I have been contemplating the subject and content of this week’s post all day today. Did I want to put everything out there? Are there still things I want to keep secret?

I am just going to lay it all out there.

I have been frustrated with the way I have been feeling lately. It’s like one day or even one hour I will be fine and feeling healthy and the next I am stuck in a rut of POTS symptoms and have even been unfunctional. It has even been making me doubt my decision to go South Africa.

About a month ago, my doctor mentioned how a team of doctors at UCLA got together and were discussing me and my case. Without giving all of the details, in short, they want to try a semi experimental surgery on me to relieve my POTS symptoms. The surgery itself is not experimental and has been used to treat a variety of medical conditions. The catch is, it has never been done on anyone with POTS but in theory, it should work. It may also be an option to try a procedure related to the surgery first, which is temporary and may increase my chances of the surgery being successful. Again, it hasn’t been done on anyone with POTS. I have been contemplating both, as well as the timing. Most of my friends and family are against it due to the experimental nature, but I am still contemplating if it will increase my quality of life. It is ultimately my decision.

Keeping in line with my previous posts, I can’t let my fear or my POTS hold me back from living my life. I am not sure what my future holds in terms of the surgery or the procedure. What I do know is that no matter what, I am living my dreams and going to South Africa. I have gotten through a lot and I will get through this too! I am living my life and I have to do what makes me happy. I don’t want to live with regrets. As always, please donate or spread the word http://www.gofundme.com/2koetk

~Natasha