POTS Daily Survival Kit

For starters, I'm not a medical professional of any kind. However, I do have a diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). These are the products, tips, and tricks that help me day to day as a potsie.

1. Vitassium Fast Chews

These have both sodium and potassium and are specifically marketed to potsies! I take them before big activities (being outside, going to the store, etc.) but they can be taken regularly per instructions on the bottle. Not sponsored haha!

2. WATER

I cannot stress this enough. If you're adding salt to your diet especially! Increase water!! It's no joke when people suggest this to potsies. Get an emotional support water bottle, and HYDRATE!

3. Different kinds of salt

Hear me out in this one. It can occasionally get a little bit boring with the same salt in your food day to day. Try another kind! The classic coarse kosher salt is my favorite in food personally, but using smoked salt in a meat based dish can add a little bit of extra slow cooked flavor. Sea salt is also great! There's so many different kinds, even entire companies making different kinds of salt flavors.

4. Med bag

When you're stuck on the floor of the supermarket, you'll be wishing you listened to this advice. If you're on medicine for pots, carry it with you. If vitassium or other salt pills help, carry them with you! Water at all times: carry it with you! It can make such a big difference.

5. Heart rate monitor

I personally am very lucky to have an Apple Watch. It lets me know when my heart rate is too high, and then I know to lay down or sit. However, this may not be within everyone's budget. That's okay! There are also the kinds on Amazon that go in your finger. I have one of these in my med bag in case my watch dies or I forget to wear it. I highly recommend logging your heart rate to see what your normals are and what a flare may look like for you.

6. Compression!

If your pots is like mine, you may get blood pooling. I get it really noticeably in my hands so I wear compression gloves quite a bit day to day. There are also compression socks, tights, leggings, etc. Compression garments help with blood pooling by encouraging circulation.

7. Support

This one is something you can't buy. Quality of life in chronically ill patients can always improve with a steady support system. To friends and family of pots patients: the best thing you can do is be there, offer help when needed, and be a listening ear. Being sick sucks a lot of the time. Having someone stick by you counts more than anything else.

-Bea