POTS Flare Up (PART 1) | What Causes a POTS Flare??

Watch Part 2 here: • POTS Flare Up Treatmen...
Hello Friends! It's Aimee Esther here! I am a stay at home mama to a sweet baby girl, and wife to an amazing husband. I also have several chronic illnesses (see below). I am passionate about sharing my story to help those suffering like I do. I have a degree in health education and I am certified in nutrition, chronic disease, and health promotion.
Today I am sharing my tips and tricks for getting through a POTS flare up. This is a two part video series where I discuss how POTS flare ups are caused, prevented and treated. If you want to know what causes your POTS/dysautonomia to flare, or how to treat your POTS flare once it starts, then you are in the right place!
For more info on my chronic illnesses check out the links below!
POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)/ Dysautonomia www.dysautonomiainternational....
Fibromyalgia www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...
CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) medlineplus.gov/chronicfatigu...
SIBO (Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...
Leaky Gut Syndrome www.health.harvard.edu/blog/l...
Chronic Migraines www.migrainetrust.org/about-m...
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...
Endometriosis www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...
Follow along on Instagram / aimee_esther
SHOP my activewear line: www.etsy.com/shop/AimeeEsther...
BUSINESS INQUIRIES: [e-mail]
The beautiful music for this video was provided by: Life of Riley Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@ameliakycia3287]

Watching this because I’ve been in a horrible flare up for about a week now. And no end in sight. I was on a strenuous field trip today. And I almost passed out. And threw up. It was horrible. I came home and wiped out for 8 hours. Just woke up and now I’m so sore everywhere.

[@return2basics242]

My biggest daily issue is over doing it. I tend to sit all day long for the past year now although I try to keep active as much as I can. So on the "rare" day that I need to run around all day long, like for a family trip to say.... a museum, as long as I keep moving constantly, I can do it, but then I "crash". Hard. My whole body hurts something awful, everywhere, but usually it's my upper back around my "bra-line" that hurts the most. I'm exhausted for a day... or four. 😬 And depending on how much running around I was doing, the brain fog settles in. It's like being reduced to a child just following others around and doing what I'm told like a child rather than functioning like the 30-something woman I am. It's embarrassing. If it gets to that point, I NEED someone to essentially take care of me like I'm a young child because I'm not thinking straight. I hate that.

[@ashlinglynam1985]

FINALLY…. Someone else feels worse after taking a nap!! You’re the first person to agree with me! Also if I lay my head down while watching tv or reading I feel like crap and get an instant headache!!

[@lilhiccuprompers5609]

I have Pots (1year) and living in Australia is hard in summer I generally can't go outside if over 23 degrees lately it's been 40+ degrees Celsius. I've just been diagnosed with hashimotos aswell it's been a week and I've had major migraine nausea, extreme fatigue and hot flushes constantly, I ended up in hospital with fluids and pain relief. The doctors said it was Pots Flare up I feel I've been doing everything right eating healthy, non smoker non drinker, I feel my body is failing me, having two kids and being 30 not what I imagined at all. Thankyou for you video I will try these tips to see if it will help. ❤

[@valkyrieqt5785]

awesome video !! It’s good to know that other people have flare ups and have similar symptoms and triggers. It can feel very lonely when I’m at home and not at the pool with other people or friends. You’re awesome, keep up the rest work !!

[@Aimee_Esther]

Thanks so much!! :)

[@mamasaurus4856]

Undiagnosed, hoping for cardiologist referral this week (for years just treated for anxiety and asthma, I know it's not those). I have two kids and am pregnant, I'm lucky if I can get one household chore done a day with a kid helping me right now. My house is awful, its humiliating. But I can't get enough air in to keep up with how hard my heart is pounding when I get up and around. I don't even want to eat lately, I don't have the energy. 😥

[@tjrafaels5407]

Had no clue that sunburns would affect POTS! Very Informative. I feel like im not getting enough air in even though I feel fine and my heart rate is steady. Anxiety or POTS?

[@s4r4b34r]

Hmmm maybe I have POTS too... I'm sensitive to temperatures... sometimes I can exercise a lot and sometimes I cannot do anything! 🤔 My cycle takes a lot out of me too and I always wondered why my hubby is fine with 5-6 hours where I need more....I drink water but I probably need to use your tip from the other video and have more salt. I have felt awful this summer! We're trying to sell our house so I have a lot of stress and mental health issues right now hmmmm..... glad to have found your channel it has given me a lot to think about.

[@Aimee_Esther]

Before i knew i had pots i was drinking SO much water because i was so thirsty but i always thought "low salt is healthiest" so i didnt have enough salt even though i craved it. The salt keeps the water in you instead of just going straight through. Gotta have both!!!

