Alright, let’s talk chronic illness.
I’ve been diagnosed with a few conditions—and there are a few more on the “suspected” list. Yay me, right? In all honesty, it could be worse. I’m grateful for the good days, but today, I just need to talk about it.
First up: Fibromyalgia.
What is it, exactly? Honestly, it feels like a catch-all term for “we don’t know why you’re in pain, but we believe you are.” I’m sure a medical professional could give a more technical explanation, but for me, it means widespread pain, chronic fatigue, brain fog, IBS, migraines, TMJ issues, and anxiety. It’s a lot, but I get through it, one day at a time.
Then there’s Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)—cue the zebras!
Why zebras? Because in medical school, doctors are taught “when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” But EDS is a zebra—rare and often misdiagnosed. For me, it looks like joint hypermobility (hello, subluxations), chronic pain, fatigue, GI issues, stretchy skin, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, presyncope (nearly fainting), bruising, headaches, dental problems, anxiety, and slow wound healing. Basically, my body is a walking riddle.
And now, the suspected guest star: POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).
This one is currently being explored by my cardiologist. It brings on dizziness, rapid heart rate, brain fog, nausea, blurred vision (especially when I’m about to pass out), GI problems, fatigue, and of course, more joint pain.
And finally—chronic migraines.
They’re awful. If you know, you know.
So why am I writing this today? Because I’m struggling—hard—with POTS symptoms. The dizziness has been relentless, and as the temperatures rise, so do the symptoms. It’s like clockwork: hotter weather = more dizzy spells. I drink more water, boost electrolytes, and add salt to my diet (low blood pressure perks, I guess?), but keeping up is exhausting. I’m using Liquid I.V. and trying a new electrolyte powder I found on Amazon. Still, this week has been a doozy—with dizzy spells even while sitting and migraines lurking around every corner.
I’m not looking for pity. I know others are facing far more life-threatening diagnoses. Some are watching loved ones fight unthinkable battles. My heart is with them. I just needed to vent, especially about the dizziness. It’s hard to describe how disruptive it is to your life—physically, mentally, emotionally. It sucks. That’s really the best way to put it.
If you’re also battling chronic health issues, I’d love to hear from you. What helps you cope? What gets you through the harder days?
As I write this, I’m dizzy and feeling the start of another headache. I’ve already dealt with one migraine this week—please, not another. But I’ll do what I can to care for myself: hydrate, rest, eat something salty, and (unfortunately) clean the house before I can fully rest. 🙃
Take care of yourselves out there. And if you’re fighting a quiet battle, I see you.
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