21-year-old girl fainted more than 1,000 times due to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

Growing up in Fishers, Indiana, Karina Drury felt like her life was a medical mystery as she kept fainting.

Karina Drury suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which often leads to fainting spells lasting about 10 seconds - Photo: People

As a teenager, she underwent numerous tests for various conditions, including narcolepsy, seizures, and fainting spells. She also underwent numerous blood tests, heart scans, and consulted with numerous cardiologists, neurologists, and seizure specialists in her search for answers.

Frequent fainting spells

In 2019, at age 16, Drury (now 21) was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). POTS is a chronic condition that causes a spike in heart rate when standing or sitting, often leading to fainting spells that last about 10 seconds, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“I got really good at understanding my body and what triggered the fainting spells,” Drury said. “The first thing I felt was the feeling of being out of my body, then the loss of hearing and vision. Slowly, my vision started to narrow. I also felt my muscles weaken, like they weren’t supporting me anymore.”

“It happened slowly, and I felt tired,” she added. “I’m so used to my body that I can feel it without thinking too much. I just know, ‘Oh, I’m going to pass out,’ and I can feel it coming.”

For the past five years, Drury has shared her experiences with POTS on TikTok, where she has more than 1 million followers. In one August video, which has been viewed 9 million times, Drury filmed herself sitting alone in a cafe, drinking coffee before she fainted. Knowing that fainting was coming, she decided to write a note to let those around her know that she was okay.

“I struggled with what to write on the note, especially since it was a cafe I had never been to before,” she recalled. “I didn’t want to attract attention because I’m a bit shy. So if someone came up, I wanted them to be able to read the note and not call an ambulance.”

“I think it’s meaningful for people with POTS or similar conditions to see that they can still enjoy life, go to coffee shops, and pursue their dreams without being held back by their illness,” she added. “It’s a combination of inspiration and practical safety measures that make me feel safe and help keep those around me calm during a fainting episode.”

Learn to live with your symptoms

After posting the video, the comments section was flooded with responses. "I feel so embarrassed fainting in public, the idea of ​​writing a note is so clever, thank you!" one user wrote. "I have POTS too so I faint a lot. The most important thing is to make sure people don't call an ambulance," another said.

In high school, Drury encountered teachers and students panicking while trying to deal with her fainting spells, because she was undiagnosed and unable to instruct them on how to help. However, once she was in college and diagnosed, she learned how to protect herself.

Now, Drury believes that staying calm helps those around her stay calm. If she faints while she's with friends or her husband, they stay calm, which reduces the chance of others approaching her.

“When I woke up, my body was very weak and felt quite bad after fainting. I tried to take medicine immediately, as well as take electrolyte powder or tablets to help me recover. I also listened to my body to see if I needed to stop and rest or could continue working,” she said.

Although POTS has no cure, Drury has managed to control her symptoms through treatment. She takes triamterene and electrolytes, which have helped her condition significantly. She also started strength training, as recommended by her doctor, instead of cardio, which can trigger fainting spells.

Without treatment or medication in high school, Drury had multiple fainting spells every day. Now she only faints about once a week. That's a big improvement.

"I've been very open about my condition all my life," she shared. "I've had it since I was a little girl. When I was in elementary school, I was known as the girl who fainted. I've always been very open about my condition and willing to answer any questions people had," Drury said.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-gai-21-tuoi-ngat-xiu-hon-1-000-lan-do-hoi-chung-nhip-tim-nhanh-tu-the-dung-20241101002228941.htm