Where do I start?

post removed by author

That Only Took Me Like Ten Minutes to Figure Out How to Make a New Post...

Haha. Anyways, this might be quick. I just got home from a cousin's party and I'm majorly carsick right now. Ugh. =l

Sorry I haven't been posting the past few weeks! It's been crazy busy and, well, just plain crazy, lol. POTS has been acting up more than usual, and then there was a huge misunderstanding between my doctor and the pharmacy, so I had to go like a week without my beta-blocker. NOT. FUN. Everyone's in my prayers, though.
I hope things start looking up for you all.

Prom and the all-night seniors' party is coming up. I'm more worried about the all-night party because once you're in, you're in for the entire night, and I'm worried about how my symptoms will handle that. With prom, it just feels weird going because I'm friends with all of maybe three people at my school, and only one, I'm close enough to hang out with outside of school. I'm barely there, so it's like I never really had the chance to get to know anyone. So, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do for prom if my friend ends up going with this one guy and his group; I'd just feel awkward going with them, especially as I don't even know any of their names. Anyone else have/had that problem? It's pretty minor in the long-run, I guess, but it bothers me. Especially because my mom and all my aunts keep stressing how much I'll regret it if I don't go or how much of a milestone it is. *sighs*

Rhianne- When I'm brain foggy, it's hardest, so I make flashcards and record my self saying the question and answering it, then I listen to it as much as possible-including while I'm sleeping. When I'm brain foggy, I can't really focus on reading, but the only thing I can really stress is flashcards.

My question: Do any of you get carsick, and how do you handle it? Do any of you take Dramamine?

I hope you all have a good (decent, at least) week!

Temperature Changes by Christine

Hi fellow bloggers! It has been an exciting week with temperature changes from 81 last Friday to snow and freezing rain yesterday. My body has no idea which direction it is heading. One minute I am running a fever from a drastic increase in temperature to freezing to death a few days later. My asthma is acting up and I am on an antibiotic. In addition that time of month came. God knows exactly how much my body can withstand. I pray the weather will improve and the temperature outside will approach a consistant degree. Meanwhile, each day I take slowly relying on God as He sees fit.

In many ways,  I look forward as our community garden grows. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs awaiting harvest in the future. Recently, I have found my body craving a natural diet verses a diet full of chemicals. I am buying Kosher meats and eating organically when possible. My body is a reflection of what I eat. Therefore, I must make changes in my eating habbits. I have gained a tremendous amount of weight since I moved away from home 19 years ago. I have no excuses but myself. My confusion is Jesus Christ teaches I must put others before myself. I misunderstood what Christ meant. How can I put others fist in my life when I abuse my body with bad eating habbits? I am not setting a great example to others.  Accourding to the Bible my body is a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells (First Corinthians 6 (19-20)). Hence, by taking care of my body I am honoring the Holy Spirit. More to come in the future...

Christine

PS: I hope everyone is feeling better. As for headaches and nausea I recommend eating candied ginger, burning citrus soy candles, foot massages, and classical music very low in the background. In addition, relaxation techniques work well too such as meditation/prayer. For dizziness in the car, I recommend accupuncture. As for the brain fogginess? Doccument everything: use a computer or digital tape recorder to record your thoughts. Find out how you learn. I need to have music in the background and I need to keep moving. I sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair. I have to read things out loud and answer myself out loud to memorize something.

According to Gardner and this webpage: http://www.tecweb.org/styles/gardner.html

Howard Gardner of Harvard has identified seven distinct intelligences. This theory has emerged from recent cognitive research and "documents the extent to which students possess different kinds of minds and therefore learn, remember, perform, and understand in different ways," according to Gardner (1991). According to this theory, "we are all able to know the world through language, logical-mathematical analysis, spatial representation, musical thinking, the use of the body to solve problems or to make things, an understanding of other individuals, and an understanding of ourselves. Where individuals differ is in the strength of these intelligences - the so-called profile of intelligences -and in the ways in which such intelligences are invoked and combined to carry out different tasks, solve diverse problems, and progress in various domains."

