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Wore monitor to work today....surprising

soxfan

Senior Member
Messages
995
Location
North Carolina
I just received my heart monitor in the mail a few days ago and had to opportunity to wear it to work today...It is a timex that I wear on my wrist.
On purpose I stood in the same area so I could get an accurate reading. I had been standing in the same spot for about 6 minutes when I started to get that incredible "hot" all over feeling. I looked at my arm and noticed the skin was very red so I knew it was time to check the watch. I could also feel my face flushing.

My rate was 164! I hadn't been doing really anything except straightening the product on the shelves but I made sure not to walk and to stay in the same place. I was actually shocked at the reading. Tomorrow I will be able to check more frequently than today. I have known for a couple years that something definately was going on especially when at work because of these hot flash episodes and becoming extremely tired while at work and feel even worse when I get home.
I am going to buy some better compression stockings to wear and see if that helps. I see the doctor on the 29th so will try and have a little notebook of some of the readings.

Not sure if this means anything but at least I will have something to tell the doctor about...
 

Seven7

Seven
Messages
3,444
Location
USA
Nice!! I love My HRM I think it was the best advice I ever had. You have to read BEFORE you get the symptoms and seat before hand. Try compression garments. Try Crossing your legs, or using high chair W BENCH to put the feet on, do not hang them. When I seat (normal sitting) I try to seat always with knees higher than hips.
 

Sushi

Moderation Resource Albuquerque
Messages
19,935
Location
Albuquerque
I also find that if my heart rate goes up when standing or walking, a quick squat immediately drops it by about 20 points. I don't know if it works for everyone but it is worth a try. I remember reading on another forum that a nurse used to squat and pretend to be doing something with a cart when her HR went up. I do it in grocery store lines and pretend to be reading the magazine rack.

Sushi
 
Messages
2,565
Location
US
When I seat (normal sitting) I try to seat always with knees higher than hips.

Do you have POTS or what kind of OI?


I also find that if my heart rate goes up when standing or walking, a quick squat immediately drops it by about 20 points.

That helps me. With me I think it's from low BP and not high HR.

Do you have POTS or some other kind?

I don't know what I have but not POTS and my symptoms don't match. If I had a HR watch maybe I would learn more about mine.
 

Sallysblooms

P.O.T.S. now SO MUCH BETTER!
Messages
1,768
Location
Southern USA
I would feel bad squatting then getting up, lightheaded , but just taking a little folding chair is great. In large stores we take my little scooter or wheelchiar. That way I don't overdue and lose blood from my brain/heart. I feel great and we can have a good time at large stores, museums etc.

I was never able to get out of the wheelchair, even in my home for a long while, no walking. I have come a long way thank goodness. Three years to get this far.

Blood pressure and heart rate monitors are important for Dysautonomia problems like POTS.
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
Arm moving activities, like straightening shelves, will send my HR soaring every time.
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
. I had been standing in the same spot for about 6 minutes when I started to get that incredible "hot" all over feeling.

I get that hot flushed feel when my ME induced orthostatic hypertension kicks in eg up to 170/138 . I wonder what your BP is doing at those times too. You could have it screwing up as well. both POTS and orthostatic hypertension and NMH can all be helped some by medical support stockings of 30-40 pressure. (often thou just stockings wont be enough and meds will be needed for these kinds of issues too).
 

soxfan

Senior Member
Messages
995
Location
North Carolina
I do have some support stockings but they are mild and I believe it said 15-20 pressure which obviously isn't enough. I am going to buy some moderate ones..I already have a hard time getting the lower pressure ones on.
I do squat at work when I feel the heat coming on....sometimes I am not able to but when possible I do. I sometimes feel light headed when getting back up but not always.

Anybody have any luck with medications? I have read they are hard to adjust to the correct dosage. I have tried flournef and it only made me very bloated feeling so didn't continue. If I want to continue working then I think I am going to have to try some rx....

My heart rate in bed last night was in the high 40's to low 50's...anyway when I would wake up I would check it. So I am wearing it again today and keep a record of the results as best I can.....

It is really nice to know that after the past couple of years with this going on at least I know the cause....I use to think I was having anxiety attacks but that never made sense to me because I am not anxious at work. I talked myself into that because I had no clue what the problem could be....I have read some great articles on POTs and related disorders and am shocked that my symptoms fit perfectly..

gg- I wouldn't have anything new to tell him since I have had the same symptoms for years.....at least I think I know the cause of my problems when I work....

Thanks all!
 

Calathea

Senior Member
Messages
1,261
I find that keeping my arms raised makes me very dizzy as well. I'd experiment with that side of things, as well as with standing.
 

Seven7

Seven
Messages
3,444
Location
USA
I think I have POTs (raise >30bpm and > 120 ) when standing. But I have not have the TTT.

