Ioana Vintila

Giving up, acceptance, striving?

Everyone reacts differently to having an illness.

💪 Some people fight and fight, trying to push through and overcome the illness as soon as possible.

😓 Others might feel overwhelmed and admit that this is just what their life is going to look like, believing that nothing can help.

🔄 Neither perspective is healthy long-term, but it's okay to feel that way. These reactions are hardwired within us, often based on previous experiences.

💡 The fighters and those pushing through at all costs might soon find that a softer approach is needed.

When you're going full force, it can be tough when you don't see short-term results, feeling like the more you push, the further your intended result slips away.

The constant busy push of activities in the name of healing might leave you burned out and frustrated.

🔒 On the other hand, you might have accepted that this is what it's going to look like, and nothing probably will help.

This perspective can leave you feeling stuck, immobilized, helpless, and angry.

You might get frustrated when you see people trying various things, knowing that won't work for you.

This can also result in a cycle of feeling more and more stuck.

❓ So what is the middle ground? What does it look like for you, and how do you get there?

I don't have the answer, but I have some questions that might help.

👊 For the fighters... If life and your symptoms are to stay as they are right now, how can you begin to accept that?

And then, how can you continue to persevere but with less attachment to the outcome?

How can you find ways to enjoy the process?

🤔 For those feeling stuck and discouraged, is there inspiration you can find out there? You don't need to do what that person did, but surrounding yourself with more inspiration can help.

And can you come up with one new thing that you'd like to try? Then figure out what's one 5-minute baby step toward it?

💭 As you navigate your journey, what's the first step you can take to move closer to finding your middle ground? Let me know in the comments below.

2 years ago | [YT] | 5

Ioana Vintila

We're in DC advocating for more research funding for POTS. We’re here for all those who couldn’t be here.

POTS used to impact 3 million Americans before Covid, but now it impacts at least 6 million Americans. And that’s a conservative estimate.

That’s 6 times as many people as MS impacts. Yet MS receives significantly more funding.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) received over $47.5 Billion from Congress this year for medical research. Yet NIH directs less than $2 Million a year for funding research on POTS.

More funding would mean more research. More research would lead to more understanding of why this is happening, treatments, and more healthcare professionals knowing about POTS.

I started having symptoms in high school, but it took until AFTER university to get a diagnosis. Throughout those years, I got progressively worse, and I had no idea what was happening.

Doctors' reactions ranged from telling me it was anxiety to them telling me I’m at risk for a heart attack and giving me medications to prevent a heart attack.

I got diagnosed after I figured out its POTS and requested a tilt table test. By that point, I couldn’t shower or grocery shop anymore, and every move triggered symptoms.

I was fortunate that I reacted well to the medications.

I was fortunate that my husband did the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.

I was fortunate that I had the funds to see a specialist doctor abroad (remotely) when waiting for my local POTS specialist doctor would’ve taken 18+ MONTHS.

I was fortunate that I worked in a small team, and I was able to have certain accommodations.

But there are a lot of people that are not as fortunate. 68% of POTS patients would work more hours if not for their symptoms.

Due to this condition, people's lives are being put on hold, paused.

I'm grateful to the staffers from @repmikequigley office and @durbincampaign office that I got to speak with today as they listened and asked questions as we shared our stories and asked for more POTS funding.

But you, too, can make a difference. Please reach out to your elected officials. More details here: p2a.co/vkhicnk?fbclid=PAAabkVDMCcAAcUfisDSVcPxYo9_…

#makenoiseforturquoise #dysconf2023 #dysautonomiaawareness #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #dysautonomia #potssyndrome #longcovid #longcovidawareness

2 years ago | [YT] | 35

Ioana Vintila

Eating a nutritious diet is vital to supporting your health and well-being, but what do you do when you have low energy levels that make it hard to prioritize healthy eating?


This has been a topic of discussion with my small coaching group over the past few weeks.


So I thought I'd write out some practical and convenient suggestions that will help you incorporate more vegetables into your daily routine, even during times of fatigue.


It's super important to prioritize self-care, listen to your body, and provide it with the fuel it needs to thrive.


What are some of your favorite ways to get more vegetables in? Let me know in the comments below.

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3 years ago | [YT] | 17

Ioana Vintila

One of the most powerful things we can do for our body is to stimulate our vagus nerve. Why? 🤨


Because it helps shift us from the "fight-or-flight" into "rest and digest".


Being in a state of rest and digest reduces heart rate and prioritizes blood flow to our internal organs.


In this state, your body can heal, digest, detoxify, and build immunity. 💡


How can we stimulate the vagus nerve for this effect? One of the ways is through taking cold showers. 🚿

How does it help? It might help to think of the process from start to finish.


1) When you expose your body to cold water, it gets a shock and its first instinct is to move the blood rapidly inwards towards the internal organs so that they can stay warm and protected.


2) This results in a tightening of the blood vessels. The shock to the body stimulates circulation and turns on the heart and lungs.


3) It also acts as a way of forced meditation. When you are cold, it's hard to focus on anything else. So, you have to be 100% focused on the body.


For those of you cutting out caffeine, it’s also a great replacement.


Over time, prolonged and consistent exposure will result in a stronger nervous system.


How to do it?
1) Start slowly with water that’s just a bit cold.


2) As you expose yourself to cold, you will feel the need to breathe more. So, to avoid hyperventilating once you are in the cold shower, practice deep belly breathing before getting in. This will help your body feel safe and that everything is okay.


3) When you’re in the cold water, continue breathing deeply. Over time, you will notice that you will slowly get more used to this and will be able to try this with even colder temperatures. I like to visualize myself under a beautiful waterfall out in nature while doing this.


For those with POTS, it can also help to do this at the end of the shower so that you’re not feeling so lightheaded and overheated.


What has your experience been with cold exposure? Let me know in the comments below. 👋

3 years ago | [YT] | 11