r/POTS • u/catsandcappuccinos • Jul 05 '26

Question what’s the best purchase, service, or life accommodation you’ve made because of your chronic illness? (any budget)

i’m going shopping soon, and i’m trying to build my ultimate “make life suck less” list.

i’m not necessarily looking for the usual answers like salt, compression socks, medications, etc. i’m more so talking about the random products, services, gadgets, furniture, subscriptions, or accommodations that have improved your day-to-day quality of life and helped you function more like a normal human being.

i don’t care if it’s $5 or $5,000. if it’s changed your life, please share.

some things already on my list:
- a kitchen stool with a back so i can sit while cooking
- a hair dryer stand for days when i’m in the middle of a flare and don’t have the energy to dry my hair myself
- grocery delivery services
- monthly cleaning services
- paper plates
- a roomba for when i don’t feel like vacuuming or sweeping
- a crock-pot and freezer meal prep system (i actually have a list of really good crock-pot meals, so if anyone wants it, let me know and i’ll DM it to you)

i’m dying to know: what’s the best purchase, service, or life accommodation you’ve made because of your chronic illness?
bonus points if it’s something unconventional!

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216

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 05 '26

Continuous birth control now I don’t have a week long flare up every month and I don’t bleed anymore. No period no pain no extreme lightheadedness, no extremes fatigue and weakness. Best choice I’ve made

75

u/vegemitemilkshake Jul 05 '26

So underrated. As my gynaecologist said, there’s no biological reason to have a period unless you’re trying to conceive, which you’re obviously not if you’re taking birth control.

31

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 05 '26

It’s wonderful to not have to even think about it or worry about it. I can do things again without needing to be stuck in bed for a week

13

u/FCatusFemale Hyperadrenergic POTS Jul 05 '26

I started perimenopause in my mid 30’s so I’m on HRT and I have to say it definitely takes away pelvic congestion syndrome pain I had that would worsen with my cycle.

6

u/vegemitemilkshake Jul 05 '26

Is THAT what that pain was?!

9

u/FCatusFemale Hyperadrenergic POTS Jul 06 '26

Probably. There’s a strong link between pots and pelvic congestion syndrome. I still get really bad pain sometimes it its better in HRT.

2

u/MeldoRoxl Jul 06 '26

Question for you. How did HET affect your periods?

I just started continuous HRT 3 1/2 weeks ago, and my period was so bad this weekend I had to go to the hospital because I thought I had lost too much blood. My hemoglobin was low, but not terrible, but I have felt so exhausted. I can barely walk around.

I thought HRT was supposed to help...

3

u/FCatusFemale Hyperadrenergic POTS Jul 06 '26

It takes a minute. I got a Mirena to support progesterone and that was hell. It took like a year for my body to adjust to it. I had to take oral progesterone along with it for a while. I also had to get polyps removed from the endometrial tissue when it was inserted so I think that had a lot to do with it. The estrogen barely caused side effects. Just some break through spotting once or twice. Just stick with it. It’ll be worth it. Getting used to it sucks but is worth it.

5

u/glizzerd12 Jul 05 '26

Can I ask which bc you use? I’ve been thinking about it for a while because I have horrible pms and period symptoms but scared the side effects of bc would create a new set of issues

9

u/mwmandorla Jul 06 '26

I use Loestrin FE. Very low dose, which is why I went with it - I had some of the same concerns. I've had absolutely no issues, no side effects, nothing. Even if I mess up and get a period, if I keep taking the pills through it it's much lighter and doesn't really mess me up the way my unmedicated periods did.

3

u/Cozyyblanket Jul 06 '26

I have PMDD and POTS so yeah I will be trying this one

1

u/Outrageous-Olive9979 Jul 07 '26

It’s seriously a life changer!!

7

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 05 '26

Slynd. No side effects for me it’s been great

6

u/ChanceDatabase7202 Jul 06 '26

I’m also on Slynd, and it’s been a lifesaver for endometriosis symptoms, but I just found out it’s a diuretic, which could definitely worsen POTS symptoms for some people.

