We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kait Olds a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kait, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

For 7 months I quit health.

My name is Kait. I am a fitness and health fanatic. I truly believe that the greatest wealth is health; that optimal quality of life is ours to be had. I also believe that nutrition, exercise and mindfulness is medicine and key to achieving health goals. No individual journey is the same, therefore no prescribed program is the same. The diversity and limitless factors of health and fitness have always intrigued me. Here is my story and current mission-

I ran the Traverse City Bayshore Half Marathon in May 2022. Then, I quit. I quite all routines I had in place prior to completing this race. I’m talking planned water intake, exercise, sleep routines and nutrition prep. I let go. I woke up with no intent other than to take the day as it came (foreign concept for me, as a fitness/health professional for over 10 years.). I had no specific goals to achieve. But to not pursue. No time devoted for me/myself and I. You’re probably wondering why I would do this. Why after years of dedication would I introduce this change? It’s simple. To help raise awareness for the Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Community. To prove their strength and through my personal and professional experiences, create avenues to overcome what they see as weaknesses.

***POTS is a form of orthostatic intolerance that is associated with the presence of excessive tachycardia and a drop in blood pressure upon standing. Current diagnostic criteria are a heart rate increase of 30 beats per minute (bpm) or more, or over 120 bpm, within the first 10 minutes of standing. The gold standard test for diagnosis is the Tilt Table, although bedside measurements conducted by a physician are of option as well. Symptoms include blood pooling, rapid heart rate, brain fog, fatigue, heat intolerance etc.***

To understand further as to why I chose this risk -let’s explore three pivotal moments in my life.

Pivotal Moment #1

As an adolescent I fell extremely ill. After multiple tests and doctor visits I was officially diagnosed in 2o05 with POTS at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Although not life threatening, POTS is life altering and changed life as I knew it. I had to learn to put my life on hold to gain daily function. As a fifteen-year-old you can imagine how well that went. I was depressed. Anxious. I lost muscle. Gained weight. Questioned a lot in life. But knew one thing- that this pain wasn’t going to be my story.

I listened to my medical team. I followed their treatment protocol to the “T”.

Read my full story here: https://ko-wellness.net/meet-coach-kait/

In summary, I entered remission at age 19.
Victory.
I had lived POTS Strong™. I went on to play college basketball. Earned a college degree and multiple certifications. I got married and had three beautiful children. After remission, POTS wasn’t something I advertised. To tell you the truth, those closest to me at times forget that I was even diagnosed. I felt blessed that this was my story. That I wasn’t defined by this devastating syndrome. That from the pain stemmed so much growth and opportunity. Yet deep down- I always wondered what the future had in store for me and POTS.

Pivotal Moment #2-

The majority of my career in the field of Exercise Science has been spent offering my services for the prestigious boarding school, Interlochen Center for the Arts (years 2012-current). An extremely diverse yet motivated population. As their contracted Wellness Coach, I helped build a PE Credit, ran group fitness classes and currently still work one-on-one with students for personal training/nutrition and mindfulness coaching.

One September day life again changed as I knew it. I met a student during parents’ weekend at the Academy. A student that showed interest in her health but dismissed the idea of participating in services. I locked eyes with her mother and asked if I could help answer any questions. She responded, ” You won’t be able to help her.” I automatically stated, “Try me.”. She replied, “You’ve probably never heard of it, but she has POTS.” Like word vomit I announced for the first time in years, out loud, ” I have POTS”. We immediately exchanged phone numbers, signed a contract and I coached her daughter. That following year- she joined the volleyball team.

I was shocked. Shocked that after 15 years of living with POTS I had now just met someone in complete passing. This adolescent had NO direction with their diagnoses. What did this all mean? It was a lot to absorb. All I knew is a fire was lit and the POTS Strong™ identity was officially born. This experience allowed me for the first time to look at my personal experience with POTS from a professional perspective. It had been fifteen years since my diagnoses, when I was 1 in only 5 known cases in Michigan. What did the POTS scene look like now? What services were offered? Were medical teams still advising patients as they did me in 2005?

I dove into research. I studied peer reviewed articles pulled PDFs from credible sites such as Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, POTS Dysautomnia International etc. and even joined the dreaded POTS support social media groups. I found much information still holds true as it did when I initially searched in 2005. To this day the etiology of POTS is still yet to be established. A misunderstood illness, many patients go undiagnosed for years. In summary, POTS is estimated to impact over 1,000,000 Americans, and millions more around the world.

I was in awe that in fifteen years the disconnect in POTS care I felt as a patient, still existed. I had received my diagnosis and a promising treatment plan. Which granted me confidence. Yet after leaving the white coats, my overachieving self-found it to be a bit tough to take that instruction and apply it daily while dealing with such debilitating symptoms. How did I know I wasn’t doing more harm than good? I needed easily available and ongoing support. I didn’t want to wait 6 weeks for an appointment I had a question for now. And I was lucky enough to be treated by leaders in the POTS community. What about the patients that saw general PCPs? Or uneducated cardiologists or psychiatrists that mislabeled POTS? Great strides have been made in POTS research and treatment centers. Yet, America’s medical scene still simply isn’t structured to offer the support, resources or even professional relationships needed for patients to thrive.

