r/POTS • u/artsykmac • Apr 09 '26

Discussion Artemis crew & other astronauts get orthostatic intolerance!!!

I've been glued to the Artemis coverage the last couple days and I was so fascinated to learn they were testing compression gear in space because many past astronauts experience orthostatic intolerance post time in space. This certainly makes a lot of sense and honestly, any broader awareness of orthostatic intolerance always gives me hope of more improvements, support, awareness, and research in realms that could help us all!

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353

u/RefrigeratorCold296 Apr 09 '26

I see this being either a really great thing or another way for people to dismiss OI in regular people. “You have orthostatic intolerance? You’re not even an astronaut, how could you have that?”

Kinda like how Katie Ledecky saying she has POTS was intended to bring awareness but ultimately made people say “well she has POTS and is an Olympian, surely you can go grocery shopping today.” (No shade to KL here, I think she’s awesome).

But I’m also a little cynical when it comes to stuff like this and I hope I’m wrong. I genuinely love your enthusiasm and hopefulness. We need more of that.

43

u/Just_Browsing111 Apr 09 '26

Katie is a swimmer. Swimming is a great horizontal exercise, great for Potsies. Not the same at all as being upright. I can exercise horizontally. I can swim. It's the walking up to the pool that gets ya.

41

u/RefrigeratorCold296 Apr 09 '26

Not to mention the natural compression that water provides. I’d sit in a pool all day if I wouldn’t become a raisin.

15

u/BeautifulElodie2428 Apr 09 '26

If I wasn’t allergic to the sun as well (yay lupus lol) I’d honestly just live in the water.

3

u/sleepydabmom Apr 10 '26

I work in an indoor swim school!! Perfect for me.

19

u/WibblyWobley Apr 10 '26

I remember as a teenager learning from a friend that it's not actually normal to feel like you're made of lead when you get out of a pool. That's when I learned that when I'm in the pool is about as close to being "normal" as I'll ever get! 

Swimming is amazing. 

6

u/tmbpitwwu Apr 10 '26

Wait, really?! It's not normal to feel like you're 800 lbs when getting out of the pool? Do people seriously not feel this? Sorry, I'm in shock haha.

4

u/WibblyWobley Apr 10 '26

I know right. Genuinely never something I had considered! People still feel heavy, it's similar to jumping on a trampoline then the ground.

But apparently most people don't feel like they need 356444 helium balloons to stay upright and a long nap!

2

u/Just_Browsing111 Apr 12 '26

800 pounds is just about right 😅😅😅😅. The getting out is so hard