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can be a challenging experience. This condition, characterized by an abnormal increase in heart rate when transitioning from lying down to standing up, often leads to a variety of symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, and fainting. For those affected, managing daily life can feel overwhelming. However, with the right strategies and support, it is possible to lead a fulfilling life. In this blog post, we will explor