Being a Student When You Have POTS
POTS is challenging! So how do you balance both POTS and going to school?
I developed POTS in university so I don't know what it's like for teenagers navigating high school with POTS. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to navigate high school while fighting POTS.
I do know how frustrating it is to pursue post-secondary studies with POTS though.
I do know how frustrating it is to pursue post-secondary studies with POTS though.
1. Find your School's Disability Centre. They're there to help you. I wish I'd contacted the centre WAY sooner. They can help with everything from ADHD and test anxiety, to wheelchair accessibility and frequent illnesses.
2. Exam Writing. I take exams in a separate room. I get a gym mat and a clipboard, and I actually write my exam on the floor. It's awesome!!
Once I took a piano theory exam where I couldn't write my exam on the floor. However the tables and chairs allowed me to sit cross legged as I wrote my exam, which helped a lot.
Once I took a piano theory exam where I couldn't write my exam on the floor. However the tables and chairs allowed me to sit cross legged as I wrote my exam, which helped a lot.
3. Wear compression stockings to school. They help a lot with sitting/standing for long periods of time. If you have insurance coverage, definitely look into these. If you don't have insurance, expect to pay around $140/pair.
4. Get Assignment Instructions Ahead of Time.
You usually get a course outline saying what assignments you'll have to do, but I find that often you dont get the full details about an assignment until 1-2 weeks before it's due. I try to find out all the details at the beginning of the semester and do as much as I can right away. I'm also one of those nerds that buys her textbooks weeks before the semester starts and begins reading and taking notes. Trust me, it helps a lot if you're prone to being out of commission for weeks at a time.
You usually get a course outline saying what assignments you'll have to do, but I find that often you dont get the full details about an assignment until 1-2 weeks before it's due. I try to find out all the details at the beginning of the semester and do as much as I can right away. I'm also one of those nerds that buys her textbooks weeks before the semester starts and begins reading and taking notes. Trust me, it helps a lot if you're prone to being out of commission for weeks at a time.
5. Bring Salty Snacks, Drinks, and Meds to Class. Pain killers and anti-nausea meds are usually a good idea. Snacks high in salt can be very helpful in preventing light-headedness and fainting.
If classes dont allow food then get special permission. Your teachers would rather you eat in class then to risk having you pass out in the middle of their class. Talk about distracting...
If classes dont allow food then get special permission. Your teachers would rather you eat in class then to risk having you pass out in the middle of their class. Talk about distracting...
6. Help Your Teachers Understand - you're not lazy!
You need to go to your profs and TAs at the BEGINNING of the semester. It's better to be proactive and let them know that in the past you've struggled with attending classes or missed exams due to health. They might not be super accommodating, but at least they have the heads up. So if you do get sick and are late on an assignment, there is a better chance that they'll let you hand it in late without too big of a penalty.
Some professors are not going to be understanding about your disability. I had a professor tell me that I should consider another class because he couldn't make accommodations (aka record the lectures) for me. Work with your disability center as much as possible - they're there to fight for you and be your advocate. They're job is dealing with professors and getting accommodations approved.
You need to go to your profs and TAs at the BEGINNING of the semester. It's better to be proactive and let them know that in the past you've struggled with attending classes or missed exams due to health. They might not be super accommodating, but at least they have the heads up. So if you do get sick and are late on an assignment, there is a better chance that they'll let you hand it in late without too big of a penalty.
Some professors are not going to be understanding about your disability. I had a professor tell me that I should consider another class because he couldn't make accommodations (aka record the lectures) for me. Work with your disability center as much as possible - they're there to fight for you and be your advocate. They're job is dealing with professors and getting accommodations approved.
7. Do NOT NOT NOT Procrastinate!
Being chronically ill, my health can change at any moment. While a normal healthy person can get things done in a reasonable amount of time, I often cannot. It will take so much stress off you and help you get better grades if you get things done as soon as they're assigned.
8. Take a Lighter Course Load.
You're not healthy, so don't put the same expectations on yourself as your healthy peers. You need more time to complete assignments and much more rest time. The last thing you need is to become too stressed and risk a flare up or relapse.
