This might be a weird question. Are your symptoms better or worse when lying down, sitting, standing, walking? Can you process and communicate much better when you are horizontal? Thanks PS: I have noticed that abdomen compression makes my symptoms worse. E.g. sitting for longer periods of times.
POTS
Do you have POTS? I don't.
I have dysautonomia symptoms
I have blood circulation instability (erratic blood pressure) but that was not always the case. I have had signs of autonomic instability in both puberty and pre-menopause (female here).e. g odd temperature readings. But it is not full on dysautoniomia, more like a low level autonomic instability. Which I think many with neurodiverse disorders have. I am also thinking: how much of a role does blood supply to the brain play for me. If things improve when lying down...
Do you get higher heart rate or change in blood pressure? I'm planning on getting the lumia to check blood flow to brain because I get symptoms when I stand and I have more energy when I lie down
For POTS abdomenal compression (like a wrap) is helpful. But when I sit and don't wear those I also get symptoms.
I also use polar h10 to monitor HRV when I'm in the mood for tracking and experimenting
But after my concussion, I have better cognition when lying down
I don't have POTS but my blood pressure is fluctuating when I am not horizontal, which is slight autonomic dysfunction. This has become more obvious in midlife. I cannot tolerate anything around my abdomen and never have. Turns out and this has been hell to diagnose that I have low grade chronic small intestine inflammation without the usual signs for enteritis such as diarrhoea. But I do think this plays a major role for me because this means that the vagus nerve forever receives panic signals from the gut. I do think I have vagus nerve involvement. I also had concussion and my issues got much worse after that (mild: memory was only lost for two days).
You can look up orthostatic intolerance. This includes POTS and BP changing when being upright.
I have a good trigger point injection doctor also working on releasing the muscles around the abdomen (and neck) which helps with pain and autonomic nervous system regulation.
My issues started after concussion/whiplash. I also have MECFS and fibromyalgia and POTS and other issues because of the injury
Orthostatic Intolerance might be my issue, but it is really secondary. I am more focussed on finding out what stresses my ANS and it seems like it has to do with a malfunctioning gut brain axis. I have gut stasis and in the middle of gastroenterological thorough testing (difficult as there are only very few who do this (Neuro-gastrointestinal testing). Stretching and walking helps a little. I am sorry you have concussion, too. Mine is a birth defect (genetic). I am getting a genetic panel done.
They make mine worse too, theres a lot of environmental factor differences in how well things work too. Especially with temperature.
I feel like my symptoms are better while lying down. I think my brain is slower and more focused. I do some of my best thinking while lying down. I feel the same way about being in the shower. Weird, I know…
Do you feel this has to do with being more relaxed (e.g. end of the day sofa type) or related to blood supply to the brain or because lying down is less exhausting or because you don't battle as much with autonomic instability?
I feel like my symptoms are better while lying down. I think my brain is slower and more focused. I do some of my best thinking while lying down. I feel the same way about being in the shower. Weird, I know…
I think it has to do with relaxation. I’m not necessarily focused on anything and my brain slows down.
I spoke to a therapist about this and she said to keep a notepad next to my bed and jot down any ideas or thoughts I want to remember, because I often forget them, especially if I’m thinking about things when I wake up in the middle of the night. She also thinks this will help me fall back asleep faster.
Now if I could only prevent the notepad from getting soggy in the shower…
Yes, but it was worse when I was younger. And I always felt more comfortable when I studied in a semi-reclined position or lying down completely.
I suppose this means that blood flow to the brain might be an issue or in my case I cannot stand abdomen compression. It have a spot where my colon is swollen and it appears that motility is also slower in that part, so it may well be the gut brain axis thing for me. It is horrible to get this diagnosed because it is an issue of the enteric nervous system and not the colon as such and my digestion is on the slow side but normal.
Yes I feel much better lying down- it helps my POTS too
No.
Not what I know. But I will try to investigate it
It is quite subtle for me, but now that I am aware of it: I do MUCH better when lying down. E.g. I can focus better on the conversation without the foggy feeling in my brain.
Yes, but more generally, resting my head against something improves my concentration.
Does it make a difference which side you are leaning on?
I don't think.
For a possible explanation, look at the paper: Cerebral blood flow differences in cognitive disengagement syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Doppler ultrasonography findings.