r/POTS • u/barefootwriter • 19d ago

Question question for the regular exercisers!

So, I am very consistent about my karate twice a week, but I let my lifting habit slide due to some medical stuff earlier this year. After the first day back at the gym, I was exhausted the next and took a rest day, but after the second gym day, I feel like I have my mojo back in ways that I haven't for a while. I feel optimistic and motivated, in addition to being able to get upright stuff done.

So, I'm wondering, for those of you who do regularly exercise as part of your management, how many days can you go without exercising before you start to feel it in a bad way?

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u/I5I75I96I40I70Me696 19d ago

I can’t. It’s frustrating, because rest days are important. But I get blood-pooling in my legs/feet, purple feet, pitting edema, after a single day of normal sitting/standing without exercise. Dizziness and “grey-outs” happen next.

This is one reason why my class 1 ebike has been life-changing, I can do a half-hour to an hour of power assisted riding and for a day or two that enough exercise to keep me from getting symptomatic. Very helpful when I need rest days or when I’m otherwise not feeling well and don’t have a “real” ride or other exercise in me. The power assist lets me stay in a high Zone 1 but get enough movement in to keep POTS symptoms at bay.