After getting feedback regarding the change in her physical appearance, Bethenny Frankel decided to come out about her health condition. She told her Instagram fans about her struggle with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum discussed her extreme dehydration problem in the video she posted on Thursday, noting that her doctor has connected the symptoms to POTS.
POTS is one of a set of illnesses with orthostatic intolerance (OI), a condition in which an abnormally low volume of blood returns to the heart after a person gets up from a lying down position, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. OI is mostly characterized by lightheadedness or fainting. Although there is no known etiology for the illness, dehydration might add to these symptoms.
In the video, Frankel, 52, stated, “Just because I love you while I share this with you.” “I am messed up, which is why many of you have asked why my face appears differently in my cosmetic tutorials. I’m not doing all that well.”
She went on, “I have so many aches and pains and am so dehydrated. I’ve had liters of Pedialyte, water, kombucha, and coconut water, but they all just pass straight through me. As a result, I’ve put on about four pounds since I’ve been here as my body tries to hang onto whatever water it can.”
The symptoms are “extremely painful and it’s become really terrible in the last few years,” according to Frankel, who said in the video that she wakes up “every two hours in such anguish and dying of thirst.”
So that’s why I look f—ked up, she said, “because I’m a little f—ked up.” “It’s absurd. According to my doctor, it is unquestionably related to the POTS syndrome I suffer from. I imagine a lot of you have also gone through that.”
Frankel noted that the disorder she suffered from “seems to have been substantially aggravated by COVID” and that it is “definitely a condition to treat” in the caption.
Although several studies link COVID-19 infection with POTS, additional research is required to fully understand the relationship.
The reality personality went on to describe her ailment in more detail, stating, “I have severe chronic dehydration. Dehydration and my severely low blood pressure have been a constant, but they’ve gotten exponentially worse.”
“I work extremely hard to stay hydrated, receive IVs, and haven’t touched alcohol in six months. Basically, I’m on the case “She spoke.
Frankel cautioned her followers against criticizing “someone’s physical look” at the end of her post, warning them that they might not be aware of what that person is going through mentally, medically, or emotionally.
According to an NINDS report, anyone of any age can develop POTS. However, it primarily impacts females between the ages of 15 and 50. Before their period, some women claim to experience more POTS episodes. After a pregnancy, significant surgery, trauma, or viral sickness, POTS frequently develops. Those with the illness may find it difficult to exercise because doing so causes dizziness or fainting spells.
The disorder’s origin is not known. The disorder’s low blood volume can be treated, as can circulatory issues that may contribute to it. Several medications appear to be beneficial in the short run. Their long-term efficacy of them is unclear, according to NINDS.
Easy therapies like increasing the salt in the diet and paying attention to getting enough fluids are frequently successful.
The NINDS further cautions that POTS may progress over years in a relapsing-remitting manner, with symptoms coming and going. People with POTS typically experience some improvement and functional recovery, however, some persistent symptoms are usual.
