Entering hyperspace

I want to point out that Orthostatic Hypotension is normal to some degree.

If you experience it changing positions while sitting, or notice exercise and heat intolerance, talk to a doctor. In the short term drink enough fluids and get a bunch of sodium and potassium in you.

Edit: Im going to step out here and say that I am personally familiar with a condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It's somewhat uncommon, and has a lot of potential causes. COVID-19, specifically, can trigger it because of the way it attacks the nervous system. However, the symptoms of POTS are also the symptoms of a BUNCH of other much more serious conditions. It's a diagnosis by ruling out other things. When they get to the step of testing for POTS it's hilariously easy. They monitor your heart rate and blood pressure, stick you on a moving table, and tilt you.

On the downside, POTS itself is incurable unless the underlying cause changes or improves. This happens in many people, I was unfortunate enough that they discovered I had unexplainable neuropathies. Either the nerves were damaged when I was young, or they didn't grow correctly.

The upside is that we can manage POTS symptoms. Avoid heat. Build lower body muscle, increase electrolyte intake, and drink a lot of non-caffinated and non-alcoholic liquids. I take salt pills, drink Pedialyte daily, and have a prescribed (and extremely cheap) medication. It still happens, but it's manageable, and I won't die from a head injury anymore.

Interesting. For me it usually happens when I'm bouldering and rest for like 5+min. But the intensity varies alot. I feel like it might be more caused by lack of electrolytes in my case since I only drink water.

The joys of getting old(er), issue 67: You can now “stand up too fast.”

Oh? I’ve had this issue as long as I can remember. Teens for sure, probably before.
It’s actually gotten better as I’ve aged because I eat more consistently and now know I need to eat tons of salt.
- POTS?
  I actually had to start taking salt pills. I still greyout, but I don't lose muscle strength anymore.
That’s also the same reaction I have when I suddenly stand up and a sharp pain on my lower back hits.

POTS got me like

And also me when I've been standing for too long. I do not exist comfortably on the vertical plane

Does really hot weather seem to cause it?
Do you seem to eat less salt than other people?
Do you have persistently low blood pressure but a heart rate that is easy to spike?
If you stretch just right will it happen?
I don't want to just say "go see a doctor" but having collapsed at very bad opportunities, it is not worth finding out until it's too late that you have to make some lifestyle changes to function.
- Aye, spot on on all counts, it's dysautonomia.
  Doctor wasn't much help tbh, compression socks, lots of salt and try to sit down before you fall down, were basically all the advice I got. The nhs is a bit shit tho.
Go see a doctor mate
- I appreciate the concern but I already know what causes it, it's a dysautonomic dysfunction. The other person who replied guessed it spot on, haha.

This might just be me, but when this happens does anyone else have these weird existential thoughts during the head-rush, like "I am really alive right now" or "I'm going to remember this moment forever"?

I always get the thought, "This can't be normal. Guess I'm dying."

"Standing up ain't like dusting crops, boy!"

I used to get this but the hypertension came to balance me out.

Been there. The Dark is your friend.

aka .... diabetes

Wait, is frequently getting a head rush when you stand up a sign of diabetes?
- No it's not necessarily because of diabetes. It's called Orthostatic Hypotension and it just means you have a temporary or chronic condition that relaxes your blood vessels too much so that more blood is in the lower half of your body than the upper half when sitting. When you stand up, there's a drop in blood pressure that drains a little blood from your brain and causes you to get lightheaded or in more severe cases, faint. It's a similar condition to what pilots get when they're pulling high g turns that pools blood away from their head. An easy solution is to keep your blood pressure up by squeezing your bottom leg and butt muscles as you get up to keep blood in your head.
- I believe it’s more a sign of blood pressure problems or dehydration, but I’m not a doctor.
- Maybe??? I think it's a blood pressure thing too.