Summary Saturday: Early Satiety

This Symptom of the Week Blog Post focuses on Early Satiety with a summary of everything I talked about this week 📝 I thought it would be helpful to have all of that information in one place so it's easier to look for when you need it, I hope it helps! 🩵

Symptom Sunday: The POTS Symptom I highlighted this week was Early Satiety ⏰🚫😋🍽️

Early Satiety is getting full quickly, often before you can eat a full meal 🍽️ Early Satiety can happen in POTS patients for many different reasons including decreased blood flow to the digestive tract, gastroparesis, changes in intestinal motility, dysfunction in autonomic nerves in the GI tract, constipation, nausea and a lot more! Early satiety can be a difficult symptom to manage because it can be difficult to get enough calories and nutrition if you can't eat very much at once! 😬 

Monday's Myth: You need to eat everything on your plate. FACT: You can stop eat when you are full!

I know there are a lot of cultural expectations about eating everything on your plate or getting second or third helpings of foods and it's important to acknowledge that! That being said, you are not under the obligation to make yourself sick! You can stop eating when you are full and it is okay if you cannot finish everything! You can explain that you have health problems that make eating a normal amount of food difficult, or you can just compliment the chef and explain that you are full and cannot eat anymore 👨🏽‍🍳 It can be difficult when your health challenges make social things difficult 😕 But it's also important to take care of yourself 🩵

Tuesday's Tip: Be as Descriptive as Possible When Describing Abdominal Pain

I have already recommended having smaller meals more frequently throughout the day and setting reminders or alarms to remind yourself to eat and those are helpful tips for early satiety as well! ⏲️ Something my Dietitian recently recommended was drinking more between meals than during a meal 🥤 She said that 4 Liters of fluid is a lot and that liquid fills up your stomach pretty quickly and doesn't leave a lot of room for food! But it is important to stay hydrated too! 😅 So I have noticed that my early satiety is not as bad when I drink more between meals! That way I stay hydrated but still have enough room in my stomach for food too:)

Wednesday's Word: Gastrointestinal (GI) Motility: The way the body moves food through the digestive tract

Gastrointestinal Motility or Intestinal Motility is a phrase that you will hear a lot in the GI world! It refers to the way the body moves food through the digestive tract: from the mouth, then throat & esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum and then out of the body. Organs like the liver, gallbladder and pancreas help with digestion but food does not move through them. When we are discussing motility we are often referring to the efficiency/ease and speed of digestion ⏱️ Some POTS patients have decreased or slower motility and some POTS patients have increased or faster motility! Early satiety can occur with slower motility ⏰🚫😋🍽️

Thursday's Thing: Nutritional Drinks or Shakes

The Thing I am sharing today is related to the Symptom of the Week: Early Satiety ⏰🚫😋🍽️ Eating smaller meals or a big snack every 2-3 hours is really important for POTS & Early Satiety! It can be really hard to get enough calories if you only eat 3 meals a day but don't have a full meal's worth of food 😬 So, one of the things that has helped me a lot lately is nutritional shakes or drinks 🥤There are a lot of different kinds that are great! Some have more protein which can be helpful, but higher protein also makes me a lot more nauseous 🤢 There are also several flavor options, and my favorite is chocolate 🍫 Here are some thinks will a few that I have using a lot lately 🔗

• Vanilla Original Ensure Nutrition Shake 
• Chocolate Original Ensure Nutrition Shake
• Vanilla Boost Original Nutrition Shake
• Chocolate Boost Original Nutrition Shake
• Strawberry Boost Original Nutrition Shake
• Vanilla Boost Women's Nutrition Shake 
• Chocolate Boost Women's Nutrition Shake

Feature Friday: Navigating POTS Appointments for Early Satiety

The Navigating POTS Product I am highlighting is my Early Satiety related Appointments

⏰🚫😋🍽️📆 The Consultation appointments are 30 minutes and the Coaching are 60 minutes and involve a write-up related to the Appointment 📝 You can email me if you have any concerns about pricing or scheduling and we can work something out that is better for your price range 📧 Here is the Calendly link so you can book an appointment 🔗 Below are some examples of questions we can discuss in these appointments:

Navigating POTS Appointment Topics Related to Early Satiety:

Consultation Appointments:  These are 30 minute appointments focused on individualized education or help with specific concerns. Here is a list of possible questions that we could discuss in a consultation appointment: 

-I feel like understanding why I am experiencing early satiety could help me, can you teach me more about digestive problems in POTS patients?

-What are some specific ways I can manage early satiety? Can we go over tips to help and things to avoid?

-What are some specific ways to help reduce the emotional or mental load of eating with early satiety? 

-What are some specific ways to help address the social implications of early satiety?

-We are going out to eat later this week at a specific restaurant and I am overwhelmed thinking about what to order when I know I won't be able to eat very much, can we go through the menu together and come up with a plan so I can be prepared? 

-I am going to a specific event that I am worried about. Can we talk about strategies to manage my early satiety while I am there and how to best communicate with people about it?

-I need help coming up with a few ideas for meals or snacks while I am at work, school or not at home, can you help me? 

-I would like to talk to you about some of the emotions I have around early satiety, especially the stress that comes with uncertainty and random symptoms. Can we discuss this together?

-I feel so overwhelmed that I don't even know what to ask, but I want to talk to somebody who understands.

* Any other specific questions that you have! 

