Why Your “Good Day” Might Lead to a Bad One With POTS
From my experience as a clinician, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) doesn’t always follow a predictable timeline. One of the most frustrating aspects of the condition is that symptoms often do not show up right away.
When Today’s Symptoms Come From Yesterday
You might have a relatively “good” day today—hydrated, rested, pacing yourself—and still find yourself feeling awful tomorrow.
Why? Because POTS can operate on a delay. The symptoms you experience today may actually be the result of what your body went through yesterday or even earlier in the week. That’s the sneaky part of POTS—it doesn’t always give immediate feedback.
Finding the Pattern in the Chaos
Delayed symptoms can make POTS feel random or out of your control. But often, it is not as unpredictable as it seems. When patients begin to track their habits, symptoms, and routines more closely, patterns start to emerge. And once those patterns are visible, it becomes possible to make more informed adjustments and regain a sense of agency.
Managing POTS is a Long Game
Planning ahead and staying consistent with your treatment plan that might involve hydration, medications, compression, movement, and/or rest, among other things, can make a meaningful difference. Managing POTS is not about perfection—it’s about persistence. It’s the long game, not the quick fix.
As a clinician, I’ve never worked with a single patient who could manage their POTS “perfectly” every day. Life doesn’t work like that—and neither does the human body. But what is possible is learning to outsmart the condition by understanding its rhythms and staying one step ahead.
Want expert tips for living well with dysautonomia?
Join Dr. Gould’s Neurenity Notes—a free, down-to-earth newsletter with helpful ideas, real-life strategies, and support for navigating dysautonomia, sent right to your inbox.
Get Dr. Gould’s Mini POTS Toolkit—a free, helpful guide that breaks down often-missed symptom triggers and real-world tools to help you manage them with confidence.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as behavioral health or medical advice. It is not intended or implied to supplement or replace treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis from your own qualified healthcare provider.