You're not healthy, so don't put the same expectations on yourself as your healthy peers. You need more time to complete assignments and much more rest time. The last thing you need is to become too stressed and risk a flare up or relapse.
9. Consider a Laptop.
If you have a sore back like me, invest in a light-weight laptop. We bought our Macbook Air 2 1/2 years ago and it still runs like brand new. The downside is it doesn't have a CD drive, but we have a desktop at home that I can use for CDs.
I find bringing my laptop to class very helpful. My hands cramp quickly when I write with a pen/pencil.
A laptop also helps me to concentrate during lectures. I find it helpful to have a mindless game going on in the corner of my screen. It prevents my mind from wandering and allows me to focus on what is being discussed. Everyone is different in this area though. Many people find laptops too distracting.
If you have a sore back like me, invest in a light-weight laptop. We bought our Macbook Air 2 1/2 years ago and it still runs like brand new. The downside is it doesn't have a CD drive, but we have a desktop at home that I can use for CDs.
I find bringing my laptop to class very helpful. My hands cramp quickly when I write with a pen/pencil.
A laptop also helps me to concentrate during lectures. I find it helpful to have a mindless game going on in the corner of my screen. It prevents my mind from wandering and allows me to focus on what is being discussed. Everyone is different in this area though. Many people find laptops too distracting.
10. Leave yourself enough time to get from class to class so you're not running down halls.
Do not give yourself 10 minutes to get from one end of campus to the other. In my experience, Professors and TAs rarely end the class on time, meaning you're scrambling to get to your next class.
Do not give yourself 10 minutes to get from one end of campus to the other. In my experience, Professors and TAs rarely end the class on time, meaning you're scrambling to get to your next class.
11. Take Online Classes.
I love online classes. They do require self-motivation though and are not for everyone.
I only take online classes that I'm really interested in and aren't incredibly challenging. I took an online math course once - SUPER HARD! Every time I had a question I had to take photos and write out everything in messages to my TAs. Whereas if I was on campus it would've taken 2 seconds to ask the question. I also failed an online Political Science course in the past. Turns out I'm not interested at all in Politics and could not bring myself to understand the material.
Online courses I've done well in are - social work, health topics, religious studies, education, music theory, psychology... All subjects in which I'm super interested and semi-knowledgeable.
I love online classes. They do require self-motivation though and are not for everyone.
I only take online classes that I'm really interested in and aren't incredibly challenging. I took an online math course once - SUPER HARD! Every time I had a question I had to take photos and write out everything in messages to my TAs. Whereas if I was on campus it would've taken 2 seconds to ask the question. I also failed an online Political Science course in the past. Turns out I'm not interested at all in Politics and could not bring myself to understand the material.
Online courses I've done well in are - social work, health topics, religious studies, education, music theory, psychology... All subjects in which I'm super interested and semi-knowledgeable.
12. Drive Instead of Using Public Transit.
I've personally found this to be very helpful. My university is at the top of a mountain, with a winding bumpy road to the top. When I used to take the bus, I'd often arrive at school and spend the next few hours trying to calm my car-sick stomach. Public transit also usually involves a lot of standing, which can leave you exhausted before you even reach the school.
I've personally found this to be very helpful. My university is at the top of a mountain, with a winding bumpy road to the top. When I used to take the bus, I'd often arrive at school and spend the next few hours trying to calm my car-sick stomach. Public transit also usually involves a lot of standing, which can leave you exhausted before you even reach the school.
13. Elevators.
This one is straight forward - find out ahead of time where all the elevators are.
This one is straight forward - find out ahead of time where all the elevators are.
14. Are your lectures recorded? If they are, this is a BIG HELP! My health is never predictable and I always missed several classes each semester. Recorded lectures are life savers.
If your lectures aren't recorded, see if the Disability Center can help you ensure that they are.
If your lectures aren't recorded, see if the Disability Center can help you ensure that they are.
15. Consider ADHD medication to help with focusing. While many people with POTS cannot take ADHD medication due to side effects that affect heart rate, there are some people with POTS who have had success.
Don't give up!
It doesn't matter how slow you go, just keep trying.
It doesn't matter how slow you go, just keep trying.
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