Review of nuun hydration tablets for POTS symptoms

*This is NOT a sponsored post*
As some of you may or may not know, I have a condition called dysautonomia (possibly the POTS variety I feel as I have tachycardia issues, but as it's being classed as a secondary condition in my health case, no one actually cares enough to A.) find out which type, and B.) actually treat it). Click the word which links to further info, but in short -it is a default with my autonomic nervous system, which just about affects everything in my body -all the stuff your body does without having to think about it. Heart rate, BP, temperature control, digestion, breathing and so on. So with that said, obviously the symptoms are numerous and everyone can have varying outcomes. Some people can work, some people have digestion issues while some don't, some people can control their fainting or never feel very dizzy at all, while others faint all the time.

The fainting response is in regard to low blood pressure for the most part. Think of like when you (assuming you are an average, healthy person) get up too suddenly sometimes and have a massive head rush, and feel dizzy as an outcome. This is because your body takes a moment to adjust in the change of your posture when you go from sitting to standing, your blood rushes a bit from your head, and so you get a swoosh sensation. In healthy people this is temporary, and you will rarely even notice it as your body adjusts so quickly to the change in movement. With people with low BP/ orthostatic intolerance issues, this head rush is often prolonged (orthostatic intolerance) -your body is an idiot and can't adjust quickly to the change in posture. Sometimes you might not feel too dizzy or sick on first standing, but can have symptoms the longer you stand.

"Woah, wait, what has she done here? What's going on?",
"Sir, should we send blood back upwards towards the brain?",
"No, no, wait a minute. I want to be sure first that she has changed positioning. Leave all that blood down in here legs. Make her heart beat faster, too".

... I don't know which body parts are chatting here, lol, but you get the gist. My body is a dope and I'm allergic to standing up. This is why you'll also notice that I sometimes will wear compression socks (only a recent thing) which I should do all the time, really, but I'm still adjusting. These socks prevent the blood pooling in the legs so much.

It's important to note that in some case sufferers even have high blood pressure, rather than low blood pressure. I myself notice that mine seems to rocket sometimes very temporarily while standing, before swooping low and staying there.

I'm very used to be dizzy and have little tricks to control fainting (not that I even stand or walk much these days, so that helps, ha). I go through phases of being worse than other times. I eat loads of salt to keep my BP up and sit down when I need to. I find I'm not as bad when physically walking, with the space around me changing constantly (I do feel sensory overload but at the same time more stable in ways). It's standing in ques and such when I feel in the most trouble. In some regards an episode of low BP and other associated dysautonomia symptoms can feel like a panic attack -it is the same fight or flight response that you body typically goes through in both experiences. Hence why it can be hard to diagnose or even spot yourself, especially if you are a young woman. You tell a doctor these signs and symptoms, and panic attacks are their go to. Diagnoses can take years, if ever. Other symptoms sound so disassociated and general, as they are pin pointed in every part of your body. It's such a confusing illness!

"What's happening... all the controls seem to be going haywire!",
"I don't know captain, I think we're going to have to shut things down until we can restore full control. I can't regulate the heart rate, BP or any of the main controls"
"Shut it down, go into emergency mode, stat!".

...Something like that, anyway! My body is a fucking idiot. It doesn't know what it's at or doing most of the time, and as a result, when I'm at my most sick it simply goes into shock and has a meltdown. Fight or flight. It literally can't deal with me standing up. Sometimes I may have to sit down, to restore blood upwards to the brain, but other times I simply have to lie down completely and wait it out. Check out this video from Dysautonomia International.

Gym stuff

As regular likers of my new Facebook page will know, I have recently tried my hand at going back to the gym. This is something I used to do on a regular enough basis -Whilst I could not run outside, I could somewhat run on the treadmill. Running being one of the basic activities I miss doing... Along with general sport and activities which of course, require running. But alas these days, I simply miss walking!

I began my (what became a long) break from the gym gradually. I had to stop when I commenced chemotherapy, as gyms are apparently one of the most germ filled places ever and I had little to no immune system. I did go back briefly after I finished my treatment, but as you all know, my body has declined even further the last year, and with that, my ability to exercise...

I was never a "gym bunny". Lets be clear on that! Haha.. I went once a week, sometimes once every two weeks -TOPS. And the odd walk with my dear friend Christina, coupled with leisurely walks with the dogs. Even these things were struggles, but doable. At one point in my life.

But I really do miss the gym. I love exercising and the rush I get from it... I don't enjoy the pain, of course. How and ever, people need exercise to live and to thrive. And so I recently started going again. I went twice and then joined fully, so hopefully I can keep going once a week to begin with and maybe twice in the future... I just have to remind myself that my "over doing it" is different than other peoples over doing it. And if I forget, I always have the crippling pain to remind me.

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A couple of FAQ's:

1. What about swimming? I hear that's great as a low impact sport?
It is. But unfortunately, I cannot swim. I have tried several times and