On a More Positive Note

I have experienced some good times along with the painful times since I've been at school again. I have been able to go to an apple orchard and pick apples, pick out pumpkins, go on an inflatable obstacle course, ride on a wagon ride, and go through a corn maze, not to mention cheering at home football games! So on a positive note, there are good times along with the bad. The good times are the ones I focus on the most because I don't want to be dragged down by the pains of P.O.T.S.! I work through them and have fun! Here are some pictures of my latest adventures...

As "Sara the Panther" at a home game!

"Billy the Panther" carrying "Sara the Panther"

At the orchard :)

Right before entering the obstacle course

At the pumpkin patch!
We picked out 2 huge pumpkins and 1 smaller one too!

Updates for October

Well so far this semester at school has been very interesting. I have really fun courses like Biological Psychology and Aging, which I enjoy! As for P.O.T.S., it has been a roller coaster! So many ups and downs with P.O.T.S. while I'm at school. I have been really fatigued since the start of this semester, which is normal due to the fact that I am doing a lot of things. I am involved in 4 clubs and have 5 classes to worry about. Anyone would be fatigued with the amount of work that I do...at least that's what I believe.

With this crazy weather changing from 90 degrees to 50 degrees overnight, I have been experiencing exaggerated symptoms. The fatigue is worse again and so is my back pain and brain fogging and shortness of breath. The brain fogging is at its worse over these last 4-5 weeks. I have been so brain fogged that my studies have been affected. I cannot concentrate on tasks that I need to get done, and I have fallen asleep in numerous classes too. This is something that I have never experienced before. I am one of the top students in all of my classes. I sleep roughly 7-9 hours every night. I shouldn't be falling asleep in class!

Also, when I do go to sleep, I cannot wake up in the mornings. I call it the "Sleeping Beauty" symptom. I cannot wake up even with 5 alarm clocks buzzing. My roommate has to shake me and yell my name for me to wake up at times. I get terrified sometimes when going to sleep because I don't want the "Sleeping Beauty" symptom to occur again. I have missed one class and almost missed an entire shift at work because I couldn't wake up. It is scary. I could understand if I wasn't getting enough sleep and then that occurred, but I am getting enough sleep!

Right now I just feel as though my body is improving in some aspects, but having more troubles in other areas. I am in recovery. It is not fun to NOT feel the improvements yet. I know that I have been feeling better as compared to the last few years. But I want to feel even better than I feel now. I know that day will come soon!

For now, my doctor says that I should drink Gatorade G2 in the mornings when I wake up and do some large muscle exercises like calf raises and bicep curls. He also said that I should exercise more consistently and reach a 30-minute time frame of continuous exercise. I have been working on that and have reached 15 minutes. I'm halfway there! It was also recommended that I check out a yoga class here at school since it is free and so that I can work on my blood flow. I should check out talking with a counselor too so that I can talk about the stresses of living with P.O.T.S. I am not thrilled about this last suggestion, but I am willing to do anything to make myself feel better, so I have an appointment set up for next Tuesday morning.

Until the next post, I will be smiling and laughing as always and improving my health with every step that I take! :)