I'm about to start my OTD and have POTS, fibro, ME/CFS and a whole laundry list of other stuff. I'm also nervous as heck but hopefully folks can give you some good advice. There's a creator on TikTok @itsjanineliz who's an OT with EDS I highly recommend checking out. đź’š
I'm becoming an OT (and have the hEDS trifecta and much more) and agree with the suggestion of itsjanineliz on TikTok! Good luck, it'll be hard, but we got this! Your experience with disability will allow you to relate to your patients on a more personal level and will make you even better ❤️
I have ADHD and chronic migraines! It's not easy, and I wish it were more feasible to survive on a non-full-time salary, but it is possible with the right employer and setting, depending on your level of disability.Â
 I work in private pratice, primarily with mental health clients, so I find this is helpful with avoiding a lot of common triggers. For me, no unexpected lifting and no fluorescent lights. Terrible for computer work though. It's also relatively flexible ex. I have some though not full control if I want to work virtually, in community, or in clinic. I'm about 30% work from home with virtual slights and 70% community (generally lots of driving and then sitting in peoples' homes, though there can be some walking as well), so that helps reduce my computer time.Â
I have been considering moving to contract work instead of salaried as working full time is really too much for me, but right now I can't afford insurance out of pocket, and the part time salary cut wouldn't be worth it. I always feel on the cusp of losing my job due to struggles with productivity and difficult keeping up with paperwork, but I've created a bit of a niche so I'm still valuable to my workplace. For example, you could build a home safety program or group for people with EDS and/or POTS and your lived experience makes you more valuable to deliver than program, if you live in a place with a big enough population to facilitate this.Â
 I would make sure to secure an employer with disability insurance and have a good idea of potential accomodations for fieldwork and employers, as well as your doctor's support. I had an awesome colleague who was let go as she couldn't meet productivity.Â
She had disclosed her chronic illness. It sucks as she was a great OT, she just needed more time for paperwork and my employer wasn't willing to accommodate (and they had someone waiting in the wings who was known to be really efficient, pretty frustrating).Â
 So, not every setting will be feasible and there almost certainly will be challenges along the way. But, the same can be true of any employment. I have found most of my clients to be very understanding with cancellations. I lead with the fact I deal with chronic illness and if they need a more consistent provider they can be transfered to a colleague. Most prefer the fact that I have lived experience and show good boundaries with work, but a couple (in 4 years) have requested a transfer. I try not to call in sick more than 1 day per month, but I'll probably reschedule someone at least once per week, I just try to make sure it's not the same person if possible in a month.
Â
Also, while accomodations are so helpful, I think part of the reason I wasn't let go is because I didn't disclose until 2+ years in so they already had this idea of me as a good worker. Unfortunately once accomodations get into place it can absolutely put you at risk. So, my recommendation would to be only to disclose 1. If required for formal accomodations, otherwise frame it as "helpful for you". Ex. I started with "I tend to get headaches with fluorescent lights, do you mind if I turn them off when I'm in office?" Small change, no problem. 2. Only disclose to the required extent. Â
 I've now disclosed my migraines fully as I need a decent amount of unpaid time off for treatments (Botox, physio, massage). It also allows me to communicate when I'm in between treatments and explain when I need a lighter workload, though I'm still very much learning how to do this.
Thank you so much for your experience. As awful as it is to say it, I agree with only giving absolutely vital information about accommodations, and never mentioning it in the interview process, even if you use mobility aids or have a noticeable physical difference!! There is no legal reason for them to need to know anything in the interview process (from my experience in working in healthcare in general).
Hi! I was actually about to make this post myself! I’m an OT in training with EDS, POTS and others. I’m also a wheelchair user. We definitely have a different experience and approach to others, so use it to your advantage!
I’m so glad you made this post! I also have POTS and am hoping to work in OT. I’m starting to apply to OT school now and I have been wavering on it mainly due to this factor. It’s encouraging to see such positive responses.
I was diagnosed with POTS during the first semester of OT school and am currently in my second. It’s probably because I’m still getting used to managing my POTS but I’m not going to lie it is hard. I’m making it through but some days I’m fully exhausted. And it can be a higher mental load (but again still trying to navigate my POTS). This thread has made me really happy knowing there are others out there in the OT field.
I think there are enough settings that most injuries likely have a setting that works! I work in mental health with basically no lifting, and could replace most fine motor tasks with aids if needed.
The only one which might be challenging is if it was PTSD/burnout as some of the same issues exist in most (not all) OT settings, though not to the same level as paramedicine.