[@s4r4b34r]

@@Aimee_Esther this makes so much sense! I definitely don't get enough salt in my diet! Do you measure your salt intake or just use it often?

[@yorocco1]

POTS is a very serious illness. The diagnosis requires a 30+ bpm rise in heart rate upon standing.

[@matthewpena3932]

Oh my goodness I might have pots. Seeing my Cardiologist next week and between the diet and heat elements it sounds like I might have it. He noted I had pots like symptoms last time but I noted I feel fine from a sleep position to a standing one.

[@jonnekeraijer4618]

Hi Aimee! Thanks so much for your videos! I am currently waiting to see a doctor for my POTS symptoms. I am however 99% sure that I have it, after wearing a heart rate monitor for a couple days. Anyways, I am INCREDIBLY fatigued every single day. I have to sleep at least an hour during the day in order to get through the day. I was wondering if you think that it could be POTS related? I am only 20 years old and I just want to be able to stay out all day, but currently can't. What do you think?

[@Aimee_Esther]

Totally could be POTS related. Is it a certain time you always feel tired?

[@jonnekeraijer4618]

Aimee Esther thanks for responding! No, most of the time when I go out I just need to sleep right after. Sometimes I go to school for only two hours and then totally feel like collapsing. Then I go home and take a nap 🙃 It’s far from ideal

[@Aimee_Esther]

Gotcha. Yes that sounds like POTS to me. Have you tried treating your POTS?

[@jonnekeraijer4618]

Aimee Esther I have been watching your video’s and you give a lot of great tips, so thankyou for that. I don’t really know where to begin, especially since I haven’t been diagnosed. I am trying to drink more water though, but that’s kinda it for now 😅

[@Aimee_Esther]

This wednesday i have a full video about natural pots treatment coming out. 😊 hopefully that will help!

[@princessparrots]

It often averages around 100f here in the summer and the amount of times that I haven’t been able to get out of bed or needed to go back is insane, especially at my parents house where it often gets around 115🥵. It’s definitely not uncommon for me to need to go back inside and lay down after going outside without even getting the chance to do anything… always needs to be either early morning, evening or not at all which is kind of annoying given how much I’ve always loved summer and being and spending time outside and doing stuff in the garden😕 can certain medications ever play a role in flare ups? Just I remember there was this one point that I was almost bed/couch ridden until I started to lessen one of my medications and slowly started to be able to get up and do stuff again as I lessened the dose… I still get flare ups and stuff but they are nowhere near as consistent or bad as they used to be. I would honestly love to get off this medication entirely and see if that makes any more of a difference but I doubt that will happen..

[@the1andonlytrav]

Do you think it's possible for a flair up if you eat hot foods? Whenever I eat oatmeal in the morning or another hot meal I feel awful for several hours after. Also, I have 7 sleep disorders but let's not talk about that. 😅

[@skylarcameron8751]

Do you have any recommendations for walking around with (possible) POTS? I’m in college, a commuter student, currently trying to get an official diagnosis of POTS (suspected by an urgent care doctor in the June due my how my heart rate will go from 70s to around 120s if not higher, got to 163 the other day on my fitbit inspire hr just seconds after standing ((luckily I don’t faint or at least haven’t yet. I’ve fainted once last summer from dehydration but that’s been it so far for fainting))I have my first cardiology appointment on the 22nd) and I have to walk around campus to my classes. Last semester prior to suspecting I had POTS, I was sick a lot but then developed all these POTS like symptoms that continued after I was better and still continue. I would be walking to class in the beginning of the semester and over time I noticed I was getting more tired, I’d get short of breath, and muscle pain when walking across campus to class than I had in previous years and it’s only getting worse. What used to take me 10-15 minutes to walk from one side of campus to the other is now taking me 20-25 minutes. Now after walking from class to the student center I have to lie down near my friends and take a nap because of how exhausted I am just from walking or at least give myself some time to rest whereas in the past I was able to do so much more stuff once I got there. I used to be able to walk miles around campus when I lived on campus and if I can walk 1-2 miles throughout the day it’s been a good day. Mostly just walking half a mile, about the distance between my student center where I get dropped off and my classes on the main part of campus or from my student center to my classes on the other side of campus across a busy intersection, will have me stopping maybe every quarter mile to rest. Do I just need to give myself more time to get across campus? I give myself half an hour prior to the start of class to get there on time and there have been times when with breaks I’m pushing being on time. If I ever get the official diagnosis, I plan on telling my school heath center about it for their records just in case. I just don’t know what to do as far as walking. If you read this thank you for reading!

