Drop It Like It's POTS

So - Someone commented anonymously on my previous post the phrase "Drop it like it's POTS", which I found hilarious for all the obvious reasons. 

1. It just works.  It rhymes.  It's catchy.  For anyone not aware, this is a reference to the Snoop and Pharrell song "Drop It Like It's Hot"

2. POTSy people (people with the form of dysautonomia called POTS) drop constantly - as in faint, or fall, or just generally run into things due to feeling dizzy.  This makes the phrase even funnier, because it is SO not hot.  But most of us don't look sick at all, and are total babes (I've seen all your pics online!).  So we are hot dammit, and that makes the doctors not take us seriously - the whole "not looking sick" thing.

3. POTSies can drop it like it's hot, because most have extreme temperature issues that exacerbate their symptoms. So we're dropping because we're hot, and our heart rates increase, some have blood pressure changes - but it's not at all attractive or taking place at the club, since most of us can't tolerate the hotness.  

Oh...the sweet sweet irony!


So in honor of my "chronically awesome" disease, here are some new lyrics:

I'm officially a charity case...

It has come to this! I am officially a charity case and raising money for our family. Here's the deal:

1.  As most of you know, I have a disabling disease.  I cannot be upright for long before passing out.  I can't even sit with my legs down in a car, because the blood pools in my legs/feet, and my heart rate and blood pressure go nuts and I pass out.  My disease is in a pretty severe state right now.  So - I use a reclining wheelchair to get around the house. Most of my day is spent with my legs up in a bed caring for my new daughter, and on my laptop while she naps. 

You Know You Have POTS When...

I try to find humor in this ridiculous and disabling disease,  so ENJOY! 

1. You get water-boarded every time you shower from having to sit down.

2. You need a recycling bin next to your bed.

3. Sexy lingerie includes compression stockings.

4. The phrase from The Matrix "There is no spoon" has special meaning for you, and its not a good one.

5.  The thought of being in a padded room actually sounds great!

6.  The invention of Skype made you do a happy dance while sitting down.  And then your heart rate was 160.

Pots, Clots, and Closing My Successful Business (Part 2- Let the Humiliation Begin)

So....when we left off from my previous post (Part 1), I had just been admitted to the hospital in Virginia Beach because I couldn't see straight from crazy horrible extreme vertigo, plus all my other POTS symptoms gone wild (lightheaded, heart pounding, starting to pass out when I sat up/stood for too long, flu-ish feeling). I was very hopeful after talking to the internal medicine doc, he assured me that we would get to the bottom of this, and if he had to contact the neurologist I saw at UVA we would do so. Meanwhile I received a low dose of IV fluids, and had an MRI scan of my head with a fancy ear imaging portion to try and figure out the vertigo portion of this, which I never had in my life to such an extreme. I was also informed that there was no cardiologist or neurologist to see me at this particular hospital (awesome), and they would try and find an ENT for my vertigo.   They continued to try a few drugs for the vertigo - which didn't work, and seemed to focus on that, since no one had any clue how to treat a pregnant chick with POTS - so lets just ignore it.  Nice.

The 12 Days of Movie Geeks Christmas (what to get the nerd in your life - or me!)

Shopping for self professed geeky folk this Holiday Season? 

Here are some on my favorite gift ideas!  Links included for everything.  I did not price shop, but you should thank me anyways, because these gifts rule.  Avoid pepper spray and shop online.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me (don't worry I won't quote the whole song)...

The iPhone Han Solo in Carbonite Cover - YES PLEASE!
From Zazzle, $51.40

POTS, Clots, & Closing My Successful Business (Part 1)

I've had a lot of people inquiring about Bella Fora services and asking in general what happened to me (the owner - Claire). That's actually very flattering, I love that I am friends with many of my past clients and have built relationships with them and other vendors in the industry.  In an effort to write everything down cohesively, and out of a bit of selfish I don't want to have to keep typing this-itis, I've decided to share publicly what has been a very tough battle for me (and my family).  Hopefully this may educate people as well about my disease, of which very little is known, and even less is publicized.

I have developed a real affection for fainting goats.  This may seem strange, but you will understand why as you read on. I feel a tremendous connection with them, see a great short video of them in action (or inaction) here.