We’re sliding into October, which means I’m pulling out my favorite cardigans, dusting off my knee-high boots, and buying fall-scented (and flavored!) everything. But when you live with a chronic illness, it can also mean gearing up for a worsening of your symptoms. It’s a phenomenon in the chronic illness…
Nausea. In my opinion, it’s the worst. There are a lot of things I can deal with when it comes to my body. But feeling sick to my stomach and throwing up are two things that make me the most miserable. Having already had a few surgeries in my life,…
Not too long ago, I shared a post about the POTS and vagus nerve connection. I’ve been fascinated with this connection and what I learned from the two books I read on the topic. I’ve been especially intrigued by how to stimulate the vagus nerve. But if you haven’t read…
Today, I want to share something different with you all. It’s a visualization exercise for anxiety and stress that I do quite often, especially now that I live in New York City. I know that living with chronic illness can become overwhelming at times. Anxiety and depression are common comorbidities,…
If you feel fatigue after exercise, you’re not alone. People with POTS can often feel worse after exercise, especially in the early months of an exercise program. Extreme fatigue after exercise is also very common in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Until I reached a certain fitness level, I experienced extreme…
Did you know that there’s a nerve in the human body that’s connected to POTS? It’s called the vagus nerve. Maybe you’ve heard of it before. The vagus nerve actually regulates many important functions in the body—so many, that it’ll probably surprise you just how much this not-so-little nerve is…
A low FODMAP diet may be recommended to you by a doctor if you have certain digestive conditions or symptoms. But what foods can you eat on a low FODMAP diet? While things like dairy, wheat, and certain vegetables may be off the menu, you can still eat meat, certain…
Hey, friends! Can’t sleep? Lately, neither can I. It’s starting to drive me a bit nuts. I’m sure you can relate if you’ve also laid awake every night staring at your ceiling, waiting for a restful night’s sleep to find you. Maybe you’re dealing with anxiety, or maybe chronic pain…
Building a strong immune system is always a concern of mine as someone with chronic illness. Anytime I get sick with the flu, a cold, or another virus, it can be more intense because any sickness causes a POTS flare for me. So, it’s really important for me–and all chronic…
Iron is one of the 16 essential minerals the body needs to function properly. Without enough iron in your body, you can become deficient and potentially develop iron-deficiency anemia. When either scenario happens, it’s important to eat foods high in iron and take an iron supplement your body tolerates to…