Good news! My sinus pressure is gone and thanks to Jake’s massage, my back feels quite a bit better today.
Today I decided not to take my morning bath. I enjoy hanging out in the bath in the morning, catching up on the blogs I follow, news, and reading while I wait for medicine to kick in, but I decided it could be harming me. A lot of people with dysautonomia cannot tolerate hot baths because of how much heat exacerbates symptoms. I still enjoy baths, but later in the day, I do notice they wear me out quickly. I decided perhaps the bath is sucking up my energy in the morning but I am not noticing it because my symptoms usually aren’t as bad early on in the day. Maybe my body is using up all my energy to tolerate the hot bath and that is why I’m so tired. To me, it is hot bath or nothing so I decided to try skipping my morning bath for a week and see if I noticed a difference.
I missed my bath dearly and still felt very tired. I told my body it was being difficult. I gave it DAYS to rest and do nothing. The vacation is over body! So I cleaned up the kitchen. I got to the wiping the counters stage and had to lay down because I felt so exhausted. All day I felt off. I drank a ton of water to try and help with the symptoms, but it didn’t work. By 1:30, I knew I needed to do something because I got really dizzy and had a few bouts of pre-syncope. I went to the hospital and got fluids. I just curled up in a ball on the comfy chair and waited for the fluids to kick in. It’s strange because usually half way through the bag, I feel like a new woman. Today that didn’t happen until the very end and it only lasted about 15 minutes. Now I’m back to feeling like there is a veil between me and my surroundings. Even typing right now feels like a lot of effort… I keep having to stop. Fluids have never helped so little. I’m pretty nauseous, especially when I eat. There’s so much I want to do that I can’t. It’s pretty frustrating, but I know it could be so much worse! I think this severe fatigue is either a POTS flare up, a result of my sinus infection, or something to do with the internal bleeding. Who knows! I need to remember that today I’m not in as much pain as yesterday, and that shows whatever is going on in my body seems to be improving. Hopefully tomorrow I have a little more energy and can get a few things done.
Hoping you get to feeling better soon! Could the antibiotic be causing some of the symptoms? I hope you don’t have to give up hot baths too!
I think you could be right and the antibiotic is doing something to zap my energy away.
Good thought Heatherhdoucet. Antibiotics can definitely do that. When antibiotics are used, it will cause a “die-off” of the bug in your system (also known as a herx reaction). When bacteria die, they put off toxins in your body, hence making you feel a little worse before better. If you’re starting to feel better, symptoms from the sinus infection should be uphill from here. Epsom salt baths and lemon water are good detoxers. They help me feel a little better. Coconut oil (literally swish and swallow a tablespoon) is a good, natural antibiotic, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic. I do the coconut oil almost on a daily basis. Garlic is also a good anti-everything, but can cause a very, very strong herx. Start with small amounts if you use this. And lastly…probiotics. Hope you continue to feel better and if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask
Thanks Angela! You have so many good ideas. 😊
I, like you, like to share the information I have learned while dealing with my illness
Makes me feel good to know I might be helping someone else. Oh…and I think you may be right about the POTS….I had a really bad experience today while doing my workout. I was literally on the treadmill (at an extremely slow walk….speed set at 1.0). When it first registered my heart rate it was at 78. Just about a minute later it registered it again at 183. I could feel the heart palpitations starting when I started to walk, but toughed it out until it registered the next heart rate. I was shocked to see it jump so high so fast and with very little exertion. I decided to get off and I will be laying off the standing exercises and just do the machines until I see doc again next week. I will also be talking to him then about calling Mayo. They don’t take my insurance so for me to get in my doctor himself has to call there and discuss my case with the charity board and hope they find me interesting enough to take me. Fingers crossed!
Antibiotics are horrible. I love steroids though – I know, I know, they are very bad.
We don’t have a bath, it’s just the shower and the mornings are impossible. One morning I was so desperate for a shower I told my oldest son I would leave the door unlocked “just in case”. I got into the shower and just as I was standing there it occured to me (I am very slow in the mornings) that I was starkers and if I did faint my SON would have to come in!!
I got out, wrapped up and told him I’d shower later.
My kids have seen me in some strange situations – but (so far) never naked!
Steroids are wonderful! Sorry about your showering difficulties! It’s probably better to be stinky than for your son to see you naked. 😊
Hi Jackie. I can relate to the flare up concerns. I’ve been struggling to walk lately and also very tired and sleeping a lot more. My prednisone is down to 10mg and I’m hoping it hasn’t proven too low. Was really brave today and went and had a blood test to find out.We’ve had a lot of heavy rain so I’m hoping that’s the cause. Take care and best wishes,
Ro
I hope you get to feeling a little better!