Coaching Appointments: These appointments are 60 minute appointments that involve specific hands-on help with various problems. These appointments are more in depth and often involve notes or a write up of some kind.  📆 Here is a list of possible things we could address, which type of appointment it would be and what I would create for you in those appointments: 

-Food Help or Symptom Tracking Appointment: Can you help me create a way to track my digestive symptoms so I can notice patterns and trends? This would involve going over the free "Symptom Tracker" chart together and creating a "Food Diary" form for you to use

-Appointment Prep Appointment: My early satiety is severe enough that I want to talk about them at my next doctor's appointment, can you help me put my thoughts together and prepare for that appointment? This would involve me typing up a history for these symptoms and filling out a template to use while you explain your symptoms.

-Food Help Appointment: Trying to plan meals is exhausting, can you help me create a plan for specific meals? This would involve me creating a menu with you and can also include a shopping list and other specific plans.

-Food Help Appointment: I have not been good at eating consistently and I want to get better, can we set some goals about how often to eat and come up with a good schedule for eating that would work with my early satiety? This would involve me typing up your goals and the plan we discuss together. 

Emotional Discussion Appointment: I am experiencing a lot of emotions around food and my early satiety and am feeling overwhelmed. Can we talk about some of my emotions and then come up with a plan to move forward? This would involve me typing up a summary of what we discussed and a plan for moving forward

Other Appointment: This is an opportunity to discuss anything you want and then request what you would like to have typed up or created for you, hopefully it can be a helpful resource for you!  🩵

*Just a reminder that appointments are still 1/2 off, so $25 for a consultation and $50 for a coaching appointment! If you have any specific concerns about scheduling or prices please email navigatingpots@gmail.com

 Summary Saturday: Abdominal Pain

This Symptom of the Week Blog Post focuses on Diarrhea with a summary of everything I talked about this week 📝 I thought it would be helpful to have all of that information in one place so it's easier to look for when you need it, I hope it helps! 🩵

Symptom Saturday: The POTS Symptom I highlighted this week was Abdominal Pain 😖💩

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of POTS and can happen for several reasons! It can happen from decreased blood flow to the digestive tract, from inflammation or dysfunction in nerves, from increased histamine, from food sensitivities and much more! Abdominal pain can be a miserable symptom, so I hope the posts this week are helpful 🩵

Monday's Myth: Ibuprofen helps with Abdominal Pain. FACT: Ibuprofen can make Abdominal Pain worse!

While Ibuprofen can help with most other kinds of pain, it can actually make abdominal pain worse! This is because it is an NSAID or a Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and those medications can actually damage the stomach and cause bleeding! 🩸 So it is normally recommended to take ibuprofen after a full meal or to take coated ibuprofen to help prevent these side effects!

Tuesday's Tip: Be as Descriptive as Possible When Describing Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can happen for a lot of different reasons so it can be hard to understand and diagnosis😅 So, when you are describing it to your doctor try to be as descriptive as possible 👩‍⚕️ Where is it starting? Does it stay in the same spot? Is it a burning pain, a sharp shooting pain, a dull ache or more of a cramping sensation? It can be overwhelming, but being as descriptive as possible can help in your diagnosis! 🩺

Wednesday's Word: Abdominal Quadrants: Description used in healthcare to divide the Abdomen into 4 sections

Abdominal Quadrants are how we refer to different areas of the Abdomen in Healthcare 🩺 Your abdomen is between your chest and pelvis and holds many vital organs including organs in the digestive tract 💩 When referring to different parts of the abdomen, we divide it into 4 quadrants: The Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) the Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) the Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) and the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) Here is a diagram showing the 4 different quadrants: 

Thursday's Thing: Electric Heating Pad

Abdominal pain can be really debilitating! 😕 It can also be difficult to manage since Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS can make abdominal pain worse 😬 I have personally found that heat can help a lot with my abdominal pain! It can help relax muscles and increase digestion 🔥 Sometimes I take a shower or hot bath to help with abdominal pain, but sometimes that makes my POTS worse! 😅 So, I really like using electric heating pads! ⚡️ Here's a link to one I like 🔗 I hope this is helpful 🩵

Feature Friday: Navigating POTS Appointments for Abdominal Pain

The Navigating POTS Product I am highlighting is my Abdominal Pain related Appointments 📆 The Consultation appointments are 30 minutes and the Coaching are 60 minutes and involve a write-up related to the Appointment 📝 You can email me if you have any concerns about pricing or scheduling and we can work something out that is better for your price range 📧 Here is the Calendly link so you can book an appointment 🔗 Below are some examples of questions we can discuss in these appointments:

Navigating POTS Appointment Topics Related to Abdominal Pain:

Consultation Appointments:  These are 30 minute appointments focused on individualized education or help with specific concerns. Here is a list of possible questions that we could discuss in a consultation appointment: 

-I feel like understanding why I am experiencing abdominal pain could help me, can you teach me more about digestive problems in POTS patients?

-What are some specific ways I can manage abdominal pain? Can we go over tips to help and things to avoid?

-What are some specific ways to help reduce the emotional or mental load of eating with abdominal pain? 

-What are some specific ways to help address the social implications of abdominal pain?

-We are going out to eat later this week at a specific restaurant and I am overwhelmed thinking about what to order that won't make my abdominal pain worse, can we go through the menu together and come up with a plan so I can be prepared? 

-I am going to a specific event that I am worried about. Can we talk about strategies to manage my abdominal pain  while I am there and how to best communicate with people about it?

-I need help coming up with a few ideas for meals or snacks while I am at work, school or not at home, can you help me? 

-I would like to talk to you about some of the emotions I have around abdominal pain, especially the stress that comes with uncertainty and random symptoms. Can we discuss this together?

-I feel so overwhelmed that I don't even know what to ask, but I want to talk to somebody who understands.

