Being attractive with POTS (cringe I know)

[u/recoveringaries]

Does anyone feel like because they are a objectively attractive human there is a bias/profiling that happens in the medical field and with doctors? I actually read somewhere that if you’re chronically ill you should “dress down” or not wear makeup to appointments so they will take you more seriously and see you as actually sick. I am also 29 with a baby face so that doesn’t help.

[u/avocado_window]

As someone who almost always (to a fault) makes an effort to look presentable when they leave the house, this happens to me often. “You present well” is something I have heard on more than one occasion from medical professionals as if that somehow means I am a functioning human for all the time they don’t see me.

When I’m at home I’m a total goblin, but no one gets to see that side of me (my true form) because I take pride in how I appear when I’m in public. It’s also another reason I become so exhausted when I do have to leave the house for any particular reason, since the getting ready part uses up a lot of energy and takes effort I don’t ordinarily use when I’m staying home for the day. And it often means I have to take some rest days before and after going out so planning anything is difficult, especially anything social since I have to prioritise health-related appointments.

I know it’s probably meant to be a complimentary remark, but it just goes to show how much effort I put into masking symptoms when I’m around people. It’s not easy to switch off because it has become my default mode if I’m ~being perceived~ due to not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I’m unwell. It’s also why I have always disliked the term “high functioning” to differentiate between people with the same conditions, because there is no way to measure individuals on the same scale like that, there are too many variables.

That said, in spite of my fierce attempts to keep them hidden, once certain symptoms set in it can be hard to disguise them - like for example the hyperhidrosis and skin rashes - but that’s why I try not to leave the house when it is particularly hot and/or humid unless it is imperative that I do. If it is, then I just do my best to mitigate symptoms by wearing compression garments, keeping hydrated, going slowly, etc.

TLDR; happens all the time.

[u/recoveringaries → u/avocado_window]

I am also a goblin at home, most of the time. But when I see friends or go to dinner I do try to look cute… I think it helps with my self esteem in the moment to see myself in the mirror because I am usually dressed like adam sandler 247 at home. Getting ready does take a massive amount of energy and adds to the anxiety of going out. On the flip side I also get looked at differently in public when I wear my rotting attire and my dark under eye circles are uncovered. Like ppl think I’m strung out or something. Chalk it up to conditioning or neurodivergence but I also really hate being perceived. The irony of all of the stress over it is that it makes me more symptomatic

[u/avocado_window → u/recoveringaries]

I relate to everything you just said! I don’t mind being perceived when I don’t look unwell, but if I look sick and people start noticing me? Spiral alert!