[@Aimee_Esther]

Hey! Thanks for reaching out. I totally think you have POTS, sounds exactly like what I feel! I do have some advice for you! First thing, go get yourself a pair of compression stockings 30-40 mmHg if possible. 20-30 works good too if you can't find 30-40. THEY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Trust me. I was napping after a short grocery shopping trip before I wore compression socks. ..... these are my favorite: www.jobststockings.com/jobst-relief-30-40-mmhg-open-toe-knee-high-compression-stockings-p-189.html I also have a video of my "POTS Must haves" which include some other things I use to keep me moving. (It's not sponsored btw, but I genuinely use all the things I talk about). Also, This will sound so horrible while you are walking but walk FASTER. Sounds crazy, but it really does work. With POTS our blood is being pooled at out feet, so the slower you walk, or the longer you stand in one place the more your blood will pool. If you get moving faster, then your blood will circulate better. You could also try calf raises or squats when it gets bad. Squeeze your bum, and legs.. this helps get your blood up to the upper half of your body instead of pooling at your feet. Hands down, compression socks should help you most. If you need some ASAP go to your local pharmacy. They should have some 20-30 mmHg ones for while you wait for 30-40 to be delivered. They take a week or so ordering from the website i sent you. Also, check out this website: www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=30 .....SUCH GOOD INFO!!! I hope that helped! Let me know if you have more questions. And my part 2 to this video is coming out on saturday with lots of tips for when your pots is flaring!!

[@Aimee_Esther]

YOU GOT THIS!!!!

[@skylarcameron8751]

Aimee Esther Thank you so much for the reply Aimee! I never thought walking faster would help but it does make sense now that I think about it. The calf exercises would be good to do when the walk sign doesn’t come on for minutes at the intersection to get the other side of campus. It’s better than leaning against the light pole like I’ve did last semester. I will definitely look into your videos more and look into getting the compression socks! I’ll probably even send my friends your way when I go to explain POTS to them once the new semester starts. Again thank you so much! I actually do have a few more questions if you don’t mind: What is your opinion on a medical alert bracelet? I know so far I don’t faint from POTS but I also have pretty mild cerebral palsy, which regardless of the severity, causing me to have an increased likelihood of seizures. I was wondering if I should get one just in case because I could faint one day, obviously not knowing it and have a trauma induced seizure because of the fainting. I’ve had trauma induced seizures in the past as well and one random cerebral palsy related seizure all as a child. I haven’t had any in my adulthood. I was thinking I might get one to be on the safe side but I don’t know if it’s necessary. Also, Im just curious, does your vision go black when/if you feel lightheaded? I loose my vision when I feel like I could faint but I’ve never seen vision loss as a “symptom” of POTS.

[@Aimee_Esther]

Medical alert bracelet would be a good idea if you think you may have seizures. Actually only about 40% of people with POTS faint. I have never fainted either. I think thats why it took me so long to get a diagnosis, because no one could see my symptoms. I always felt like i would pass out but never actually did. I had heard of POTS but thought it was just people who faint all the time. My vision does go a little black for a few seconds when i stand up too fast without wearing compression socks. But its not super long, just almost like im blinking really long if that makes sense.

[@yorocco1]

I don’t mean to sound negative but I don’t understand why people seem so perky in these POTS videos. That is not my reality with POTS at all. Anyway, this was helpful.

[@Aimee_Esther]

Oh totally get what you mean! Oh man, have i been there!!!! I used to be completely depressed, in so much pain i couldn't get out of bed and so negative about the entire situation. I was used my illness as an excuse for everything and i hated life. I was like this for years. One day i decided to change, to accept my illness, to not be depressed about being in pain but to use my illness to help others! It took a lot of counseling and thought work to get to where i am today. Now i have a new outlook. I treat all my chronic illnesses (which helps a ton) but i still feel sick every.single.day!! My pain isnt gone. At all. Its always there. But i decided that it wasnt a problem. I decided its a blessing in disguise. If you want to change your outlook on POTS, you are in the right place!!!! 😊😊

[@Beeppoop]

@@Aimee_Esthernot possible for me and my symptoms

[@dymphnatherese2595]

I have jra, was on statins from childhood, and took a lot of birth control back in the day. I wonder if those things are related… Now on top of the pots, I have a histamine response to heat. I get very itchy and even get hives when I’m hot or reasonably should break a sweat. Anyone else with pots have histamine responses to uncomfortable temperatures?

[@yorocco1]

One thing and one thing only; stress, stress, stress... (heat is a stressor)

[@victoriahaas9364]

what are the symptoms to pots!!!

[@Aimee_Esther]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5famIigoct1i6c

[@Aimee_Esther]

This video i talk all about them!