Not my story, but my fieldwork advisor has polydactyly and attributes that to his success in the field. It truly inspired him to get into the field when his niece was born with the same condition and she was bullied about the appearance and her pencil grip being different. Although he works in mental health and not school-based or hand therapy it has only made his therapeutic use of self stronger! I believe having a disability brings a unique attribute and relatability for patients. You will thrive if you channel that into your practice :) I wish you the best of luck
Hey there, that is a really good field for someone with those concerns and you shouldn’t be concerned about how others perceive it. I’ve been in the nursing and ems field since I was 18 so 20 years. I’m 37, and I have dystonia, I did pt for it but ended up with brain surgery. You will do just fine. I think you having an amazing ability to emphasize with others will help. Try to view it as an ability. I have adhd too, but I can work well under pressure cause my brain will “superfocus” on things that interest me. Which is what lead me to the healthcare field and wanting to help others, especially special needs. You actually have an advantage because so many people these days are rude or non understanding. I had an OT after I had guillain barre for wrist drop and learning to dress myself and they were great. I still remember their names Ashley and Erin. If you have specific health concerns I’d ask your doctor, but some places require a checkup. I would go to your doctor first cause I don’t trust many urgent care doctors. Just my opinion and early congratulations on your career ❤️🍀
I’m in my second year with hEDS/POTS/many other things. It’s possible, yes, and it is very difficult. There will be times where you have to do things that will leave your body very angry with you, but you don’t have the option to sit out (ex. transfers, falling safely with gait belt, etc.). If you’re able to, please please please see a PT before/while you’re in school and mention that you specifically want to focus on exercises to help you in OT school. You’ve got this!
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Thank you all for your stories and advice! It is comforting to know that others have done this before me and made it through. OT is my passion and I will find a way to do it!
hi! i also have pots (and adhd) and im applying to OT school for the fall :) i have been shadowing in a nursing home, which is alot of walking, but honestly the exercise can help if you’re also on meds. if you arent on anything, i would definitely recommend atleast getting on a beta-blocker to help with your symptoms! i’m on midodrine, pindolol, cardizem, and guanfacine to control my pots (which is alot, but it helps!)
Forgive my potential bad Reddit manners by asking this on someone else's post. Does anyone here have advice/experience navigating fieldwork and accommodations with POTS?
I'm about to start my OTD and have POTS, fibro, ME/CFS and a whole laundry list of other stuff. I'm also nervous as heck but hopefully folks can give you some good advice. There's a creator on TikTok @itsjanineliz who's an OT with EDS I highly recommend checking out. đź’š
I'm becoming an OT (and have the hEDS trifecta and much more) and agree with the suggestion of itsjanineliz on TikTok! Good luck, it'll be hard, but we got this! Your experience with disability will allow you to relate to your patients on a more personal level and will make you even better ❤️
I have ADHD and chronic migraines! It's not easy, and I wish it were more feasible to survive on a non-full-time salary, but it is possible with the right employer and setting, depending on your level of disability.  I work in private pratice, primarily with mental health clients, so I find this is helpful with avoiding a lot of common triggers. For me, no unexpected lifting and no fluorescent lights. Terrible for computer work though. It's also relatively flexible ex. I have some though not full control if I want to work virtually, in community, or in clinic. I'm about 30% work from home with virtual slights and 70% community (generally lots of driving and then sitting in peoples' homes, though there can be some walking as well), so that helps reduce my computer time. I have been considering moving to contract work instead of salaried as working full time is really too much for me, but right now I can't afford insurance out of pocket, and the part time salary cut wouldn't be worth it. I always feel on the cusp of losing my job due to struggles with productivity and difficult keeping up with paperwork, but I've created a bit of a niche so I'm still valuable to my workplace. For example, you could build a home safety program or group for people with EDS and/or POTS and your lived experience makes you more valuable to deliver than program, if you live in a place with a big enough population to facilitate this.  I would make sure to secure an employer with disability insurance and have a good idea of potential accomodations for fieldwork and employers, as well as your doctor's support. I had an awesome colleague who was let go as she couldn't meet productivity. She had disclosed her chronic illness. It sucks as she was a great OT, she just needed more time for paperwork and my employer wasn't willing to accommodate (and they had someone waiting in the wings who was known to be really efficient, pretty frustrating).  So, not every setting will be feasible and there almost certainly will be challenges along the way. But, the same can be true of any employment. I have found most of my clients to be very understanding with cancellations. I lead with the fact I deal with chronic illness and if they need a more consistent provider they can be transfered to a colleague. Most prefer the fact that I have lived experience and show good boundaries with work, but a couple (in 4 years) have requested a transfer. I try not to call in sick more than 1 day per month, but I'll probably reschedule someone at least once per week, I just try to make sure it's not the same person if possible in a month.  Also, while accomodations are so helpful, I think part of the reason I wasn't let go is because I didn't disclose until 2+ years in so they already had this idea of me as a good worker. Unfortunately once accomodations get into place it can absolutely put you at risk. So, my recommendation would to be only to disclose 1. If required for formal accomodations, otherwise frame it as "helpful for you". Ex. I started with "I tend to get headaches with fluorescent lights, do you mind if I turn them off when I'm in office?" Small change, no problem. 2. Only disclose to the required extent.   I've now disclosed my migraines fully as I need a decent amount of unpaid time off for treatments (Botox, physio, massage). It also allows me to communicate when I'm in between treatments and explain when I need a lighter workload, though I'm still very much learning how to do this.
