Hello :-)

[Guest guest]

I am 25 and have had severe orthostatic hypotension for 12 years. I

can only stand up for a few minutes before my legs and hands turn

purple and I get faint. My blood pressure drops uncontrollably. After

7 minutes of standing in my first tilt table test, my blood pressure

was 49/36. I have had three tilt table tests. The most recent one was

at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The technician was very intelligent and

understanding and let me decide when to lie down when I got faint.

That is a lot safer than waiting for me to get critically faint.

I also have insomnia and am checking into whether it is sleep apnea.

I have to completely avoid sitting and standing. Hot showers make me

get faint, so I take short cool ones. I have found that aerobic

exercise helps greatly. My circulation is a lot better during

strenuous exercise because my muscles pump my blood. My blood vessels

are too lax so they are not able to siphon blood uphill on their own.

Running, rollerblading, swing dancing, and swimming are my favorite

exercises. 8 )

The rest of the time, I have to lie down. I have a reclining

wheelchair that I use to go to church, college, and social

activities. I have a network of friends, family, and wheelchair taxi

service that chauffer me to where I want to go. What a blessing. 8 )

What helps me the most is studying the scriptures. They contain the

real answers to life's challenges. There is power in prayer. : )

I have lots of other adaptations that I would be happy to share with

anyone that is interested. I have done a lot of research on the

internet these last 3 years. I know I can be healed. I would be glad

to help make others' lives easier, and get to know friends that are

like me, especially close to my age. : )

Cook