u/Abinnohr

I've been working at an Amazon Sort Center for going on 7 months now (been in warehousing 6 years) and have noticed a drastic inprovement in my overall HR and fitness, which is good. Only mild improvements in fatigue most days, though. I've also lost 20lbs, which is also good since I need to lose 80 more.

My sitting HR has improved and more often sits in the 60s range most of the time now which is awesome because before it required meds to get there. The problem is I noticed in the last couple months that my HR gets down as low as high 30's some nights when I sleep. When this happens I feel so relaxed and good but getting up makes me feel like my lungs lack oxygen for the first half hour to hour and that relaxed feeling carries on in an uncomfortable way. My galaxy watch is set to send out alerts when under 45 for prolonged periods. Sometimes I wake up and see I slept like that for hours and I can absolutely feel it. My now laying HR is usually in the 50s. At first I loved this feeling of lower HR overall when at rest thinking it was good but now I'm second guessing it. No matter what postion I'm in I often get random increase of up to 30bpm so it fluxuates so much. In a none working, sat at home all day kind of day the range is easily 40's-110's now. Used to never go below 60's.

That said, the exercise and weight loss hasn't fixed any actual symptoms that comes with these fluxuations but instead seems to have made the ranges even greater. I also go hypertensive a lot when standing (and randomly when sitting) and often get migraines from exercise, so that hasn't changed any.

I had also read a while back that there's a real potential for more syncope issues if I lose weight due to lower blood volume, which was a greater issue for me when I was at a healthier weight, so returning to that life has me a little concerned as well. Syncope during exercise and other things happened a few times before I became aversive to it and learned the early warning signs.

Has anyone here lost weight with these strange conditions? What was it like for you?

Also to note at the end of last year I had an at home sleep test which yielded unconcerning results, a normal echo of my heart, a TTT that was "not POTS" and my EKGs were all fine over the years. So on diagnostic paper I'm "normal" but Drs are baffled. Plan to get in with a new neuro when I have insurance again.

My golden is 8, will be 9 in March. I've decided it best to retire him sooner than I wanted. His health is great and so far he has no structural or bloodwork related issues. No lumps, no arthritis, etc, but I can just tell he's changing.

He doesn't want to play with the other dog more than 5-10 mins at a time whereas when he was 5 he wanted to wrestle nonstop. He doesn't tolerate heat over 75F even in the shade (our last shaded hour walk in 74F had his tongue 2x the size and a shade of purple which we're monitering in case it's low oxygen related) and his stamina has been pretty poor for a while now.

He still wants to romp and go like a puppy but he only seems to have lasting energy half the days compared to just a couple years ago. He's currently 3lbs overweight which we're working on (he gained 5 lbs pretty fast after his neuter) so I know that doesn't help and his lower energy COULD be due to deconditioning over the last year but regardless I think it's time to look for a new prospect.

I have already decided the next breed as I'm looking for a high energy, high drive, and higher heat tolerant breed (considering about 5 months of the year is hot). I know the SD community has its preferred breeds but I will be going for an Australian Shepherd or Dutch Shepherd/similar. I've had 2 aussies (and 1 border) in the past. One was my 1st SDiT who washed before her CKC and PA tests due to severe IBD.

I want a dog to be active with, aim for titles and certificates, who could potentially work out as my next SD. Worst case they wash out and remain an active ESA sport partner and I'm back to the drawing board.

FMP is the only mobility task I "need", which is part of why I'm wavering on the Shepherd type.

I'm aware of the risks but I do have plans, trainers, classes, and lots of learned experiences ready to mitigate as much as possible.

What was retiring your SD like for you? What did you choose after and why?

Edit: I'm not going with a lab unless I have to. I'm sorry people don't seem to like that but their coat genuinely gives me itchy skin rashes whereas most dogs don't. I refuse to live that way so I'm sticking with breeds who have softer fur. Crossing off Dutchies.

Hello all!! To get to the point let me share a couple examples and explain I have an u diagnosed OI problem that's suspected of being Vasovagal Syncrope/Neurocardiogenic Syncope (though these days I mostly experience intolerance and presyncope).

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- Driving in the car with an averagee HR of 68. When it climbs past 76 into the 80's I yawn big and it immediately lowers. Rinse and repeat for several minites or until I walk around or lay down.