* Any other specific questions that you have! 

Coaching Appointments: These appointments are 60 minute appointments that involve specific hands-on help with various problems. These appointments are more in depth and often involve notes or a write up of some kind.  📆 Here is a list of possible things we could address, which type of appointment it would be and what I would create for you in those appointments: 

-Food Help or Symptom Tracking Appointment: Can you help me create a way to track my digestive symptoms so I can notice patterns and trends? This would involve going over the free "Symptom Tracker" chart together and creating a "Food Diary" form for you to use

-Appointment Prep Appointment: My abdominal pain is severe enough that I want to talk about them at my next doctor's appointment, can you help me put my thoughts together and prepare for that appointment? This would involve me typing up a history for these symptoms and filling out a template to use while you explain your symptoms.

-Food Help Appointment: Trying to plan meals is exhausting, can you help me create a plan for specific meals? This would involve me creating a menu with you and can also include a shopping list and other specific plans.

-Food Help Appointment: I have not been good at eating consistently and I want to get better, can we set some goals about how often to eat and come up with a good schedule for eating that would help my abdominal pain? This would involve me typing up your goals and the plan we discuss together. 

Emotional Discussion Appointment: I am experiencing a lot of emotions around food and my abdominal pain and am feeling overwhelmed. Can we talk about some of my emotions and then come up with a plan to move forward? This would involve me typing up a summary of what we discussed and a plan for moving forward

Other Appointment: This is an opportunity to discuss anything you want and then request what you would like to have typed up or created for you, hopefully it can be a helpful resource for you! 

*Just a reminder that appointments are still 1/2 off, so $25 for a consultation and $50 for a coaching appointment! If you have any specific concerns about scheduling or prices please email navigatingpots@gmail.com

Summary Saturday: Diarrhea

This Symptom of the Week Blog Post focuses on Diarrhea with a summary of everything I talked about this week 📝 I thought it would be helpful to have all of that information in one place so it's easier to look for when you need it, I hope it helps! 🩵

Symptom Sunday: The POTS Symptom I highlighted this week was Diarrhea 😳💩🚽🧻 

Some POTS patients mainly have constipation, some POTS patients mainly have diarrhea and some POTS patients have both! 🎗️ POTS can cause diarrhea for several reasons including dysfunction in the nerves that control digestion, food intolerances, changes in blood flow to the digestive tract, and a lot of other things! Diarrhea can also be very difficult to manage and can be very debilitating at times 😕 I hope this week's post were helpful for you! 🩵

Monday's Myth: You can't have Diarrhea and Constipation. FACT: You can be Constipated and have Diarrhea! 

This week's Myth vs. Fact was about the Symptom of the Week: Diarrhea 💩💧🚽🧻😳 and last week's Symptom of the Week: Constipation 🚫💩🚽 Most people incorrectly think you can only have constipation or diarrhea, not both! But they can occur together, especially in POTS patients! You can switch between diarrhea and constipation on different days, or you can have both at the same time 😅 

Tuesday's Tip: Using Flushable Wipes can be Helpful with Diarrhea

Having diarrhea is the worst and it can really painful! 😕 Especially when you are trying to clean up after 🧻 😅 I have personally noticed that using flushable wipes can help a lot! Most flushable wipes are approved by plumbers, but you can only flush 1 or 2 at a time 🚽 Here's a link to the ones I like from Amazon: Flushable Wipes 🔗

Wednesday's Word: Encopresis or Fecal Incontinence: The involuntary passing of poop into clothing

The Medical Term I highlighted this week is Encopresis, also known as Fecal Incontinence 💩😳 This often happens because the colon becomes too full when poop becomes impacted or stuck 💩 Then only liquid poop can leak around the blockage, and if the person's colon is stretched enough, it can be difficult to avoid having an accident 😬 Even if you can control your bowel movements, the same process can cause a person to have diarrhea because they are constipated enough that only the liquid poop can get out! This is one of the reasons I shared the Myth vs. Fact earlier this week about how someone can have Constipation and Diarrhea at the same time 💩😳 

Thursday's Thing: Poo-Pouri Spray

Let's be honest, diarrhea is the worst! And it can be very smelly as well 👃🏼 I have used several different air fresheners and odor eliminators that work well 🌫️ Recently I discovered Poo-Pouri Sprays and they work REALLY well! I have a small one I keep in my purse with some travel size wipes for when I am out and about 👜 I also have larger ones in my bathrooms 🚽 Right now they have a bunch of fall scents, so that's super fun! 🍁 Here's a link to the Falls ones I recently bought: Poo-Pouri Spray 🔗

What's In All My Bathrooms: 

I have a great set up in all my bathrooms because of all the digestive symptoms I've struggled with lately 💩😅 So, in addition to my Thursday's Thing post where I featured Poo-Pouri Spray, I also wanted to share a "What's In" post that shows the different products I have in all my bathrooms 🚽🧻 I have a bathroom vent or fan in every bathroom because I like knowing the white noise disguises some of the sounds and because it helps with odor elimination! I also normally have a water bottle and feminine hygiene products in every bathroom too. I included the links to the other items below 🔗 

