Lifestyle adjustments. You know your life will change once you get a disease diagnosis. These changes may be easy or hard depending on how you are currently living life.
For those of us that fall into the “couch potato” category, we may need to start eating healthier or exercising.
And for the cocktail and/or coffee crowd, it may mean limiting or stop consuming alcohol or—horror of horrors—caffeine. (Man, the coping skills one must develop!)
It’s often a busy life we lead here in the U.S. We move from one activity to the next, not necessarily conscious of all the things we cram into a day.
When our health suffers, it can all come to a screeching halt.
This was the case with Christopher. He was diagnosed with POTS, a form of dysautonomia associated with abnormal spikes in heart rate upon standing. POTS is estimated to affect 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 Americans, but doctors don’t know a whole lot about what causes it.
While Christopher was adjusting to THAT diagnosis, he also learned he had celiac disease.
It’s important to not get too overwhelmed when making lifestyle changes. The American Psychological Association offers five tips to make your changes stay:
- Make a plan that will stick.
- Start small.
- Change one behavior at a time.
- Involve a buddy.
- Ask for support.
Christopher has eased into his new lifestyle. He is a techie and has used this to his advantage. He applies various apps to his daily routine, as well as connected to support groups thanks to the wonders of the internet. He’s discovered, among many things, that water is his ally, which helps him cope with the dizziness he experiences as a symptom of POTS.
Thank you Christopher, for being brave and telling your story. It helps us understand a bit more about what it’s like to live with POTS.