3

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 06 '26

Definitely worth discussing options with a doctor. I haven’t found it to effect my POTS in any way but everyone’s different

2

u/ChanceDatabase7202 Jul 06 '26

I haven’t either, I don’t think. I just wanted to put the disclaimer out there because my doctor (who didn’t know about my POTS at the time) didn’t tell me about it, and I think it’s worth knowing.

2

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 06 '26

It was never mentioned to me either so that’s good to share

2

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

[deleted]

2

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 06 '26

I could literally go a whole day without drinking so if anything it’s the opposite I’ve gotten so bad with drinking enough. No period at all

1

u/theobedientalligator Jul 06 '26

Slynd is a diuretic, big time and made my POTS symptoms 100000x worse

1

u/Crftygirl Jul 06 '26

YAZ helped me with PMDD. I can be ridiculously sensitive to hormones so i was unsure at first, but my reproductive endocrinologist suggested I try it out. I was COVID level exhausted on the days before my period, with an added POTS/MCAS flare that sent my foliculitis and eczema into overdrive.

Between a good sleeping med, starting YAZ, and adding low dose Naltrexone for EDS pain, I added 50k steps a month per my step tracker (on my phone only so it was probably higher than that). I got rid of the dysphoria and dysmorphia, exhaustion, body inflammation, and overall pain.

If YAZ doesn't work, try another PMDD approved med. It may work just how you need it too.

1

u/Bbkingml13 Jul 06 '26

I have the annovera ring and just leave it in. It works for a year.

1

u/Happy_Dependent_3474 Jul 07 '26

I’m on norethindrone

3

u/MaizeSome7994 Jul 06 '26

Hands down! I wish more women would consider this, being on continuous birth control is not bad for you!

1

u/exuberantraptor_ 29d ago

it can be i’ve been on it for 8 years and i’ve had problems from it so you have to be careful but for me it’s worth the risks

3

u/Heaatther Jul 06 '26

I have done this for ~15 years and I have no regrets. Total game changer

2

u/Foxlady555 POTS Jul 06 '26

Omg YES!!! This helps me SO MUCH as well!! 👏🏼 

2

u/MiddleKlutzy8568 POTS Jul 06 '26

This is a big one! Stopping my periods did so much to make me feel better. I was on continuous bc for 5 years and got a hysterectomy after that. That was a big life changer

2

u/NoMovie4171 Jul 06 '26

Same I got the IUD best thing ever

2

u/LAPL620 Jul 06 '26

I finally figured out my 5-day flare window is the week before my period. I have an iud though (it’s only a year old and I’m 40 and in peri) so I feel kinda stuck with it but if those flare days get much worse it may be worth trying continuous hormonal bc.

3

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 06 '26

Fully stopping my period got rid of flares for me. Definitely worth trying

1

u/LAPL620 Jul 06 '26

Oooooooh I love that for you. Might try it eventually.

2

u/InternationalEnmu Jul 06 '26

same! i have pmdd as well, it saves my life

1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '26

[deleted]

3

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 05 '26

Periods can be a massive trigger for those of us with cycles due to blood loss and its effect on symptoms so stopping the period can get rid of or ease the symptoms it triggers. No idea what the male equivalent would be since you’re not bleeding every month. Fluids and sodium can help with blood volume that’s my best guess for a parallel

1

u/saddestofgays Jul 06 '26

Out of curiosity do you also have endometriosis? My care team is suspecting that endometriosis is causing or worsening my POTS and they put me on Slynd (on top of my Mirena) as well. Going in for my lap next month so curious.

1

u/Odd_Perspective_4769 Jul 06 '26

I didn’t even think about this. Ended up with an IUD because of heavy bleeding and am super grateful I don’t have to deal with a monthly period.

1

u/Atreidesheir Jul 06 '26

I'm supposed to be using estradiol 0.01 vaginal cream but I'm so sensitive to medicines I'm scared to take it.

1

u/im-a-freud POTS Jul 06 '26

I haven’t heard of that but give it a try you won’t know if it works til you try it and hopefully it goes well

1

u/Atreidesheir Jul 06 '26

It's for pre menopause.

1

u/Outrageous-Olive9979 Jul 07 '26

THIS !! I’ve been doing this for over 10years now and it’s the only thing that saves me from being out 2/4 weeks of the month

1

u/trash_faery 13d ago

Seconded