• Corner Shelf: In all of our bathrooms, we have this little 3 tier corner shelf next to the toilet to hold all of the supplies 🚽
• Extra Toilet Paper: I love the "Ultra Soft Charmin"
• Flushable Wipes: I have noticed a big difference between the Cottonelle and Generic ones! These ones are stronger and don't fall apart as easily 😅 
• Air Fresheners: I like this Frebreze or the Poo-Pouri Spray 
• Barf Bags (Emesis Bags): I have barf bags because sometimes you need to be sitting on the toilet and throwing up at the same time 🤮 And these ones are really strong!
• Small Fan: I have a small fan to help me feel less nauseous or sick while going to the bathroom 💨 I like this one because I can wrap the legs around the door knob! 
• Odor Eliminator: We haveArm & Hammer Odor Eliminators in every bathroom and they work really well! 
• Toilet Brush: We have a toilet brush in every bathroom to help remove any mess that flushing does not take of
  
• Toilet Cleaner: I have a toilet cleaner in every bathroom to help with some of the stains the brush can't get out very well.
• Plunger: I have a plunger in every bathroom because we've all been in those awkward situations where the plunger is in a different bathroom 😬 
• Squatty Potty: I have been going to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy lately for a variety of things, but one thing we have talked about is Constipation 💩 She recommended using a Squatty Potty in order to have a better "toilet posture" for pooping 🚽 It can be difficult to poop in the position most toilets create because your colon can get "kinked" 😅 The Squatty Potty makes it easier to poop because lifting your legs changes your position and prevents the colon "kink" 💩🚽 At first, it seemed kind of strange, but it has helped me a lot! I would highly recommend it  🩵

Feature Friday: FREE HANDOUT! Navigating POTS: Poop Tracking Chart

Sometimes when you are trying to manage so many different symptoms, it can be difficult to keep track of how often you are pooping! 😅 So, I made a free handout that you can use to track your poop 💩 It uses the Bristol Stool Chart to track the Type of Poop 💩  I hope this is a helpful handout 🩵 

Navigating POTS Appointment Topics Related to Diarrhea or Constipation:

Consultation Appointments:  These are 30 minute appointments focused on individualized education or help with specific concerns. Here is a list of possible questions that we could discuss in a consultation appointment: 

-I feel like understanding why I am experiencing a diarrhea or constipation could help me, can you teach me more about digestive problems in POTS patients?

-What are some specific ways I can manage diarrhea and constipation? 

-What are some specific ways to help reduce the emotional or mental load of eating? 

-What are some specific ways to help address the social implications of diarrhea or constipation?

-We are going out to eat later this week at a specific restaurant and I am overwhelmed thinking about what to order that won't make my diarrhea or constipation worse, can we go through the menu together and come up with a plan so I can be prepared? 

-I am going to a specific event that I am worried about. Can we talk about strategies to manage my diarrhea or constipation while I am there and how to best communicate with people about it?

-I need help coming up with a few ideas for meals or snacks while I am at work, school or not at home, can you help me? 

-I would like to talk to you about some of the emotions I have around diarrhea and constipation, can we discuss this together?

-I feel so overwhelmed that I don't even know what to ask, but I want to talk to somebody who understands.

* Any other specific questions that you have! 

Coaching Appointments: These appointments are 60 minute appointments that involve specific hands-on help with various problems. These appointments are more in depth and often involve notes or a write up of some kind.  📆 Here is a list of possible things we could address, which type of appointment it would be and what I would create for you in those appointments: 

-Food Help or Symptom Tracking Appointment: Can you help me create a way to track my digestive symptoms so I can notice patterns and trends? This would involve going over the free "Symptom Tracker" chart together and creating a "Food Diary" form for you to use

-Appointment Prep Appointment: My digestive symptoms are severe enough that I want to talk about them at my next doctor's appointment, can you help me put my thoughts together and prepare for that appointment? This would involve me typing up a history for these symptoms and filling out a template to use while you explain your symptoms.

-Food Help Appointment: Trying to plan meals is exhausting, can you help me create a plan for specific meals? This would involve me creating a menu with you and can also include a shopping list and other specific plans.

-Food Help Appointment: I have not been good at eating consistently and I want to get better, can we set some goals about how often to eat and come up with a good schedule for eating that would help my diarrhea and constipation? This would involve me typing up your goals and the plan we discuss together. 

Emotional Discussion Appointment: I am experiencing a lot of emotions around food and my diarrhea and constipation and am feeling overwhelmed. Can we talk about some of my emotions and then come up with a plan to move forward? This would involve me typing up a summary of what we discussed and a plan for moving forward

Other Appointment: This is an opportunity to discuss anything you want and then request what you would like to have typed up or created for you, hopefully it can be a helpful resource for you! 

*Just a reminder that appointments are still 1/2 off, so $25 for a consultation and $50 for a coaching appointment! If you have any specific concerns about scheduling or prices please email navigatingpots@gmail.com

Navigating POTS Appointments for Surviving the Summer Heat

Over the next few weeks, I am going to have several blog posts that highlight specific topics for the Navigating POTS appointments 📆 Since last week's Symptom of the Week was Heat Intolerance, and this week's Symptom of the Week is Sweating/Night Sweats, I decided to focus on Surviving Summer & the heat in this post ☀️🥵🌌😓🌞 First, I am going to explain how heat affects POTS and then explain some of the specific challenges that come with these symptoms. Then I will give examples of how Navigating POTS appointments can help with these symptoms, I have included questions that I wanted to discuss as a patient, so I hope this is helpful for you 🩵

How does heat affect POTS patients? POTS patients often feel worse in the heat and can experience heat intolerance and either increased or decreased sweating ☀️🥵 Heat intolerance can happen for a number of reasons, your autonomic nervous system controls temperature and sometimes has a difficult time regulating itself 🌡️ This is especially true if you can't sweat 😓 Also when you get hot your blood vessels dilate and your body increases blood flow to the skin which is why you can look "flushed" or red when it's hot🩸 These changes in blood flow and the sweating that occurs when you get hot often make POTS patients feel worse 🥵 

