2015 was the year I got diagnosed with POTS. It will be a year that I remember for the remainder of my life. It was one of the most stressful, sickening, and miserable years I have had in my life. Even though it was terrible I would not change it, because POTS is me. By having POTS it has made me become a stronger and better person than I was in 2014. I have younger girls with POTS that are looking up to me and realizing all of their potential even though they have an invisible illness. I have defeated the odds of this deliberating illness and continued to go to school to get my college degree. I have to work 100 times harder than I had in the past but when I get that piece of paper to prove my diligence and accomplishment it will all become apparent that it was worth it. I did not let POTS define me and take over my life.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned in 2015 is, if you let an illness define you it will take over you. I know this because I learned the hard way. I let POTS and my bed take over my life. I let it define me, be me, and control me. Until I found out how to overcome the chronic illness in my head I was getting beaten by POTS. For all of you that know me, you know I do not like to lose or get beat. It took a lot of will power and commitment but I overcame the definition of "Tori is POTS". I now do not let POTS define me, tell me what to do, control me, or take over my life. I push through it, I do what my doctor says and I have been feeling better. (Imagine that.. I listened to my doctor and I now feel better). Once again, I would not have been able to change my thinking of POTS without the help of my mom, dad, and a few of my closest friends. They constantly kept me on my toes and would not let me lay in bed for days at a time when I desperately wanted too. To you guys... I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Despite beating the definition of "Tori is POTS", 2015 did not end how I had planned. The day after Christmas, while dancing I landed wrong on my knee. Immediately after I was in excruciating pain and began to get an internal bleed in it due to the mild hemophilia. The next day my knee was twice the size and I knew I needed to see a doctor. Long story short, I was put on crutches, given a knee brace, and was told to get an MRI as soon as possible. Luckily the MRI showed I did not need to get surgery and only needed to do Physical Therapy to strengthen the muscle to ensure this doesn't happened again. I started PT today and am beginning the regimen to strengthen the knee and quad muscles to be able to bend my knee again and make sure my knee cap doesn't dislocate again. To anyone that has knee problems, I am so sorry and I have all they sympathy in the world for you. I did not realize how miserable knee pain is.
As for 2016, I am on the road to recovery from the knee injury. I am still being treated by Dr. Coleby for the POTS and Hypermobility. I continue to get sick and catch every virus that comes within 20 feet of me but I am happy! This is the year I begin applying to nursing schools and continue my schooling to become a Nurse and help people with POTS just like the amazing people that help me.
Here are two songs that helped me get through 2015 and remind myself that POTS does not define me.
