December 2015
In the past 8 months, a few things have changed.
In July, my club volleyball team went to the Junior Olympics in Louisiana. Unfortunately though, I was not able to play due to a patella subluxation (my knee cap popped partially out and back in, tearing the patellar ligament). I still went to the tournament to support my team and spend time with them. My team went on an outdoor swamp tour, but because of my POTS, I did not go because it was about 100 degrees with a lot of humidity, and it would have caused me to be overheated.
Once back in California, we went to the beach multiple times. I have learned that I get overheated if I stay for an extended period of time in the sun. Also, I need to drink even more water than I usually do, as well as take breaks in the shade, underneath an umbrella.
Over the summer, my sister went to the Mayo Clinic to investigate if she had POTS as well, because she was beginning to occasionally experience some symptoms of POTS. When there, they also continued testing her Gastroparesis. They ended up discovering that her Gastroparesis was completely gone, and she did not have POTS. Now she is off of all of her medication, but still continues to eat the Gastroparesis diet, as the doctors are unsure of what caused it to come and to go.
Because my sister's Gatroparesis went away and that I also no longer have any symptoms of Gastroparesis, we suspected mine was gone. But, when I took another gastric emptying test, it turned out that my Gastroparesis had worsened, despite feeling fine. My doctor decided not to change anything because it doesn't bother me, and we are still in hopes that mine will go away similar to how my sister's did.
School started in September, and I made my high school's JV volleyball team. I was able to finish the season, but soon after that finished and my club volleyball season started, my other patella subluxated. Since this has now happened twice the doctors have some theories: excess fluidity in my joints, lax connective tissue, overuse, and that I am growing so rapidly that parts of the body aren't in the proper ratio. We don't know if it is related to POTS.
Recently, my mom discovered Propel by Gatorade, which is purified water with electrolytes. This water is unflavored, so it does not have the sugar content of normal Gatorade, but still contains a large amount of sodium. Many other electrolyte water brands do not contain sodium. In a liter bottle of Propel, there is approximately 480mg of sodium, which is why it is pretty much the only water I drink. I still supplement my salt intake by eating 3-5 half teaspoons a day.
Overall, in the last 8 months I am feeling great, aside from my injuries. I still eat my strict diet for Gastroparesis, and have the same treatment for POTS. I haven't changed my POTS treatment because it has been working so well.
In July, my club volleyball team went to the Junior Olympics in Louisiana. Unfortunately though, I was not able to play due to a patella subluxation (my knee cap popped partially out and back in, tearing the patellar ligament). I still went to the tournament to support my team and spend time with them. My team went on an outdoor swamp tour, but because of my POTS, I did not go because it was about 100 degrees with a lot of humidity, and it would have caused me to be overheated.
Once back in California, we went to the beach multiple times. I have learned that I get overheated if I stay for an extended period of time in the sun. Also, I need to drink even more water than I usually do, as well as take breaks in the shade, underneath an umbrella.
Over the summer, my sister went to the Mayo Clinic to investigate if she had POTS as well, because she was beginning to occasionally experience some symptoms of POTS. When there, they also continued testing her Gastroparesis. They ended up discovering that her Gastroparesis was completely gone, and she did not have POTS. Now she is off of all of her medication, but still continues to eat the Gastroparesis diet, as the doctors are unsure of what caused it to come and to go.
Because my sister's Gatroparesis went away and that I also no longer have any symptoms of Gastroparesis, we suspected mine was gone. But, when I took another gastric emptying test, it turned out that my Gastroparesis had worsened, despite feeling fine. My doctor decided not to change anything because it doesn't bother me, and we are still in hopes that mine will go away similar to how my sister's did.
School started in September, and I made my high school's JV volleyball team. I was able to finish the season, but soon after that finished and my club volleyball season started, my other patella subluxated. Since this has now happened twice the doctors have some theories: excess fluidity in my joints, lax connective tissue, overuse, and that I am growing so rapidly that parts of the body aren't in the proper ratio. We don't know if it is related to POTS.
Recently, my mom discovered Propel by Gatorade, which is purified water with electrolytes. This water is unflavored, so it does not have the sugar content of normal Gatorade, but still contains a large amount of sodium. Many other electrolyte water brands do not contain sodium. In a liter bottle of Propel, there is approximately 480mg of sodium, which is why it is pretty much the only water I drink. I still supplement my salt intake by eating 3-5 half teaspoons a day.
Overall, in the last 8 months I am feeling great, aside from my injuries. I still eat my strict diet for Gastroparesis, and have the same treatment for POTS. I haven't changed my POTS treatment because it has been working so well.