How does my heat intolerance affect me? Honestly, I kind of hate summer because I always feel so much worse 😎🌞🥵 I often joke that I "hibernate" during the summer and avoid going outside 🏜️ ☀️🥵 All of my symptoms are a lot worse, I sweat a lot, feel dizzy, nauseous, have headaches, get chest pain, presyncope and get really fatigued 😓 I have a really hard time sitting in the sun, but I also sunburn pretty easily haha ☀️😅 I need it cold in my house so I don't feel sick, but sometimes people can make insensitive comments about it 😕 It can be really easy to feel isolated, discouraged and alone when I am dealing with these symptoms 😓

What are the social implications of heat intolerance? It can be really embarrassing to sweat a lot😓 And it's hard to deal with heat intolerance because lot of people love summer, and most of our family trips happen during the summer because school is out 📆 I live in Utah so it's not very humid, but it can get pretty hot, especially down in Southern Utah where all the National Parks are🏜️ We also have family in North Carolina and Georgia and it is really hot and humid there 🥵💦 I have definitely had to miss some extended family trips because I knew I would feel too sick if I went and that can be really disappointing 😔 There have been other times when I have gone, but I planned specific ways to deal with the heat while I was there 🥵  And there have been other times when I have worked with my family members to plan a good time of year to go visit a particular place that might be hard for me during the summer 🗓️ And aside from trips, there are a lot of outdoor activities during the summer like BBQ, hiking, picnics, etc. Honestly, trying to plan things in the summer is still one of the hardest things for me, but I have learned a lot! 

So how can these Navigating POTS Appointments help with the physical, emotional and social affects of Summer & Heat symptoms in POTS patients? 

Consultation Appointments: These are 30 minute appointments focused on individualized education or help with specific concerns. Here is a list of possible summer or heat questions that we could discuss in a consultation appointment: 

-I feel like understanding why I am experiencing a specific symptom could help me, can you teach me more about heat intolerance or sweating in POTS patients?

-What are some specific ways I can manage heat intolerance during the summer? 

-What are some specific ways to help reduce the emotional or mental load of heat symptoms? 

-What are some specific ways to help address the social implications of heat symptoms?

-We are going on a trip and I am overwhelmed thinking about how to manage my symptoms, can we go talk about this and come up with a plan so I can be prepared? 

-I am going to a specific outdoor event that that I am worried about. Can we talk about strategies to manage my symptoms while I am there and how to best communicate with people about it?

-I need to have a conversation with a specific person about my heat symptoms, can we practice together?

-I feel so overwhelmed that I don't even know what to ask, but I want to talk to somebody who understands.

* Any other specific questions that you have! 

Coaching Appointments: These appointments are 60 minute appointments that involve specific hands-on help with various problems. These appointments are more in depth and often involve notes or a write up of some kind.  📆 Here is a list of possible things we could address, which type of appointment it would be and what I would create for you in those appointments: 

-Other: Can you help me create a plan for an upcoming trip I have? This would involve me typing up a list of things to bring on your trip, specific ways to deal with symptoms while you are there and any other specific things you would like. 

-Other: I want help creating a Summer Survival Kit, can you help me put one together? This would involve me typing up a list of things to include in your kit and links to the items you can include.

-Specific Goal Setting: I want to go to an event outside and have some specific goals around managing symptoms in the summer, can you help me create a plan for achieving those goals? This would involve me creating a list of goals, specific plans to achieve them and ways to follow up on track progress.

-Emotional Discussion Appointment: I am nervous about talking to a specific person about my heat symptoms, can you help me prepare for that conversation? This would involve me typing up specific talking points and notes for your conversation. 

Emotional Discussion Appointment: I am experiencing a lot of emotions around my heat symptoms and am feeling overwhelmed. Can we talk about some of my emotions and then come up with a plan to move forward? This would involve me typing up a summary of what we discussed and a plan for moving forward

Other Appointment: This is an opportunity to discuss anything you want and then request what you would like to have typed up or created for you, hopefully it can be a helpful resource for you! 

*Just a reminder that your first appointment is 1/2 off, so $25 for a consultation and $50 for a coaching appointment! If you have any specific concerns about scheduling or prices please email navigatingpots@gmail.com 

Navigating POTS Appointments for Digestive Symptoms

Over the next few weeks, I am going to have several blog posts that highlight specific topics for the Navigating POTS appointments 📆 Since last week's Symptom of the Week was Decreased Appetite, and this week's Symptom of the Week is Nausea, I decided to focus on Digestive Symptoms in this post 🤢 First, I am going to explain how POTS affects digestion and then explain some of the specific challenges that come with these symptoms. Then I will give examples of how Navigating POTS appointments can help with these symptoms, I have included questions that have been really helpful for me, so I hope this is helpful 🩵

How does POTS affect digestion? POTS affects digestion because the sympathetic nervous system, or fight or flight response, is often activated whenever a person is standing up🧍🏽‍♀️ When your body is not in the Fight or Flight (sympathetic) response, it is in Rest & Digest or the Parasympathetic response. 🛌 So, when a person is in the fight or flight response, blood is moved away from your digestive tract and this can make digestion harder ⬇️🩸😬 POTS patients can then experience symptoms like nausea, decreased appetite, constipation, vomiting, fullness, bloating, abdominal pain and a lot more! 🤢🤮💩

