i have had POTS for about 6-7 years, passing out, trouble walking ...all that crud that happens to ya. well i was lucky enough to feel pretty good for almost a year, not passing completely out, etc...but now all the episodes are coming back, and i feel like my family just forgot what it was like for me to be feeling so bad. now when i have an episode, or not feeling good, my husband and kids( my youngest is 14 years old), act like i am a burden on them.they say they don't, but their actions show different. i hate this. i definitely don't bring on my dizzyness or fainting just for the heck of it. and i am feeling so depressed about this now. my family is a very loving family,so maybe it is just the way i am feeling this time around. i don't know. plus alot of other family streess is happening, and my doctor told me i needed to DESTRESS my life (yeah-right). but our oldest daughter and her 3 kids moved back home because of her alcoholic husban....etc, etc...thats a nother whole story. but i just wanted to vent to someone who just understands my feelings. i'm becoming so depressed and getting worse with my pots and dizzyness and my legs are almost ready to just give out. i really don't think i can handle much more. i just don't know what to do. any good sggestions would be appreciated. i am feeling more alone every day...sorry this is a bummy note, but i just had to write and i know there are alot of folks on here who really care and understand where i am coming from.

I hope that you feel a little better on yourself after you posted. I can only speak from the experience of a caretaker. I have taken care of my husband since his POTS started in 2001. There are days where I know that he feels like a burden and I know that there are times when I say/do things to make him feel that way. He passes out with his POTS and can not wake himslef up and I have to wake him up with smelling salts.

Maybe if you just take a few minutes to yourself, relax take a few breaths, if possible go for a walk. Maybe you can take a long bath or read a book.

Please do not think that you are alone or a burden to your family, you are not.

The POTS, you already have experience with, so as it moves in, it will come back what you can control and what you cannot. The thing that is different is the sad problem that YOUR DAUGHTER has with the alcoholic husband. She will have to take care of herself with that--turning it over to "mama" to fix is way much of a burden on you. Love is one thing, co-dependancy is another. You might want to attend a few co-dependants or al-anon anonymous to help you deal with YOUR PROBLEMS. I know that A-anon helped me. It gave me a place to vent specific things that others that had not lived in it could not understand. It is so easy to get sucked into our childrens problems and want to fix them, because we love them so much. When my son was arrested and finally convicted of drug trafficking for having 180 pills on him, I tried a lot to "fix" him, but finally came to the realization that I could not do that. He has to. It put my POTS on full speed ahead and I did not do so well for a while. It is so much easier now when I just mind my own business about this and let him deal with it. There is a lot of helpful programs out there. Most are free. I just get quiet when my son starts to ramble and feel sorry for himself. That and uplifting prayer is about all I CAN do.
Best wishes to you, this is a tough problem to be dealing with in addition to POTS. Thing is someone has to remain sane in the midst of it.

I hope you feel better now that you know you were listened to and heard. Make sure you are addressing your depression in the midst of POTS stuff, too.

Taking the best care of yourself is the best gift of all to your kids and hubby. Take good care,

Sorry you are feeling bad. This disorder has a way of taking the wind from our sails alright. I agree that you need to take care of yourself, and that may include a reminder to the family, if it has been a long duration between symptoms. Also the best advice I have is pace yourself, learn what your body is telling you and rest when you need to. It will only get worse if you push. Don't sweat the little stuff...is what my sister tells me, but sometimes even the little things are tough. Remember that you can always come here for help, my prayers are with you and your family. suzq

thank you all for reading and replying to my bummy note. i guess i am feeling just a little better knowing others know how i feel. but i am still a bit concerned with feeling down and being a burden. my husband and i are stressed and just not talking much. i really don't like how i am feeling. i am usually the one who fixes things but now i can't fix anything. guess i am confused with the brain fog and all also. i don't know, i just feel i am floating along day by day...with no real meaning to life? i don't think i ever felt this before. maybe it's another symtom of POTS? anyhow, i just wanted to thank those out there listening to me grumble.

We are not only listening, we are going thru the same problems. It is such a reality check, everytime I read someones description of what I experience. It is depressing to live with POTS; but let me remind you if you are beta blockers it is also a side effect of the medication and you may want to discuss that with your doctor. As far a a brain fog that is one of my most frequent symptom before and after an episode. It happens at different levels. I am not sure what causes that, but I had an MRI done and it was normal. I though for sure they could would see a fog there. On a lighter note, our purpose is to work thru it, because sometime we have clear weeks,days or just moments. When that happens I enjoy it 100%

I care, and understand how you feel... I ended up loosing my parents and relatives because they said I was faking.... like I would do that instead of taking care of my small chilren. But, I wanted you to know it is possible, I was totally bed ridden when my kids were little, my daughter is now 24 and graduated from college and my son is s junoir at college, so it is possible.. keep your chin up and have a heart to heart chat with your family, that might help. Take care and know I understand what you are going through. Lynn

My 18 year old daughter, andrea, has POTS and has been sick for over 5 years. The advise I give her is to never apologise for being sick. Thank people for there help and be as gracious as possible when you are feeling sick, but NEVER say you are a burden. If your symptoms are worse, follow up with your doctor. If your family was supportive before remind them of that and let them know what your needs are.

I am new to this group and I totally understand how you feel, Andrea feels that way often. The burdens POTS puts on the family are huge, on everyone. Guilt has no place in feeling better and it makes people feel justified for being impatient. Take care of yourself and know that you have been heard.

Jennifer