Orthostatic Issues and Depression

sport_95@hotmail.com · May 2015

Hi,

I am new to the boards. I am 10 1/2 weeks pregnant and scared out of my mind. I never wanted to have kids but apparently God had other plans. I just recently became healthier after going to a brain center in Atlanta for 2 weeks last August. I raised the money to go (https://www.gofundme.com/cp9g78), since my orthostatic issues and migraines were getting worse. I just started to feel better and finally was able to ride horses again, I was thrilled! Shortly after starting a new and exciting job and purchasing my husband and I's first home, we found out I was pregnant with our first. My problems have come back full force. I usually have to get up to go the bathroom in the middle of the night but I can barely walk, my husband has to half carry me because my limbs go weak and I can't talk nor barely open my eyes during my episode. I'm tired all the time and I am struggling again with depression, a battle that has ensued for most of my life. The neo-natal specialist I am seeing said my condition can get worse over the life of the pregnancy. All I can think about is not being able to work when I need to (or when I need to return, especially because of financial reasons), not being able to nurse when I am supposed to because with my condition I cannot hold anything my limbs all go weak, not being able to live a normal life all because of a baby.

I guess I just want to share my fears and to reach out to see if anyone with POTS syndrome or orthostatic issues or severe migraines during their pregnancy would be able to share their story and how you got through it.

holly1811 · May 2015

Sounds like youve been going through the mill. Im sure it cant be easy for you, hopefully as you enter the second trimester you may start to feel a little better. Are you able to get out of the house at all sometimes just a little fresh air can work wonders for depression. You sound like an incredibly strong woman and your dh sounds very sweet. Wish you the best of luck keep strong.

BostonBaby1 · May 2015

Hi sweetheart, for so I want to say that I feel your pain. I also have pretty severe POTS and I am currently struggling with a BP that is running around 80/60 right now. DH is thrown on my compression stockings and elevated my feet. We have been in and out of the Hospital in the IV fluids don't seem to keep my pressure up. I am also hypovolemic... I wish I had more answers for you.

First, I think you need to take down the link to your go fund me page… That is frowned upon on the bump and may even be against TOU... I know you're intent to place it up there was not to raise money but rather to clarify what you are dealing with physically.

So, there are a few recommendations that I can make to you at this point in time. I would recommend that you see a good neurologist or cardiologist that specifically deals in pots. That can take a long time to do so, so if you don't have that chance at this point in time… Here or what the suggestions were for me. Of course, everybody has different symptoms and responses to different treatment plans. Run everything passed your OB and neurologist cardiologist if possible.

You want to start by trying to increase your cardiac output. This should be done on a recumbent bicycle. You do it this way so that if you were to faint, you would already be sitting down. You start with three minutes a day, and work your way up by three minutes a day until you reach 45 minutes. At that point, you drop the recumbent bicycle exercise down to 35 minutes a day and you add 10 minutes a day of upright exercise such as walking. Each day you add on an additional three minutes of walking or operate exercise until all 45 minutes are up right. It is very important that you do your exercises at least six days out of the week. The point is to increase cardiac output and therefore raise your blood pressure diminishing your symptoms.

Then of course, there is the obvious… You want to increase your salt intake as well as your fluids. You need to be taking in at least 3 L a day of fluid. The best would be Gatorade as it has both sodium and electrolytes.

Worst case scenario, you could wind up on IV fluid's to try to keep your pressure up. Obviously, this is a course of last resort and you probably will not need it if you have not needed it prior to pregnancy. Actually, most doctor say the pots improve with pregnancy because of the increased blood flow running through your system. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. The most important thing is to know that you are not without help. I am not sure which medications can be taken in pregnancy… None of the ones that I wear on our safe during pregnancy or trying to conceive. However, studies abroad have shown that Florinef may not be harmful to a fetus, but you would have to discuss that with your doctors and make a decision based on what you all feel is the right course of action for you. For me, even though I am willing to take other category C drugs, medication for pots was not something that I was willing to take a chance on. then again, I have a port-a-cath for IV access so my choices are more varied.

Please feel free to message me at any point in time. I hope that you feel better soon! It can definitely be extremely emotionally taxing to go through pots or any type of dysautonomia/orthostatic intolerance at any point in your life let alone during pregnancy.

Keep your chin up sweetheart! You will get through this!

BostonBaby1 · May 2015

Oh… I forgot about the migraines. My doctor prescribed a combination of Reglan which is an anti-nausea pill and a single pill that is a combination of Bultab/Acetaminophen/50 mg of caffeine. It does not work anywhere close to a triptan, but it is better than nothing!

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