The State of Health Care Podcast

A POTS Journey: Beyond Just a Fainting Disorder

Today on the podcast we are joined by Sophie, a professional athlete and dancer who since a young age, has been managing life with POTS syndrome, also known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. With an estimate of 1-3 million people impacted, a large percentage being women, POTS has also seen an increase in numbers post COVID. POTS is characterized by low blood volume and circulation which can create multiple side effects, including fatigue, brain fog, heart palpitations and dizziness, among other things. Known as the "fainting disease", it's an incredibly challenging syndrome to manage. Sophie first encountered symptoms at a young age, where she began fainting upon standing, along with convulsing. As is frequent with POTS, she was misdiagnosed with positional hypertension and it took her another 10 years to receive a proper diagnosis. For Sophie, she also manages her daily life while navigating IBS, arthritis, endometriosis, pain, slow speech, nightmares, and rapid heart rate.  In this illuminating conversation, Sophie walks us through her personal journey of dealing with these symptoms (that can shift frequently), advocating for herself with providers, living her lifestyle as best she can while immunocompromised, and the tools and methods that have helped her along the way. With a critical eye towards managing her diet (little to no sugar), high sodium and water intake, items like compression socks, and a huge emphasis on rest, Sophie works to support her active lifestyle and career.  While research is progressing on POTS, especially with a large influx of diagnoses post-COVID, there is still much to be done. Sophie has found great support in community groups, independent research, and self-advocacy. Join us for an in-depth look at POTS and how Sophie pursues the lifestyle and activities she desires.  Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

Dysautonomia: A Diagnosis Journey

The journey of healing your body can sometimes be a long road, one in which you must advocate for yourself, and loudly. Today we are speaking with Dani, a massage therapist, who over the course of a decade has had to navigate new diagnoses and symptoms in her body, relearning the edges of what she could do, while seeking out a variety of providers and treatments to help her.  In a conversation centered around resiliency, evolving, and adapting, Dani discusses living with Dysautonomia, Fibromyalgia, and Hypermobility. With an intersection of many symptoms, we hear about how she has navigated the past 10 years, both transforming her life to meet her new physical and emotional needs, while also honoring the grieving process of what was. By working with (mostly) female providers, building a community of support, advocating tirelessly for herself, journaling, using AI to help track and categorize her day-to-day responses, Dani is an inspiration in perseverance and fighting for your healthcare. Join us for an in-depth look at not only how Dani manages multiple diagnoses and symptoms, but continues to fight for the best way of life possible. Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

Lessons on Learning to Live in a Hypermobile Body

Today's episode is a must-listen, especially if you have ever dealt with hypermobility, or extreme mobility in your body. We sit down in conversation with Elizabeth who at 29 years old, has already been on a multi-year journey of discovery, learning how to live in a hypermobile body.  Elizabeth, while currently very active, specifically in the aerial arts and pole dancing, has to walk a unique road in order to do the things she loves. Living in a hypermobile body means that many of her tendons are like "rubber-bands", which don't hold the muscles of her body together well. Challenges in her stability, with fatigue and developmental "skips" were all early signs that things weren't working as they should have been. Today, she speaks about how hypermobility also impacts her digestive system, can cause headaches, ringing in the ears, and severe jaw pain, among other things. We get to hear candidly about the tools and resources Elizabeth utilizes to help her along her path. Physical Therapy, a "to-go" bag with all the tools she needs to live at optimal functionality, therapy, a hunger for knowledge on how best to help herself, relearning at times basic body mechanics and movement - all are part of her every day curriculum for engaging fully in life.  Join us as we talk about her journey to living the life she desires, and how she approaches each unique challenge with optimism, a great attitude, and determination to rise to the occasion.  Resources: IG: @elizabeth.swagert  Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

Finding Balance By Tapping Into Our Own Calming System

Welcome back to the State of Healthcare Podcast! We are continuing season 4 with our focus on autoimmune disorders and today we are speaking with Sari Lewis, an Occupational Therapist of 40+ years, who also has 25+ years practicing as a Registered Craniosacral Therapist.  Some might be unfamiliar with this specific type of therapy and Sari walks us through her journey to practicing this modality, and the fascinating complexity of working within the bio-mechanical model of the body. For instance, did you know how the fluid of the brain and spine work and impact your every day? Have you wondered about the innate rhythms of the body, and how we can interrupt the "fast" patterns most of us live in now? Curious to learn more about how Craniosacral therapy can help with a whole host of health disorders and challenges? Sari works with her patients to create an environment within the body that is healthy, safe, slow, and able to release that which no longer serves them. We also go into depth about the vagus nerve and what it means to regulate the nerve, different ways to "tone" the nerve, and caution about buying into the trending fads.  Join us for a deep dive into the internal world of your body, and how to create a more harmonious state, allowing you to live your best, healthiest and most embodied life.  Please rate, review, subscribe and share with friends. Resources: https://sarihands.com/ [https://sarihands.com/] Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

Movement is Life: An Autoimmune Journey

For episode 4, we are back with Julie, a fan favorite here on the State of Healthcare Podcast! As a retired nurse and active yoga instructor, Julie has been living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for the last 15 years, and was more recently diagnosed with hyper-mobility as well. She has a lot of experience navigating the world of autoimmune disorders and figuring out what choices are best for her, and how she wants to live her life. In an episode filled with insight and wisdom, Julie speaks about the key elements she focuses on when managing her RA which includes movement, hydration, and nutrition. We also discuss the seasons of each year that she must traverse with these autoimmune challenges, working with her flare-ups, adjusting her lifestyle to each situation she finds herself in, and the choice to go medicine free, including not utilizing hormone replacement therapy.  This episode is for you if you want to hear more about prioritizing your quality of life, setting expectations for your body (and listening to what your body needs from you), what constitutes active rest, and how movement is life. The best thing you can do is wake up each day and ask yourself, what can I do today to be strong, healthy, and well.  Share with your friends and family, and please rate, review, and subscribe!  Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.