05/24/2026
Thanks to our friend Katie for sharing her journey to raise awareness!
First symptom: Dizziness
Worst symptom: Fainting
Hardest thing about living with POTS: POTS completely changed my life. I went from being an active collegiate dancer who danced 20+ hours a week to struggling to walk across a room without feeling faint and needing to sit down. The hardest part initially was the identity whiplash I felt going from being an active and capable athlete to someone who struggled standing for long periods of time or doing any physical activity. Long-term, it's the need to think through so many things before ever leaving the house to make sure I have everything I need should to help me function and avoid having an episode.
Favorite way to consume salt: I love drinking Body Armor electrolyte drinks and taking my Klaralyte salt capsules.
You might suspect I'm a POTSie when... You see me carrying my 40oz Stanley and constantly chugging liquids to stay hydrated.
Biggest life change made because of POTS: Retiring my life as a dancer and major modifications to exercise.
Best coping strategy: Leaning on my support system to help me manage symptoms, care for my family, and support me through the ongoing realities of living with POTS because every day is different.
I want to help raise awareness because... The lack of education to not only the general public but medical staff is vast. When people look at me, they think I'm "healthy," but what they don't see is the invisible illness I manage every day.
I wish more people knew that POTS... I wish more people knew that POTS doesn’t just affect my heart rate—it affects my ability to work, parent, socialize, and function normally.
POTS has taught me that...POTS has taught me so many things. I learned that my worth is not measured by my productivity. I learned to slow down and listen to my body in a way I never had to before. But ultimately, I found that I am far more resilient than I ever imagined.
