Happy New Year to all!  I hope this year brings happiness and improved health to everyone :)  I'm hoping this year will be a good one for me.  It's felt like a long road, after 11.5 years of this illness.  

I wanted to give a little update on my treatment plan from the doctor at the autonomic lab.. I have to say that I have seen some improvements.  I am supposed to be doing 3tsps of salt per day.  I've made it up to 1.5tsps so far (1/4tsp mixed in water several times a day).  From the salt, I have seen an overall improvement in my blood pressure; it's not dipping as low as it used to.  I've only had one "episode" (low blood pressure, dizziness, shakiness) in the past 3 weeks.  I typically get several a week, especially around active times like the holidays.  I haven't "crashed" nearly as much.  I usually have to lie down around 7 times a day.  It's been much less and although I still have to rest a lot, I don't have to lie flat as often.  It sounds small, but has been a big deal for me.  Most days I can only do one activity, but over the holidays, I was able to do several activities a day without crashing.  I did have some days when I was more tired, but it wasn't as bad as in years past.  

The second part of my treatment plan involves jogging in the pool.  I am supposed to jog for an hour a day... so far I have been able to do 20 minutes 3x a week.  This is more than I ever thought I could do.  Some days I can barely walk and can't do any type of exercise, so I really didn't think I would be able to do this.  I probably should have started with 10 minutes and I still might scale back, but it's been surprisingly manageable.  The water comes up to my chin, so I am not supporting much of my weight.  The goal is to help recirculate the blood that pools in the legs (causing fatigue, low circulation).  This exercise also builds blood volume, helps with vasodilatation and increases circulation to muscles and connective tissue.  I have a serious exercise intolerance, but was able to do this, which surprised me. 

The third part of the treatment is medical grade compression hose (up to my waist), which had to be special ordered and haven't arrived yet.  That is supposed to help with blood pooling while I stand so I don't get so tired.

I am still waiting on the results of my biopsies and other bloodwork, so I will get more information this month.  I also haven't even put the full treatment plan into effect.  So far, I would say I've seen a 15% increase in my energy on most days.  I also "crash" less throughout the day and have had less "episodes".  My mind feels a bit more focused and my outlook and attitude seem better.  Also I feel less irritable.  This time last year I wouldn't have believed that anything could have helped me.  

Everyone is different and I had extensive testing to determine my treatment plan.  I definitely wouldn't encourage anyone to start it without a doctor's consultation.  I just wanted to share, as it is something to consider and maybe it could help others as well!

I'll try to keep you posted as I find out more.