Orthostatic Hypotension

I know that having worked in healthcare does NOT make you an expert on all things health related. There's just so much to learn in this field and it's constantly changing. But we're also always learning new things about our bodies. I've always joked that medical personnel don't know things for certain, that's why working in medicine is called practicing medicine. Am I right? Cue the joke drums and cymbal 🤪

Regardless, I do strongly believe that it gives you an advantage with understanding certain bits of information and sometimes connecting the dots. Because honestly, who knows your body better than you do? Which is why this MS and all that I'm experiencing is so perplexing!

My age and all that comes with that (hormone changes, stiff joints, diminishing memory, looming menopause, etc) has been absolutely no help to my case. However, I do experience one thing ALL the time, which for the longest time I simply thought was normal. Alas, I think I've found out what causes this.

Orthostatic Hypotension is defined as a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand from a seated or prone position.

This seemed to make sense to me since for about six years now, I feel when I stand too quickly that I'm dizzier, faint and feel a heaviness in my chest and throat and like I'm going to fall down. It's very unpleasant.

I really just thought it was age and normal! Apparently this is common to be a secondary condition. I just wonder if it's common to be secondary to MS or Hypotension or if there's something else that I need to be worrying about? Who knows? But I felt an internal shooting star making a rainbow and a voiceover saying, The more you know!