Shortly after receiving her Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) diagnosis last year, local resident Elizabeth began to experience worsening symptoms in the summer heat. According to the National Institute of Health, POTS is a blood circulation disorder that can cause symptoms such as fatigue, lightheadedness, brain fog and heart palpitations (National Institute of Health). Heat can often make these symptoms more pronounced.
“I deal with chronic pain that comes with the chronic fatigue,” Elizabeth said. “It gets very tiring.”
To improve her quality of life during last year’s hottest months, Elizabeth’s provider prescribed her IV fluids, requiring monthly visits to an infusion clinic for treatment. Thanks to Hillsdale Hospital’s Center for Infusion Care, she didn’t have to travel far.
At first, Elizabeth felt nervous to receive infusion treatment for her POTS, but Hillsdale Hospital’s infusion staff quickly put her mind at ease.
“She reassured me that there were a couple others coming in for similar treatment,” Elizabeth said. “She made me feel a little bit better about going to an infusion center for fluids.”
Despite her concern about the experience, the infusion center’s inviting atmosphere and patient-centered care put her at ease, so Elizabeth soon looked forward to her visit and the relief from her symptoms the treatment provided every month.
“I kind of miss going there. You know, she was really great with administering the IV, and everything was just very nice and cozy and warm,” Elizabeth said. “For something that’s not really that pleasant, it was definitely pretty comfortable in there.”
While receiving infusion treatments, Elizabeth noticed that her POTS symptoms were less pronounced and she could enjoy the summer weather more fully than in years past.
“I was actually able to live my life a little bit during the summertime last year,” she said.
If summer brings worsening symptoms again this year, Elizabeth knows where to go for quality infusion care.
“I really appreciate our community has this hospital so that you don’t have to travel so far because we are in a rural area,” Elizabeth said. “They’re doing their best to give us what we need here.”
Learn more about infusion care at Hillsdale Hospital by visiting hillsdalehospital.com/infusion.
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS),” https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/postural-tachycardia-syndrome-pots.