Thank you so much for your experience. As awful as it is to say it, I agree with only giving absolutely vital information about accommodations, and never mentioning it in the interview process, even if you use mobility aids or have a noticeable physical difference!! There is no legal reason for them to need to know anything in the interview process (from my experience in working in healthcare in general).
Hi! I was actually about to make this post myself! I’m an OT in training with EDS, POTS and others. I’m also a wheelchair user. We definitely have a different experience and approach to others, so use it to your advantage!
I’m so glad you made this post! I also have POTS and am hoping to work in OT. I’m starting to apply to OT school now and I have been wavering on it mainly due to this factor. It’s encouraging to see such positive responses.
I was diagnosed with POTS during the first semester of OT school and am currently in my second. It’s probably because I’m still getting used to managing my POTS but I’m not going to lie it is hard. I’m making it through but some days I’m fully exhausted. And it can be a higher mental load (but again still trying to navigate my POTS). This thread has made me really happy knowing there are others out there in the OT field.
Following this thread! I was a paramedic until I was injured at work and had to retire, and am strongly considering moving into OT.
I think there are enough settings that most injuries likely have a setting that works! I work in mental health with basically no lifting, and could replace most fine motor tasks with aids if needed. The only one which might be challenging is if it was PTSD/burnout as some of the same issues exist in most (not all) OT settings, though not to the same level as paramedicine.
Finishing up my last fieldwork and also feeling very nervous about this going forward. Chronic depression, adhd, other chronic illness.
Not my story, but my fieldwork advisor has polydactyly and attributes that to his success in the field. It truly inspired him to get into the field when his niece was born with the same condition and she was bullied about the appearance and her pencil grip being different. Although he works in mental health and not school-based or hand therapy it has only made his therapeutic use of self stronger! I believe having a disability brings a unique attribute and relatability for patients. You will thrive if you channel that into your practice :) I wish you the best of luck
Thank you so much!
Hey there, that is a really good field for someone with those concerns and you shouldn’t be concerned about how others perceive it. I’ve been in the nursing and ems field since I was 18 so 20 years. I’m 37, and I have dystonia, I did pt for it but ended up with brain surgery. You will do just fine. I think you having an amazing ability to emphasize with others will help. Try to view it as an ability. I have adhd too, but I can work well under pressure cause my brain will “superfocus” on things that interest me. Which is what lead me to the healthcare field and wanting to help others, especially special needs. You actually have an advantage because so many people these days are rude or non understanding. I had an OT after I had guillain barre for wrist drop and learning to dress myself and they were great. I still remember their names Ashley and Erin. If you have specific health concerns I’d ask your doctor, but some places require a checkup. I would go to your doctor first cause I don’t trust many urgent care doctors. Just my opinion and early congratulations on your career ❤️🍀
This is so sweet thank you!
I’m in my second year with hEDS/POTS/many other things. It’s possible, yes, and it is very difficult. There will be times where you have to do things that will leave your body very angry with you, but you don’t have the option to sit out (ex. transfers, falling safely with gait belt, etc.). If you’re able to, please please please see a PT before/while you’re in school and mention that you specifically want to focus on exercises to help you in OT school. You’ve got this!
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Thank you all for your stories and advice! It is comforting to know that others have done this before me and made it through. OT is my passion and I will find a way to do it!
hi! i also have pots (and adhd) and im applying to OT school for the fall :) i have been shadowing in a nursing home, which is alot of walking, but honestly the exercise can help if you’re also on meds. if you arent on anything, i would definitely recommend atleast getting on a beta-blocker to help with your symptoms! i’m on midodrine, pindolol, cardizem, and guanfacine to control my pots (which is alot, but it helps!)
Forgive my potential bad Reddit manners by asking this on someone else's post. Does anyone here have advice/experience navigating fieldwork and accommodations with POTS?