Worst feeling ever

July 17, 2004

No its not a physical feeling its an emotional feeling. I was

supposed to go to a Finger Eleven concert with my friend Matt and

was up most of the night worrying about it. I was worried as I cant

stand they heat anymore because of the pills I was on. Worried

about getting pushed around in the crowd and getting hurt. Worried

that my pulse rate would sky rocket again (its been doing that

lately, hasnt been below 120 in a few days). I mean I was literally

scared to go to the concert. I am 22 years old it was really

horrible to realize that I was scared to do something most 22 year

olds would jump at. I was trying to figure out a way to get out of

it (even though I love Finger Eleven) but thankfully Matt called and

said his car died so he wouldnt be here til later. It just felt

horrible Tonight however I am going to get to act like a normal

22 year old. I asked the pharmasist if I could drink and told him

exactly what I was on. He said as long as I only had 1 or 2 drinks

and wasnt doing it nightly it would be fine. Just to know that the

alcoholic effects would be magnified by three. So I just have to

keep a close watch on how I am feeling. Matt said he would look out

for me too and keep watch on me. I am going to write out what I am

on and the dosages and give it to him just in case. I just want at

least one night of normalicy!

Stacey

July 18, 2004

Hi Stacey:

Do you know that when your heart rate is at 120, your body is usually

pumping out a lot of extra adrenalin to make the heart beat that fast.

Adrenalin can make one feel extremely anxious. Perhaps that is why you

feel so very anxious and feel the need for alcohol. Often, people use

alcohol to relax and let their hair down. Perhaps your summer job is

putting a great deal more physical demand on your body and requiring

physical stamina that was not required during the university term.

My 17 yr. old daughter developed severe orthostatic intolerance and Pots

when she took a required aerobics gym class at high school. She started

to have fainting episodes in Dec. after the gym class, although she she

had started the class in Sept. and it was the increased demand that

occurred during endurance training aspect of it. When I learned that

increasing the salt intake and drinking at least 2 litres of water per

day helped her B.P and lowered her heart rate she started to feel like

she had a bit of control. She also is extremely sensitive to becoming

overheated and going out on a hot day is a guarantee of having

orthostatic intolerance. Alcohol is a vasodilator and diuretic so it is

very, very unhelpful. Initially it works as a stimulant for approx. an

hour and one feels relaxed, but then the other effects take over and one

can feel worse. I know how terribly anxious you can feel with the 120

heart rate. My daughter can still get anxiety attacks when her heart

rate gets high. She gets the fastest result at reducing anxiety by

laying down and putting her feet up at 90 degrees on a wall. She also

drinks gatorate at this time to increase circulating fluid and increase

salt and potassium in her body.

She went to the bathroom a whole lot more, but she had less feeling of

severe exhaustion and she had to reduce her physical activity. When

sitting, she always, always has her feet on coffee table or up on

something.

This is what works for her and she still has to follow these principles.

July and August are tough months for her because of the heat.

Bernie