POTS

The POTSiblities Are Endless

     Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, more commonly known as POTS, is one of the invisible illnesses I face everyday. POTS is a condition that falls under the term Dysautonomia; which is any dysfunction within the autonomic nervous system. Now all the medical terminology aside, I basically have a brain that does not like to communicate with the rest of my body. This causes an array of problems and took my life on a big 180 degree turn. 

With every transition in life comes some adjustments. I got thrown the biggest obstacle I could have ever imagined just as I was about to enter high school. The summer before entering my freshman year is when it all began. Unlike one may think, I was always a healthy kid who lived an extremely active lifestyle. That summer was the best point of my life health wise. I spent everyday practicing for the national baton competition that was held in July. All of a sudden, my life as I once knew it was over and I began discovering what life with a chronic illness was all about.

     Now, I always consider myself to be one of the "lucky" ones. The average time for a patient to be properly diagnosed with POTS is 6 years... I was able to be diagnosed in a little over a year. Through that year I was constantly in and out of hospitals, seeing dozens of specialist, and missing out on typical teenage life. To hear a medical professional come up with a diagnosis had me beyond blessed. I thought all the struggles would be over. Boy was I wrong! Following my diagnosis, I spent two years trying to find a treatment plan that would help manage my symptoms (since there is no sign of a possible cure). This included everything from medications to diet changes to daily IV infusions.  Once a treatment plan was perfected for me the real battle began.... everyday life. 

     Being a teenager, there are certain expectations placed that were no longer in my best interest. The biggest being attending a full school day. In the beginning of my journey I would become episodic everyday by the middle of a school day. The "normal" schedule was no longer an option. Instead of this being a set back, I chose to make this an advantage. I chose a half-day schedule allowing me to take half my classes both online and at a local community college. None of this would have been possible without the wonderful support of my school and teachers who granted me with accommodations so that I would do my very best academically. Sadly, I know of way too many people who are unable to receive academic accommodations, placing them at an unfair level in their future success.

     POTS may be something I suffer with, but it is not what defines me. I hope to share my story and experiences with as many people as I can so that I can alter the qualifications required for students to obtain accommodations. A child's education is what sets up the life they will live and there is no reason to be left behind for a condition beyond one's control. 

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