I also cannot tolerate raising arms activities, I avoid or raise myself in a way that arms are leveled.
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
Gosh, I wish my HR lying down was 40-50. The lowest I get is 83. :(

Compression socks are hard to put on, alright. Do you know to roll them down to the toe before you put them on, put your toes in and then roll the sock up your leg? It's not as easy as it sounds, but is easier than trying to do it all with pulling only.
 

Sparrow

Senior Member
Messages
691
Location
Canada
Moving my arms over my head or bending forward from the waist then straightening again are the two surefire ways to send my heart rate through the roof. I don't do so well with squats either, though. ...I've learned to pick a lot of things up with my toes. ;)

It's good to have some numerical feedback to go with the sensations. I'm glad that you were able to find out for sure what was going on when you get that hot feeling. I was kind of shocked too when I found out how bad mine was at those times. Was a good wake up call for me at just how important it is for me to avoid them. It's easy to brush things off sometimes when I know they're "bad" but don't realize how seriously.
 

Sparrow

Senior Member
Messages
691
Location
Canada
Sparrow, I do this. I am GOOOOOOD! ha. When I visit my parent's house, my Mom gets a kick out of it. :lol:

I barely notice anymore most of the time - grab it quickly with my foot, put it in my hand, keep walking. But I imagine it's pretty hilarious for observers. :) Sometimes I enjoy the challenge of grabbing something that seems like a foot shouldn't be able to get hold of it. It's like a Jeopardy time countdown because I have to be able to get it up there before the POTS kicks in too badly and time's up.

...Probably this just means that I need more entertainment. :D
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
I find that keeping my arms raised makes me very dizzy as well. I'd experiment with that side of things, as well as with standing.

Raising arms, that's something which is well known to badly affect POTS patients and is a POTS trigger.

That and other things which can trigger off POTS attacks and what to avoid when one has POTS see http://www.dinet.org/what_to_avoid.htm . I myself have found Im okay with somethings on that page eg eatting a big meal, but when put into combination with other POTS triggers which also usually dont trigger me. Im not then ok.
Another example is sitting and raising arms Im fine but standing and raising arms can cause me a collapse and has done.

So its good if those with POTS can work out if they have any combination of factors as triggers to avoid.

Part of my personal management plan involves avoiding certain triggers coming together. Its pity more doctors arent POTS aware as some of the triggers in this illness (like the raising arm one is quite distinct and can help distinguish it from many other things).
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
Gosh, I wish my HR lying down was 40-50. The lowest I get is 83. :(

Compression socks are hard to put on, alright. Do you know to roll them down to the toe before you put them on, put your toes in and then roll the sock up your leg? It's not as easy as it sounds, but is easier than trying to do it all with pulling only.

Pulling them on ruins compression stockings. Ive been told they should last 6mths if one is putting them on right (and they are of good quality).

My specialist sent me to a medical supply place to not just be fitted for them but also to recieve a lesson on the correct way these should be put on. They are supposed to be "stroked" up the leg as they arent supposed to be stretched. That is something you cant do with ones hands but needs rubber gloves with some grip on the underside so hence will just stroke the stocking up the leg (eg not completely smooth on bottom gloves).

One can also powder the legs before putting them on (thou I find that powder dont do all that much thou it definately helps if you have just got out of the shower.. any dampness on the legs will hinder things).

I also got a satin foot thing which goes over my foot which is afterwards once they are on, pulled out from the botttom.. that helps to get them over the foot area. (Im now finding it much harder to get them off then on). I wear mine right up to the tops of my legs..and need the glue one uses for these as my thigh fat over wise turns the very tops of them down.

I did have a lot of trouble getting mine on the first time but it turned out that I was extremely weak that day due to having gone to a doctors appointment first before going to the other place to get them. (I actually cried as I couldnt put them on myself that day as I was too weak..but I can do so now quite well).

PIty I only have a dial connection so cant use youtube.. otherwise I'd do a film on how these should be put on and put the link on here. (Ive heard some here say their stockings have only lasted a couple of months.. and putting these on wrong is probably why). I handwash mine (I dont know if that is necessary or not) .. and they shouldnt be dried in the sun after washing with something which isnt harsh eg woolwash.
 

soxfan

Senior Member
Messages
995
Location
North Carolina
Trying my new pair today...thanks on all the tips. I will let you know if they make any sort of difference. I will be on my feet for 6 hours today....
 

Sparrow

Senior Member
Messages
691
Location
Canada
I think I really need to get myself some compression stockings or something too... Did you need any kind of a doctor's note for them, or is that something I could get myself from a medical supply place? I tracked my daily heart rate data today and my max was 172 :eek:! Not cool.