How do my digestive symptoms affect me? I have personally found my digestive symptoms to be some of the most difficult to deal with 😬 Food is essential to health and takes up a lot of time every day 🕖 I have to plan what I eat, shop for ingredients, make the food, eat, clean up and then start all over again for the next meal! 😅 Then adding the mental and emotional burden of trying to figure out what I can eat or trying to think of something that I can tolerate when I feel nauseous and have no appetite is really hard 🤢 And since I often experience pain and other difficult symptoms after I eat, it can be difficult to want to eat 😕 But if I don't eat, I feel way worse! I get dizzy, my vision gets fuzzy, I get really tired and weak and my nausea gets way worse 🥴 It's a difficult and exhausting cycle 😓

What are the social implications of digestive symptoms? Our society is totally focused on food 🍽️ We go out to eat to celebrate accomplishments, we invite people over for dinner, a lot of our holidays include specific foods, and almost all of our interactions with other people includes food 👥 And there are a lot of cultural implications around food as well! It can be viewed as insensitive or offensive to refuse to eat food that has been prepared for you, to not finish your plate or to not request seconds or thirds 😬 When I was younger, I used to try any food that was offered to me, because even if it tasted bad, I was totally fine after I swallowed it! But now, even the "safest" foods cause a lot of symptoms! And often, those symptoms last for days! 😕 Even though it is important to prioritize your health and do what is best for you, it can still be really uncomfortable to go to a social event and not eat what everyone is eating, or only eat a few bites 😬Also, our society is completely obsessed with body image, diet culture and an unhealthy relationship with food 🙄 This can cause a lot of problems and lead to a lot of insensitive comments and can make me feel really alone in my struggles 😔

So how can these Navigating POTS Appointments help with the physical, emotional and social affects of digestive symptoms in POTS patients? 

Consultation Appointments: These are 30 minute appointments focused on individualized education or help with specific concerns. Here is a list of possible digestive questions that we could discuss in a consultation appointment: 

-I feel like understanding why I am experiencing a specific symptom could help me, can you teach me more about digestive problems in POTS patients?

-What are some specific ways I can manage a digestive symptom? (Nausea, Constipation, fullness, no appetite, etc.)  

-What are some specific ways to help reduce the emotional or mental load of eating? 

-What are some specific ways to help address the social implications of digestive symptoms?

-We are going out to eat later this week at a specific restaurant and I am overwhelmed thinking about what to order, can we go through the menu together and come up with a plan so I can be prepared? 

-I am going to a specific event that involves food that I am worried about. Can we talk about strategies to manage my symptoms while I am there and how to best communicate with people about it?

-I need help coming up with a few ideas for meals or snacks while I am at work, school or not at home, can you help me? 

-I would like to talk to you about some of the emotions I have around food, eating and body image concerns, can we discuss this together?

-I need to have a conversation with a specific person about food, can we practice together?

-I feel so overwhelmed that I don't even know what to ask, but I want to talk to somebody who understands.

* Any other specific food or digestive symptom question that you have! 

Coaching Appointments: These appointments are 60 minute appointments that involve specific hands-on help with various problems. These appointments are more in depth and often involve notes or a write up of some kind.  📆 Here is a list of possible things we could address, which type of appointment it would be and what I would create for you in those appointments: 

-Food Help or Symptom Tracking Appointment: Can you help me create a way to track my digestive symptoms so I can notice patterns and trends? This would involve me creating a "Symptom Tracker" chart and a "Food Diary" form for you to use

-Appointment Prep Appointment: My digestive symptoms are severe enough that I want to talk about them at my next doctor's appointment, can you help me put my thoughts together and prepare for that appointment? This would involve me typing up a history for these symptoms and filling out a template to use while you explain your symptoms.

-Food Help Appointment: Trying to plan meals is exhausting, can you help me create a plan for specific meals? This would involve me creating a menu with you and can also include a shopping list and other specific plans.

-Food Help Appointment: I have not been good at eating consistently and I want to get better, can we set some goals about how often to eat and come up with a good schedule for eating? This would involve me typing up your goals and the plan we discuss together. 

Emotional Discussion Appointment: I am experiencing a lot of emotions around food and am feeling overwhelmed. Can we talk about some of my emotions and then come up with a plan to move forward? This would involve me typing up a summary of what we discussed and a plan for moving forward

Other Appointment: This is an opportunity to discuss anything you want and then request what you would like to have typed up or created for you, hopefully it can be a helpful resource for you! 

*Just a reminder that your first appointment is 1/2 off, so $25 for a consultation and $50 for a coaching appointment! If you have any specific concerns about scheduling or prices please email navigatingpots@gmail.com 

Navigating POTS Appointments

Today is the Official Launch of the Navigating POTS Appointments!! 🎉 Even though Aubrey George is a trained Registered Nurse & Family Nurse Practitioner, these appointments are not designed to replace appointments with your healthcare provider. Instead, Aubrey George will use her personal experience as a POTS Patient and her educational background to help you understand and cope with your POTS diagnosis in order to not just survive, but live a meaningful life 🩵

I am currently offering POTS Consultation Appointments and POTS Coaching Appointments. In honor of the Official Launch of these appointments, I am offering an Official Launch Discount of 50% off your first appointment! 🥳 Both POTS Consultation & POTS Coaching Appointments can be scheduled through Calendly 📆 Then the virtual appointment with be through Google Meet 👩🏼‍💻 I have included specific instructions with links to explain how to schedule appointments at the end of this post 🔗 If you have any specific questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out! ✉️

POTS Consultation Appointments: 

POTS Consultation Appointments are a 30 minute 1-on-1 appointment with Aubrey George, the Founder of Navigating POTS. These shorter appointments are designed for individualized education and are a great setting to ask specific questions! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Price: $50 for a 30 minute appointment 

-Student Discount: $40 for a 30 minute appointment 🎒

*I will also be offering more discounts and sales throughout the year, so watch for those 🏷️ If you have any specific concerns or questions about pricing, please reach out to me through my email. 

