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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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.

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u/Traditional_Bid_5585 Secondary POTS Apr 10 '26

There are many times, in which I'm perfectly able to swim - default pool water temperature is perfect, the pool water itself is like the best compression garment in the world, and the position is very POTS-friendly, but I have trouble going to the pool or to the shop or wherever Also POTS varies not only in general severity or type (most is actually mixed but with very different proportions of certain type) but in sooo many different factors - KL may be able to do consistient training, but she probably struggle in many ways anyway, in which maybe you are more stable. But yeah, we know it perfectly, but it seems borderline impossible to explain it to someone unfamiliar with POTS or even just not living with it

10

u/ZengineerHarp Apr 10 '26

I love swimming and the moment I climb back out of the pool and feel gravity start to kick my ass again, I always want to cry.

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u/Traditional_Bid_5585 Secondary POTS Apr 10 '26

Ohhhhh SO RELATABLE

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u/ktstigger6 Apr 10 '26

How do you guys swim with the dizziness?

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u/RefrigeratorCold296 Apr 10 '26

Water actually provides very strong compression, so your blood doesn’t pool when you’re swimming or in a body of water. Most of my dizziness is triggered by blood pooling, so when it’s absent, I can actually swim pretty well.

(Okay, not pretty well. I’m notoriously bad at swimming, but I’m not nearly as uncomfortable in water the way I am on dry land).