Happy 2020 everyone!

I can’t believe another year has flown by. 2019 was a little rough but I’m ready to take on 2020 with strength and joy.

My new year started off by prepping for a trip to Vanderbilt in Nashville to see a POTS specialist and have some testing done.

We traveled from South Carolina to Nashville on the 1st, for my testing that was early the following morning.

I had an AFT which is an Autonomic Functions Test. Basically they wanted to see what all they were dealing with. The test itself to a normal person would seem rather easy but unfortunately for me it was very taxing on my body.

The AFT confirmed that I do in fact have POTS.

After the testing, we went back to our hotel and I crashed for a long time. After that we were able to explore a little bit of Nashville, which was super fun!

On January 3rd, I had my appointment with my new doctor.

He was fantastic!

He spent an hour and a half with me going over all of my health issues. Trying to come up with a plan that will work best for me.

While we were there he diagnosed me with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. He is sending me to a geneticist to confirm it 100% but he is pretty positive that I do in fact have it.

Also while talking with him, believes I might also have a condition called gastroparesis. I am being referred to a gastro doctor for some testing on that as well.

He also sent in a referral for me to see neuropathology and see what all is going on with my PTC and how it is effecting my POTS along with the rest of my illnesses.

So…

As far as treatment plans go right now, we are going to start a new medication and slowly increase it as needed. Slow and steady wins the race and that’s the plan. I will keep in contact about every 2 weeks with my doctor, updating on orthostatics and symptoms.

We also are doing a week long event monitor, he is looking for something specific that he said most doctors tend to overlook due to the face that it is so small. So I’m currently rocking my monitor and carrying around 2 phones, 1 to record my heart (someone is watching it all the way in TX 24/7; kinda creepy not gonna lie) and 1 to scroll aimlessly through social media or pinterest thinking of all the crafts I could do.

During this time also discussed other things that I can do to help better myself and hopefully help my symptoms. I was told I can have all the salt I want, it won’t hurt me a bit. Along with that I need to drink as much water as possible.

Compression is also something that is supposed to help, apparently you get the most out of it from your stomach so any tummy control legging will help with my blood circulation/blood pooling.

We also discussed a “workout” plan. I use this term very loosely because it is not intense by any means and it’s more so to help build up my tolerance that way I can eventually do more.

I walked out of that appointment feeling so confident in my doctor and I haven’t felt that in a really long time. God picked the perfect doctor for me. I’m blessed beyond measures.

I also want to take a minute to thank my amazing parents for taking me to all of my appointments and being there with me every step of the way! I don’t know where I would be without you both!

I’m ready to take on 2020, whatever you have to bring! Let’s go!