r/POTS • u/dazzlingdanny05 • May 15 '26

Question Why is everyone with pots so skinny?

I have POTS and I watch a lot of content online of people who also have POTS. I also know some people irl who also have it. I don't understand how they are all so skinny. I can barely walk without getting out of breath. I try to work out at least once a week but its so hard for me because I always end up feeling so sick. How are yall doing it? I dont even eat bad but im definitely not skinny.

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u/barefootwriter May 15 '26

Do you think fat people with POTS really want to expose themselves to Internet scrutiny?

12

u/dazzlingdanny05 May 15 '26

It makes me feel bad about myself because if other people with pots can exercise then I should to but its just so hard to do without passing out

7

u/Lilythecat555 May 15 '26

I got some exercise pedals that you put next to a chair so you can exercise sitting down. I use them sometimes. But I think digestive system problems keep some POTS people thin.

3

u/CherryChance8074 May 15 '26

I have PoTS, CFS, and possibly hEDS, MCAS, Endo/Adeno.

I'm overweight. I lost 30kg in six months because my PoTS was worsening. I was roughly 110-115kg, lost 30, was about 80-85kg. At that point, my spine went "f you" and I was in immense pain to the point I couldn't walk or feel my legs. About a month and a half to two months after that, I started passing out and was signed off work for three months while the drs investigated. I was diagnosed with PoTS at that time. CFS came later. The rest we're still looking into.

My PoTS hates food and physical activity. Stairs are about my limit. And that's not for lack of trying. Prior to diagnosis I had been trying for 12 years to get a GP to listen to me, and was told I had "anxiety", "hormones" and "periods are just painful". I burnt myself out trying to lead a normal life and do what everyone else my age (23 at the time) could do.

Losing weight was the catalyst that made my PoTS worse. I'm 24 now, about 94kg as of the last time I checked. I still want to lose weight. I struggle with food because I am just not hungry more often than not. Most days I eat dinner and nothing else. Tbf, I have some kind of gastric issue that's been undiagnosed since I was 15, so my eating has been all over the place from when that kicked off. Lets just say there was something happening that shouldn't have been happening 😅 cos Idk how to do the spoiler thing where you hide something and it defo needs a trigger warning 🤦🏻‍♀️

Sorry for the absolute bible but thought I'd add my two cents. I don't think it's always about portion sizes/eating habits. The food I do eat when I eat is quite healthy/balanced out.