I started this page back up to document my journey to recovery after developing a condition called POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which severely limits me from doing anything too strenuous, including working out.
After being diagnosed with this condition, I went through a brief period of depression. It was difficult for me to walk to the store to buy milk. I could barely get through a day of work, and often found myself calling in sick, leaving work early sick, or just having to skip a few of my scheduled classes and exchange teaching for sitting in the office doing paperwork, since standing was too difficult.
I couldn't eat or sleep. I was nauseous and lightheaded all the time, and my life was one long constant headache, with the occasional migraine.
I could barely get out of bed in the morning, let alone work out.
I went to the doctor, and asked what I could do.
POTS is a catch-22 syndrome - those who have it as severely as me cannot exercise, and often pass out when placed under pressure or exposed to heat. However, the only thing that really helps improve symptoms, is rebuilding the muscles and hearth through... exercise!
We cannot workout for more than 20-30 min at a time. We can't run or jump, lift heavy weights, or do things like yoga that have us occasionally upside down. But that doesn't mean nothing can be done.
I have decided to make changes by myself.
Through healthy eating habits, plenty of sleep, water, and salt,
and through daily exercises at no more than 30 min each, all in the comfort of my own home. I will beat POTS!
I have experienced symptoms since May 2014.
I was finally diagnosed in July 2014, after symptoms got increasingly worse, despite doing things to try to change it.
Though POTS cannot be cured, it can be effectively managed, and a high percentage of patients often grow out of it in their middle-age years.
It also takes several months to reverse symptoms back to normal to the point where they can be effectively managed.
So now, from August, I will begin my journey to recovery.
In a few months, my goal is to be as close to my old normal self as possible.
Here are my current stats as of July 17, 2014:
Height: 5'1"
Weight: 121 lbs (54.8 kg)
BF%: 30.2