Journal+2-Sneeze

I have a chronic medical condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, otherwise known as POTS or Dysautonomia. When you have POTS, the things your body should do automatically don't work like they're supposed to. Things like your heart rate and blood pressure don't adjust like healthy peoples' do. Some symptoms are low blood pressure, fast or slow heart rate, lightheadedness, fatigue, stomach problems, depression, and anxiety. Also, it causes your blood to pool in your feet, so when you stand up for a while, your feet turn bright red. Many POTS patients are homebound and are forced to have wheelchairs and some even need feeding tubes. POTS is difficult to treat because it's different for everyone. It's also not usually taught in medical school. When I was diagnosed with POTS, it was a relief because for a long time, I knew I was sick, but I didn't know what I have. Now I know why I'm so tired all the time, and why it's so hard for me to go to school sometimes. It let me know why I have so much exercise intolerance and why I got dizzy all the time. It's hard to be sick and have to take a bunch of medicines and be absent all the time. When everything gets more under control, it'll be better. But I've learned a lot from having POTS.