POTS stations can make a huge difference during this journey with chronic illness. Having these around your living space can be extremely helpful. For those of you who may be wondering what in the world we are talking about, no worries, as hopefully you will be a POTS Station expert very soon! The idea behind the POTS Station is to have a designated space (ideally a few) where anything you may need urgently or emergently is present. This may be more difficult to create if you have children where certain items would be hazardous for them, so sometimes it requires a little bit of extra creativity, or relying on the Daily To-go Bags as well which you can keep on you.

POTS Station Ideas:

1.) Purchase a few baskets or bins where you can keep all POTS Station items (one bin/basket per station).

2.) Consider including extra bottles of water (if tolerated) at each station as an emergency supply.

3.) Consider including extra salty snacks at each station as an emergency supply (if tolerated).

4.) Invest in a few blood pressure monitors to have within each POTS Station if financially feasible.

5.) Consider including extra electrolyte solutions packets, salt tablets, or other similar tools at each station if applicable to you. Some examples can be found within our Helpful Items section. Please not within reach of children, important to be very mindful of this.

6.) Keep a few spare emesis (throw-up) bags in each one (if applicable). An example can be found within our Helpful Items section.

7.) Keep a few ginger chews, ginger mints, peppermints, ginger ale or other quick helpful items you may need if you battle nausea, and items you can safely tolerate. Examples can be seen within our Helpful Items section.

8.) Keep any spare/urgent equipment you may need for central lines, gastric-tubes, nasogastric tubes, ostomy bags, and/or any other feeding tubes or other medically invasive items you may care for and require on a regular basis. Please not within reach of children, important to be very mindful of this.

9.) Consider purchasing a unisex urinal/emergency portable urine bag to keep within each station in case become very symptomatic/presyncopal and are in situations where you can’t safely maneuver to the bathroom. An example can be found within our Helpful Items section!

9.) Include anything else that would be helpful for you!