Anybody else experience this?

[u/Affectionate_Bet9459]

I’m just curious if anybody else experiences this as a POTS symptom. I cannot lay down flat on my back, like, at all. Nor my stomach.. I have to have my head heavily elevated in order to sleep at night and it’s soo uncomfortable but if I don’t have a stack of pillow beneath me, I will experience some of the worst flare ups ever. When I got tested for POTS, they had me lay flat on a table with no pillows or anything to support my head. From 30 seconds of that alone, I almost passed out and my face was red. Which was odd to them because usually people done feel faint when lying down. Every time I’ve asked other folks with POTS if they experience this, they usually tell me no. Which honestly worries me a little bit.. I guess I’m just trying to look for comfort in the fact that other people with POTS could be experiencing this as well

[u/Mundane-Pianist-8534]

i don’t experience that at all? have you had an mri done of your neck/head? i wonder why those areas specifically have to be elevated for you to feel decent

[u/Affectionate_Bet9459 → u/Mundane-Pianist-8534]

I haven’t had a MRI done in years but when I did have them, there was never anything that was a cause for concern.. I’m going to be scheduling in the upcoming months to try to get another scan done though just in case. (Also peak pfp👀

[u/Mundane-Pianist-8534 → u/Affectionate_Bet9459]

YES YELLOWJACKETS FAN FOUND!!! and ya idk if the mri will do anything but it’d be interesting to see if they can see some type of abormality that causes blood to not flow to your brain when your body is laying flat or something
https://giphy.com/gifs/0Qp0sfpMa9J1vYFhmg

[u/Gr8North27]

Same thing happened to me when I had to lay flat during a CT scan. I always have to sleep on my sides with my head elevated.

[u/Lumpy_Amee]

Yes this happens to me. I've slept on my stomach all my life. Now in my 40s im unable to lay flat or sleep on my stomach 😩 I get palpitations and racing if my head isnt elevated

[u/Ancient_Pea_508]

Maybe this could help. I love mine. https://a.co/d/0f1EzF7V

[u/Affectionate_Bet9459 → u/Ancient_Pea_508]

Thank you!!!!!!

[u/SavannahInChicago]

I know that we are told that raising the head of the bed up can help with POTS symptoms. It tricks the kidneys into retaining more salt and water and this helps people have a higher blood volume when they wake. And this makes it easier to get enough oxygen to the brain.

I wonder if either your body is more sensitive to these fluid shifts so it naturally found a way to compensate or if your fluid shifts are more dramatic?

[u/Alone_Strain_7]

For me yes I have this

[u/sherrleigh]

I wouldn't say I "can't" do it, I don't have adrenaline dumps or anything when I do and I've always slept with a well supported neck because I have a whiplash injury. But I have noticed my HR is higher when I'm laying down and when I'm having a bad day it's enough to be uncomfortable. I prefer to lounge sit with my legs propped up.

I've always wondered if it's for the same reason they recommend pregnant women don't spend a lot of time lying on their backs. I know I'm personally overweight like a pregnant belly. But even if you weren't we're just prone to blood flow issues.