I'm gonna scare you again FEM! I struggle walking from the garden back to the house. I'm trying to fight through the discomfort of POTS because it's not life threatening - but getting deconditioned from avoiding symptoms exacerbates it. So I went to the garden today even though I didn't feel great. Did I mention heat/sun exacerbates symptoms too? I was sitting on the ground or squatting, and my heart rate was hovering around 110. (Without the heat, it would be 60-70 ish). I walked back the house because I was getting dizzy. When I got back to the house, my heart rate was 156 and I had pain in my left arm. DH called me about then and I was having cognitive symptoms too, struggling with oral-motor coordination to speak. Left arm pain lasted about 30 minutes. I didn't feel "right" until evening. It was awesome. :sarcasm: and totally normal for me. DH always accused me of being "lazy" and not gardening, and I always felt ashamed for being "out of shape" walking up that slope. I'm so glad that we're both wrong! I have cardiology appointment soon, I and taking notes and counting the days!
DH's family vacation is this week. They rent a lake cabin every year. Fortunately it's local to us so I can escape and go home!!! I've been avoiding it more than usual this year. Sitting around and listening to people complain and gossip is not relaxing to me! I went home early today because I wasn't going to tolerate 1) frigid air conditioning 2) sitting under a canopy with smokers or 3) sitting in the rain. I was VERY relaxed to take a walk, practice piano, and do housework. I don't need [or want] a vacation from my life.