u/Jumpy-Jello-

I was diagnosed with POTS about ten years ago, after about ten years of symptoms and several ER visits (previously dxd as panic attacks). My cardiologist told me I had POTS, put me on salt tablets, midodrine, and then fludricortasone. I haven't seen a cardio in some years but am not aware of a formal discharge.

However, earlier this week I felt very unwell and called an ambulance for the first time ever, certain that I was having a cardiac 'event' of some sort. The ambulance was en-route and a few minutes away until I mentioned my POTS diagnosis, which caused the operator to change their opinion of the level of emergency and suggested I make my own way to a walk-in clinic for evaluation.

I was not able to do this so called back and omitted the POTS element, an ambulance came, and a serious congenital heart defect was discovered, requiring ablation (WPW). The consultant found my file and said it reads 'query: POTS' rather than a formal diagnosis.

Knowing this, should I just drop the POTS label entirely? My bp did drop on tilt-table-tests at the hospital, but at the same time, is there any benefit to telling a doctor I've been told I have this, when it seemingly delays treatment?

Also, how have all my previous ECGs never uncovered this, when it's congenital and I've had symptoms? Is there a chance it came up but they decided the symptoms didn't fit enough to warrant dx?

I was at a Thai restaurant yesterday, watching the solar eclipse, when I started feeling unwell from a mixture of heatstroke and pre-existing conditions, and had to go to hospital. The staff were really good to me and I'd like to get them something to say thank you, especially as they were really excited about the eclipse and I'm worried they think I'm a bad omen or something. 😅 Any suggestions for a relevant and thoughtful thank you gift?

Hi, I'm being changed from adalimumab to ustekinumab, but have to join a 45 minute group counselling session with a pharmacist first. Does anyone know why? Is it just another demonstration of how to inject?

I'm finally booked in for surgery after taking _20 years_ to get diagnosed, as you can imagine there's a lot of 'chronic remodelling' as they called it, and the choice is either planned surgery now, or emergency surgery soon.

On the one hand, I'm excited for the possibility that this might really turn things around for me. I've been very low functioning for the last ten years or so due to it all. The thought that cutting this bit out might change everything and give me energy and stamina again is making me hopeful, but am I kidding myself?

Having a hypermobility connective tissue disorder, I'm more likely to struggle with the healing process, I'm very prone to tears so don't imagine this will be any different when it comes to keeping the stitches in place. I'll still have to take weekly adalimumab indefinitely as well, and I know there are further risks ahead with not having a terminal ileum, like with my gall bladder.

I'd really like to hear some first hand perspectives of people who have had the surgery and how you are doing now. How was the recovery, and how did food come into it? Was it life-changing, or just a necessary evil? Anything you know now that you wish you'd known then? Any and all advice appreciated! TIA.

I'm getting my terminal ileum removed in the next few months, any advice for preparation? I'm concerned about healing with a connective tissue disorder, as it's relatively easy for me to tear my skin or the odd ligament. Would abdominal exercise decrease the chance of hernias? How best can I minimise risks or stroke/dvt etc? Any advice/reassurance would be great - TIA!

I volunteered at parkrun for the first time and was assigned to the funnel: the end of the run between crossing the finish line and scanning your barcode. There were loads of us volunteering, and our job was essentially to keep people moving and in order of finish, to stop the funnel getting backed up.

What happened regardless, was hundreds of people crossing the finish line and immediately stopping to look at their phones, talk to their friends, grab a snack, etc. The funnel blocked instantly and it became half an hour of watching runners standing on the wrong side of the finish line waiting to get through, messing up their times, while everyone on the other side showed zero care to move along enough to help solve the issue.

I lost my voice shouting for people to keep moving, close large gaps in the queue, be mindful they were preventing other runners from finishing, and was mostly either completely ignored or met with 'the gen z stare'. People started eating and (deliberately) dropping their litter on the floor for us to pick up. People stopped still to take group photos, despite only having a short few paces left before they wouldn't be in people's way - and while they are doing that I have to tell the people behind that they can't overtake.

I had such a positive view of parkrun before, but the realisation of how many people just don't care one iota about the people around them and are happy to be in the way once they've got their own time, really has me feeling like I never want to go back.

If you are one of these people, please try volunteering now and again so you can see how these actions affect other people, and how taking a few extra minutes to be helpful can make all the difference as a whole. A little bit of social awareness goes a long way.

Thanks to all the volunteers who make parkrun happen every week and keep coming back, I don't know how you do it. And for all this moaning I really did notice and appreciate all the thank yous and runners stopping to pitch in afterwards. I'm sure I will go back at some point, but sadly I don't think I'll ever see it the same way again.

Looked last year and couldn't find anyone for standard, pay-by-the-hour garden maintenance, could only find landscapers charging one-off fees to strip everything back.

Can anyone suggest a gardener who could come for an hour a week (or so) to chip away at odd jobs? Info on hourly rates would be helpful too - TIA!