I read a study that came out last month showing that there may be an autoimmune basis to POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia) from which I (and many others with M.E.) suffer. Here's a link to the study. http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/3/1/e000755.full
Unfortunately, it was a very small study and pretty tough to read unless you are well versed in anatomy/physiology and biochemistry. Hopefully they will repeat it with a larger sample.
To be honest, I'm not surprised at this research. I know for me, M.E. is mostly an illness of the immune system. Both M.E. and the orthostatic intolerance started when I got a severe mono infection. I hope it leads to more awareness and better treatment for POTS. While my cardiologist is one of the nicest Dr.s I've ever met, he has little knowledge about OI, and more research like this will hopefully lead to more cardiologists having expertise.
On a completely different note, here is another project or resource for those living with invisible chronic illness. It's called the thrive show put together by Jennifer Brea (who is also one of those working on the documentary "Canary in a Coalmine"). Especially if you are mostly home bound, it might be a nice way to feel connected to the larger community of suffers as well as an educational resource. It's hard to say, as I haven't explored it too much yet (she just launched it). https://plus.google.com/u/0/101935666847847366319/posts
or https://www.facebook.com/thriveshow
I am in crash mode right now. I had a couple late nights, one where we watched the Oscars here and made a bit of a party out of it. And maybe my body just knows I'm on a break from writing/researching while I wait for my committee to read my proposal. I've been feeling especially weak and fluy and dizzy. Also, it hurts to breathe as if someone scoured my throat and windpipe with a scouring pad. I just feel heavy, sick, awful.
Sorry for not being around much lately --- either if you email or chat with me, or just follow my blog updates. I was trying so hard to stay focused on my PhD work and since having a break, I've been feeling so wiped out, I've been avoiding social outlets…even when they are pleasant, they drain me.
I hope folks are doing as well as possible.
Yuck, I know that breathing feeling. It's often like there is someone pressing a weight down on my chest.
ReplyDeleteI truly hope that in the future, people will know more about POTS/OI/ME. At the moment, it just seems like guesswork and random studies here and there.