POTS Coaching Appointments: 

POTS Coaching Appointments are a 60 minute 1-on-1 appointment with Aubrey George, the Founder of Navigating POTS. In general these appointments are more in depth than POTS Consultation appointments and involve more hands on work 🤲🏼 These POTS Coaching appointments can include setting specific goals, problem solving, compiling information and following up over time.

Price: $100 for a 60 minute appointment

-Student Discount: $80 for a 60 minute appointment  🎒

-I will also be offering more discounts and sales throughout the year, so watch for those 🏷️ If you have any specific concerns or questions about pricing, please reach out to me through my email. 

These appointments are opportunities for individualized help with a variety of topics that can include but are not limited to the following:

• POTS Basics: This appointment is really helpful for people who have just been diagnosed with POTS! In addition to basic POTS education and information, they can also involve setting specific goals, creating ways to track symptoms and planning meaningful ways to move forward.

• Health History Compilation: Discuss your health history with Aubrey George and she will type it up in a clear way so you can bring it to any appointments.

• Medication Schedule Organization: This does not include prescribing any medications, instead it involves creating an organized list and schedule based on what has already been prescribed. Then you can take this organized list of medications that you can take to appointments and more easily manage your medications at home.

• Appointment Preparation: This appointment will involve compiling a list of things you should bring to a doctor's appointment. This can also include dictating what you want to say and translating it into the "medical jargon" that health care professionals use.

• Symptom Tracking: This appointment will involve discussing various symptoms and creating a organized way to track those symptoms throughout the month.

• Daily Habits Planning: This appointment will involve discussing various daily habits you want to start and setting appropriate goals. We will create an easy way to track your progress as well.

• Food Help: Aubrey George is not a Dietitian, but she understands that POTS often comes with dietary complications. This appointment will provide the opportunity to discuss specific concerns, track symptoms and set specific goals.

• Specific Goal Setting: This appointment will focus on setting specific goals. It will involve creating smart goals that are manageable and coming up with an action plan to achieve them. 

• Emotional Discussions: Aubrey George is not a Therapist, but she understands that having a chronic illness creates a lot of complex emotions. This appointment will provide a safe place to discuss various emotions that come with POTS and can involve setting specific goals and following up.

• Question or Answer: This appointment will provide an opportunity for specific questions to be answered in an individual setting. These appointments will involve more than just individual education and can include goal setting or other plans.

• Other: These appointments will be whatever you want to focus on! Please make sure to include the specific questions you have or information you want to discuss when you schedule your appointment.

How to Schedule an Appointment: 

1) Even though there are currently only 2 appointment types offered, on the Calendly home page you will see 6 different appointment types based on different prices and discounts 📆 💲 In the future I will have discount codes, but for right now they are listed as separate events due to the different prices. The POTS Consultation Appointments are all blue 💙 and the POTS Coaching Appointments are all Cyan🩵 The first event listed for both appointments is the regular price, then there is a "First Time" option that is 1/2 off for the Official Launch Discount and the "Student Option" that is 20% off for the Student Discount.  All students should select the "First Time" appointment for their first appointment and then the "Student" appointments after since the discounts cannot be used together. Please be honest about which appointment you select 😊

2) After you click on the event you want to schedule, it will take you to a calendar page 📆 First, read through the information on the left side about the appointment, especially if you are scheduling a POTS Coaching Appointment because it describes the different appointment types. Then on the right side, you will see a calendar. Right now I am allowing appointments up to 30 days in advance and I am available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but I will adjust my availability once I finalize my schedule at my other job. Once you select a day that works, you will see the time slots listed on the right, please note that I live in Utah, so the appointments are in Mountain Daylight Time 🏔️ If you would like to schedule an appointment, but these dates or times will not work for you, please reach out to me at my email. ✉️

3) After you select a date and time for your appointment, the next page will have details for you to fill out for your appointment like your name, email and phone number 📝 It will also have specific questions related to your appointment, the required questions will have a * next to them. Any information you include in these responses will help me know what to focus on in the appointment. 

4) Under the questions, there is a place for you to pay through Stripe with a debit or credit card 💳 You need to enter the name on your card, your credit or debit card number, the expiration date, the CVC and your zip code. Please be honest about if the Student Discount or Official Launch discount apply to you. You must pay as you schedule the appointment, but I understand that POTS can make keeping appointments difficult so I will offer a full refund if you need to cancel up to 24 hours in advance. You are still welcome to cancel within 24 hours, but there will be a $10 cancellation fee since it is hard to fill appointments that late. If you neglect to cancel, are more than 15 minutes late without contacting me, or you do not show up for the appointment, there is a $25 "No Show" fee. All fees will be taken out of your refund, but the rest will be refunded💸 There are more details about the cancellation policy on the Terms & Conditions page. If you have any specific concerns or questions about pricing, please reach out to me through my email. 