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- Walking back and forth at work with a range of 80s-110s (even at same pace, if cool, calm, etc) but once over 100 I yawn big, drop the HR down, rinse and repeat as above. Except at work or out and about, the yawning can go for hours or until I sit down.

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I do have averages of course but my HR overall is unpredictable and not the only symptom (fatigue, flushing, heat, blurry but managable vision, sometimes nausea, variable palpitations, etc). Its a shame we cant continuously monitor blood pressure easily.

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I assume this is a form of regulating (ableit an exhausting one) but wondered how many others might experience this and what you do to ease the stress the excessive and deep yawning causes. How long after laying or sitting does it keeo the issue at bay? I feel a thousand times better for a short while after but it seems to come back rather quickly, even when chilling sitting at home.

As my 8 year old golden approaches retirement I'm struggling with something I thought I never would. I have already been medically backed as fitting the ADA guidelines, and have been questioned by a psychiatrist how I'm "still going" given how I am.

I feel like I haven't utilized my SD enough. Granted, many of the times he could've gone with me, I was talked out of because "well (x dog) can't come" so he missed many opportunities. Everytime he does get to go without the guilt, he impresses people with his steller behavior.

The biggest issue I'm facing is the fact that I can work a physically taxing job and be "just fine". Often miserable, but fine.

I work at an Amazon Sort Center. 1 five hour shift is easily 15k steps on top of moving heavy items and carts. My typical HR is around 98 (and high bp) which has been an improvement from 114-120hr when I first started. My cardio has greatly improved so long as I stay cool and psce myself carefully.

In my mind I keep thinking "I can work this job so I don't need a service dog" but outside of work as soon as I even think about leaving the house, I do anything I can to avoid it. The symptoms are worse when I don't have bills on the line and often being as home I feel miserable but I exist just fine. Part of why I avoid going out is because I have no friends, no extra fun money, and idk what people do when they go out. I've taken him to walk around places but I get bored quickly. I'm suspected of agoraphobia which even that I don't believe because I can still leave the house to go to work.

If I had the choice I wouldn't work but maybe 3 5 hour shifts a week as anything over 5 hours I lose steam and feel awful, but the bills won't pay themselves. I have considerered a sit down job but I lack the qualifications or experience, though I know it would do me good. I just like the physical progress I've made to risk sitting 10+ hours a day, everyday.

Anyway, I just don't know if I should pursue another SD once he officially retires. I'm doing fine. I'm living, getting through the day, and dealing with my symptoms on my own as I always have when he's not with me. He makes life so much better and easier but that doesn't feel like enough.

I dont have insurance right now as I'm trying to get into a full time job, but yes I will be revisiting a primary, a neuro, and a especially a psych.

Was just wondering if anyone else ever felt this way and how you handled it?

Going to start this off by saying I have had a SD letter since 2018 and it was last updated in 2021. I asked my current pcp for a renewal as my complex prefers up to date letters for legal housing purposes.

I sent my current pcp the old letter (same network that Dr doesnt work in anymore) as an example of what I was asking for and as proof I had a legitimate letter from right before I moved states. Mind you he wrote me an updated ESA letter for my cats in November no problem. I asked for both at that time but he only skimmed over the papers I gave him (papers explaining the ESAs AND all my dog's tasks+what they do for me) and combined parts from both into 1 ESA letter for CATS. My cats don't task lol. So, that was already a let down moment. I let that go.

His reasoning for rejecting the SD letter was because I need to go to a mental health professional (he's been treating me for that, too??). I'm guessing because that letter states neurocardiogenic syncope PLUS anxiety and depression. I'm not in California where laws are stricter regarding this and couldn't find any new info passed in my state in 2026 that would otherwise prevent him from writing it. Plus my dog is a multipurpose service dog and has been for years. He helps with my autism, anxiety, depression, NCS/VVS/no one knows, and chronic migraines.

So, I'm genuinely shocked by the rejection.

I started wondering if I was too much for him to handle kind of early on when he hit a wall and he started pushing anxiety more and more. He started seeming less interested and kept prescribing anxiety meds that have never worked for me (Ive tried aboit 8 different ones). Now this. I plan to find a new pcp but I have 10 years of consistent medical history.

Has anyone else experienced this?

What did you do?