I have a medical disorder commonly referred to as POTS which stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. This disorder affects blood flow. Common symptoms are lightheadedness, fainting, and an uncomfortable, rapid increase in heartbeat that comes from sitting up from a reclined position.

In sixth grade, I started to have intense migraines, spottiness in vision, and dizziness. At first, my mom and I just thought I was sick, but it never went away. Eventually, my symptoms started to affect my grades so it was time to take me to the doctor. 

In the office, they asked me a multitude of questions that related to memory, where my head pain is, and other parts of the body. After a while, they realized that I might have POTS. So, they ran a tilt table test. My drastic change in heart rate throughout the test provided evidence that I have POTS.

This condition has made me see how fast the world really moves. Since I stay home a lot, more than I want to, I miss a lot. This shows me that every little thing can change in a blink of an eye. I’ll often get back to school after an awful migraine and see that my friends have made a new inside joke without me. Or I hear about how there was a school fight that I missed. It can be hard to come back and see the world has moved on without you.