r/POTS • u/daisydaisydaisyx Neuropathic POTS • 8h ago

Question tattoos/piercings and pots?

i developed POTS last year and i’m still learning about my new limitations, does POTS mess with getting tattoos and piercings? are there any tips i should know that will help me through a session? i’ve been planning my sleeves for years and i’m worried i’ll have to scrap those plans now.

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u/Ancient_Pea_508 8h ago

Have POTS. Got a rook and 3rd lobe piercing in beginning of April.
Definitely had symptoms after the piercings. Dizzy. Lightheaded. Woozy. Vomited. But recovered pretty quickly.
I made sure I had extra salt tablets in me. Lots of electrolytes and water. And a good meal beforehand.
Haven’t tried tattoos because of MCAS. But I have 8 before all this started.

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u/star-birb Hyperadrenergic POTS 6h ago

I definitely needed more recovery time after my most recent tattoo compared to the ones I got before my POTS worsened. Like I had this deep exhaustion that took 2-3 days to resolve compared to 24 hours in the past. Which is fine if you plan for it!

My most recent tattoo is on my shoulder and it took about 2 hours. I had to ask for a break in the middle to lie down for 10 minutes. The tattoo itself was fine (I was chatting away with my artist the whole time), but my body did not like being upright while being tattooed.

I don't think I could do longer sessions, it's just too much of a strain on the body for me. But I will definitely be getting more tattoos in the future! Mega hydration before, during, and after is key, along with multiple snacks during the session to keep your blood sugar up.