Visual-Spatial - think in terms of physical space, as do architects and sailors. Very aware of their environments. They like to draw, do jigsaw puzzles, read maps, daydream. They can be taught through drawings, verbal and physical imagery. Tools include models, graphics, charts, photographs, drawings, 3-D modeling, video, videoconferencing, television, multimedia, texts with pictures/charts/graphs.
Bodily-kinesthetic - use the body effectively, like a dancer or a surgeon. Keen sense of body awareness. They like movement, making things, touching. They communicate well through body language and be taught through physical activity, hands-on learning, acting out, role playing. Tools include equipment and real objects.
Musical - show sensitivity to rhythm and sound. They love music, but they are also sensitive to sounds in their environments. They may study better with music in the background. They can be taught by turning lessons into lyrics, speaking rhythmically, tapping out time. Tools include musical instruments, music, radio, stereo, CD-ROM, multimedia.
Interpersonal - understanding, interacting with others. These students learn through interaction. They have many friends, empathy for others, street smarts. They can be taught through group activities, seminars, dialogues. Tools include the telephone, audio conferencing, time and attention from the instructor, video conferencing, writing, computer conferencing, E-mail.
Intrapersonal - understanding one's own interests, goals. These learners tend to shy away from others. They're in tune with their inner feelings; they have wisdom, intuition and motivation, as well as a strong will, confidence and opinions. They can be taught through independent study and introspection. Tools include books, creative materials, diaries, privacy and time. They are the most independent of the learners.
Linguistic - using words effectively. These learners have highly developed auditory skills and often think in words. They like reading, playing word games, making up poetry or stories. They can be taught by encouraging them to say and see words, read books together. Tools include computers, games, multimedia, books, tape recorders, and lecture.
Logical -Mathematical - reasoning, calculating. Think conceptually, abstractly and are able to see and explore patterns and relationships. They like to experiment, solve puzzles, ask cosmic questions. They can be taught through logic games, investigations, mysteries. They need to learn and form concepts before they can deal with details.

Blessings!

Rhianne feels like crap

Hey guys can you spare a thought for Michelle K who isn't doing that well?

School holidays are over and today was the first day back (even though I have tomorrow of for ANZAC). I flippin' fainted at school. It was horrible. U was walking out of the assembly and boom!

Great. And the new deputy was yelling at me for some reason I can't remember. I always have people yelling at me after I faint for some reason or another.

So guys, y'all can tell I had a great day. My holidays were filled with assignments and the beach a few times.

Anyway, I am going to go because I am planning to go to dawn service.

Question: do you have any study tips for a brainfoggy potsy?

What is causing your POTS?!

it's not nothing, it's SOMETHING! 

If a doctor has told you that you "just have POTS" or if you haven't yet found out what truly is causing your POTS, I strongly urge you to do so. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a collection of symptoms. Symptoms... meaning just a group of problems that have no identifiable cause. There are many different things that can be causing your specific POTS, as everyone is so different.

A fellow POTSY and strong activist in the POTS community, Claire, wrote a wonderful post that I encourage you all to read and check out here. She spent much time on this blog post, and it is made so that you can print it off and take with you to an appointment in the future! :)

Personally, this is really important to me, as I just found out I have structural abnormalities in my heart and blood vessels - this has now been two years after my POTS diagnosis that this "new" problem is finally being identified and addressed.


No matter what is behind your POTS, find out! Push for answers. Only you know your body and something is causing these nasty POTS symptoms.

----

Cheyanne: So, does your doctor think you have Mast Cell Activation Disorder? I am so curious about that and think that is a great possibility for me as well... what is your symptoms like? I hope your hip pain can settle down and surgery can be avoided! :/ yikes. I know how crappy EDS pain is!

Michelle: Have fun at Prom! :) I am not going, lol, as I graduated HS in 2006. The memories are great and it's fun while it lasts, but mine wasn't "that great". As long as you can go for bit, if you have to leave early, at least you were able to go and take pictures and have that experience! I hope you had fun!

Logan: Girl, you are quite the photographer! Those are gorgeous :) To avoid getting sick in the car, I typically like to drive. I hate being the passenger. Weird? I feel as though the motion sickness is worse when I cant be in control and drive. I avoid driving (or being a passenger) if my symptoms are bad... I tried taking motion sickness pills, but nothing seems to help :/

Hannah: I hope you start to feeling a little less icky symptoms.  I find that if I don't have at least a little caffeine, I get nasty headaches! I try to have a cup of green tea everyday if my heart rate is not too high! I also try to massage the pressure point in my hand (between the thumb and pointer finger) , which sometimes can relieve it a little. I hope you find some relief!


Happy Sunday girls, hang in there...
It's almost May!

xoxo
Erin