5) After you have submitted your questions and payment, you will get a copy of your receipt and a confirmation email sent to you🧾📧 The confirmation email will have a link to the Google Meet that we will use for your appointment🔗👩🏼‍💻

6) After the meeting is confirmed, Calendly should redirect you to a Navigating POTS Appointment Terms & Conditions Google Form to fill out 📑 You must fill this out before our appointment! This form includes the general Navigating POTS Terms & Conditions, the Navigating POTS Terms & Conditions and the Cancellation Policy, please read through the terms and conditions and check the box to acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Terms & Conditions ☑️ You will also need to include your name, email and the date. After you submit this form, you should get a copy emailed to you 📧 After this step, you are done with everything you need to do before our appointment! 🥳

 7) Once you are finished scheduling you should have 3 emails: a receipt 🧾 a confirmation email with the Google Meet link 🔗and a copy of your completed Google Form📑 You should also get an email and text message reminder 24 hours before the appointment 📧 Then on the day of the appointment, click on the link and I will let you in the meeting 👩🏼‍💻You don't need to bring anything to the meeting, just yourself:) I'm excited to work with you!! 🩵 

Disclaimer: Individual POTS Coaching Sessions are not the equivalent of a doctor’s appointment. Aubrey George’s licenses are not required nor used during these sessions. These sessions will not include an official diagnosis, prescriptions, treatment plans or any official medical advice. These sessions are meant to provide 1-on-1 education, encouragement and goal setting or non-provider related tasks. It is the responsibility of the user to discuss any specific and personal questions about a diagnosis, prescriptions, treatment plans, medications and interventions with  their personal health care provider. Anything shared during these coaching sessions is the intellectual property of Navigating POTS, LLC and its Founder Aubrey George. Any recording, distribution or sharing this information without specific permission is expressly prohibited. 

Ask Nurse Aubrey: Catch Up Post with 8 Questions Answered!

Sorry it has been over a month since I did my last blog post! It's been a crazy few weeks, but I am happy to be back to a more normal schedule:) To catch up for the weeks I missed, I wanted to answer a few "Ask Nurse Aubrey" questions in one post! 

1) Can blood pressure fluctuate between low, normal and high with POTS?

Yes it can! High adrenaline levels can cause high blood pressure, low blood volume can cause low blood pressure and your high heart rate can actually normalize blood pressure! I am going to explain a lot more about this in an upcoming course I am working on:) But the short answer is yes! There are a lot of different reasons that it can be low, high or normal! 

2) What compression do I recommend for POTS? 

I definitely recommend waist high compression because a lot of blood pooling can happen in your abdomen! I feel a LOT better when I do waist high instead of thigh high or knee high:) I really like the stockings material and I have a prescription for the Medi brand, they're great! I have also seen similar ones on Amazon! I also really like compression leggings! I will sometimes wear them by themselves and sometimes wear them with compression stockings too. I like the CompressionZ, and Dragon Fit from Amazon:) I use the 20-30mmHg and that strength works really well for me! 

3) What is the most important intervention to improve symptoms of POTS? 

I honestly feel like this is a tie between salt and compression for me! I notice a substantial difference when I am not drinking electrolyte fluid, taking salt tablets and adding salt to all my food! 10 grams a day is the recommended goal and that's a lot! I also notice a substantial difference when I'm not wearing waist high compression, so I would have a hard time choosing between those 2 interventions! I also know that exercise is one of the best things you can, but I'm not very good at being consistent with that😅

4) Thoughts on getting the new COVID booster if you have POTS & bad palpitations? 

I would definitely recommend asking your doctor about this just in case! But in general, I always recommend vaccines and always get boosters for myself! Unless you've had a severe reaction in the past, or you are severely immunocompromised, most people are normally better off getting it:) POTS patients often have a strong immune response after a vaccine that can include fever, chills, headaches, body aches, fatigue and just feeling crummy for a few days! But I know people who have gotten POTS because they had COVID, so I think it's better to prevent the illness! But again, ask your doctor just in case there are specific factors you need to consider:) 

5) Any tips for a post-virus POTS flare up?

I always try to prioritize extra rest during and after an illness! I try to ease back into physical activity and give my body space and time to heal! I definitely have POTS flare ups with illness, so you are not alone in that! I also normally get IV fluids after to help my body stay hydrated:) I make sure I am eating regularly and drinking more electrolyte fluid than normal! I also make sure I am getting at least 10 grams of salt a day! I take naps and try to take it easy for awhile:) 

6) Is there a link between POTS and PCOS?

Both PCOS and POTS are syndromes, meaning we don't know the underlying cause is! So, I don't know what the specific connection is, but I do know that POTS & PCOS are seen together in some patients! I have both and know there have been several studies that included patients with both:) 

7) I have POTS and think I have PCOS, should I try to see a specific type of doctor? 

Your POTS doctor should be able to also manage and test for PCOS actually! Most Primary Care Providers or General Doctors should know how to treat it! PCOS is pretty common and it's actually a clinical diagnosis. That means that you can do imaging to see if you have ovarian cysts and they can check labs to see if you have elevated hormone levels, but they can also just diagnosis it based off of symptoms in the office without needing more tests:) If you want to see a women's health doctor (gynecologist) or someone who specializes in hormonal conditions (endocrinologist) you definitely can though! 

8) Should POTS patients worry about going on roller coasters?

I would ask your doctor about this just to be safe! But I have gone on roller coasters since getting sick! There are some intense rides that recommend not riding if you have any neck, head or heart problems, so sometimes I avoid those! But I have done a lot of the ones at Disney:) I often feel pretty dizzy and nauseous after, and by the end of the day I normally have a pretty bad headache. But normally my body recovered, so I just spaced them out and took breaks in between:) I don't think you can do any long term damage, I think they can just cause flare ups? But I would double check with your doctor just in case!

These have been great questions, thank you so much! Feel free to ask any follow up questions or any others you might have! I primarily check for questions through the "Ask Nurse Aubrey" Instagram story on Mondays, but you can also email me some at navigatingpots@gmail.com  or by filling out the Contact Me form on this blog!