Nicola

I started having PoTS symptoms at 13 (PoTS was recognised even less then). I used to faint, get chest pain, have a very fast heart rate, and had regular hospital admissions. I missed a lot of school through being so poorly. I struggled to breath and my body /muscles were painful all over. I suffered from recurring chest infections and viruses. I saw numerous doctors but my bloods would come back normal and ECGs just showed a fast heart rate. Doctors put it down to anxiety and this went on for a few years. 

After leaving high school, I went to college to study hairdressing as I had always wanted my own salon. I continued to have regular flares and funny episodes, hospital admissions etc but luckily, I was able to catch up with my work and qualified as a hairdresser. I was still having fainting episodes and flares, very fast heart rate and just feeling poorly. At this stage, I was referred to a cardiologist. I had to wear over-night monitors and was given a tilt table test (I passed out) and at 19, I was finally diagnosed with PoTS. I felt relieved to have a diagnosis but was also upset. The doctor put me on betablockers and I’m currently on a lot of other medications as I do have other health conditions including asthma, arthritis, anxiety/low mood and CFS/ME.

I was working in a hairdressers but my PoTS made this difficult. In the end I lost my job as the manager wouldn’t take reasonable adjustments to help me. I felt in a really low place after that.

A few years later, I got pregnant with my son Kian. Once he turned 1, I started a new career as a teaching assistant. Whilst I did struggle to complete the work with my PoTS flares, I qualified and got a job as a special needs teaching assistant. I did have funny turns whilst at work but the staff were helpful and I’d just take a break; get my salty snacks, put my compressions stockings on and elevate my legs to help with the blood pooling, nausea and dizziness. I did have some time off work as a result of my PoTS.

Pregnancy was very hard from start to finish

I then got pregnant with my twin daughters. The pregnancy was very hard from start to finish. I was poorly and my PoTS got a lot worse. I still have bad flares, but I am 30 now and I manage it a lot better and know my triggers. My children make me proud and keep me going.

Covid-19 also made me very poorly last April. I ended up being rushed to hospital and had an extremely bad PoTS flare up. It took me a while, but I got better again.

My message to anyone suffering is this: Don’t give up on yourself, get your diagnosis and the help you need and still have goals and plans in place. You just have to find a way to achieve them that fits around PoTS. Spend time working out what your triggers are and on bad days, don’t feel guilty for needing to rest. It’s what your body needs. Pots does seem to be becoming more recognised now luckily.