I bought software rights in 2020- created the POTS Strong™ App, developed relationships with medical staff and assisted patients and clients in putting their medical team’s treatment plan into action.

Pivotal Moment #3-

After two years of working with the dysautomnia population (POTS, CFS, Vasovagal Syncope, Mold & Lymes) I knew that the POTS Strong™ Methodology was a game changer in my client’s lives. I knew my services were of benefit. But after our contract close-after clients enter remission what should they expect? What does the future hold for them? At this point I had talked to hundreds of POTS individuals from around the world who willingly shared their personal stories. During this early research many swore routine yoga practices kept symptoms at bay. Others, Pilates. Then there were bodybuilders who used anaerobic training and a mix of meditative therapies. Majority did cardio- some watched what they ate some obsessed over nutrient intake. Many utilized breathing exercises and self-reflection. In summary, they achieved their optimal quality of life by what felt right to them. They too, were living POTS Strong™.

Lucky for me, health was my life. I chose a line of work where I live and breathe movement, healthy behaviors and practices on a daily basis. A great job perk if you will. But what would happen if I wasn’t a subject to this environment. What if I quit practicing what I preached? What if I chose to risk my good habits and introduced a stressful environment? Would POTS symptoms come back? Call it personal. Call it professional but I didn’t accept the “expect to live an active life moving forward” card that many physicians gave. I now wanted to know what would happen, if I stopped intentional health efforts.

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and a direct representation of my personal choices and testing. I do not advise individuals to stop any treatment plan but to only seek advice from their personal medical team and or health experts specific to their journey and best interest.

Rewind- back to race day. Running my half marathon, I felt alive. I felt mentally strong. I felt grateful. Grateful for a body carrying me mile-to- mile. Especially having known firsthand what it’s like to be bedridden. A time I was at the complete mercy of a miracle. Then, how ironic to know that with each foot strike I was brought closer to a finish line of 13.1 miles. If my fifteen-year-old self could see me now. Further, if she only knew that at this stage in life, I had the will and strength to risk our hard work in health by becoming a subject to chosen chaos. Life would again change as I knew it. I wasn’t sure how it’d go, but I knew it was necessary to offer the best service for my clients. To help answer the questions they had and the POTS Community as an entirety.

Essentially, for 7 months I let go of what was a lifeline for 17 years. I remember the first week wasn’t so bad. I got a whole hour out of my day to essentially do what I wanted. I wasn’t spending time prepping food or working out- stretching or doing meditation/prayer. I could work late; binge watch Working Mom or Bridgerton-. I could even watch the grass grow if I chose too. Yet, those first two weeks I already felt the physical and emotional effects start to set in.

First, tension and stiffness. Next, was a decrease in sleep quality. I held odd hours. I found I was looking for a new vice. I drank caffeine and at times alcohol. As months passed, I felt less energetic; weaker if you will. I had documented an increase in anxiety, depression, feelings of weakness physically and emotionally. Brain fog (from running two businesses and raising three kids and no outlet? Or was this POTS?). I even started clenching my jaw during sleep. It was horrible! Lastly, my sensitivity to loud noises, chronic noise or sudden movements at times mocked the signature fight or flight response of autonomic dysfunction. I felt on edge. I needed a release. I needed a change.

Why seven months? It just felt right. Seemed like a long enough duration to prove adequate exposure to stress loads for my body. During these months I endured major changes in my work. I kept up with three active kids. I welcomed the sun, late nights and hot tubs with open arms. And through it all I had no documented sign of tachycardia. No heat intolerance. I was functioning, I was POTS Strong™. I was really in awe at that 7-month mark. Again, if my fifteen-year-old self only knew (:. I was impressed with my function, but I knew I was missing quality. I wanted my energy back and my structure. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t crave a good workout, good food. Was this a POTS bod asking for it? Or fitness/health enthusiast Kait? This realization caused me to dig deep and assess my identity with POTS, my relationship with self-care and its role. This proved that even at this stage in my journey, in remission these methods served of importance. Not for symptom management but like the general population, well-being.

I had concluded from my self-experiment the importance of the POTS Strong™ Methodology in each stage of my health journey. The methods that helped me thrive after receiving an unwanted diagnosis are the same methods that help me today in remission as an entrepreneur, a mom, as the best version of myself for my world and everyone in it. Further, choosing POTS Strong™ mimics the all too familiar dose-response relationship professionals witness in the health field. Upon initial diagnosis, POTS Strong™ offers specific principles and protocols to aid individuals into finding that much needed relief in managing and minimizing symptoms. Over time, these same methods allow for needed adjustments, as clients’ behaviors are set in place, and they thrive. What is the most rewarding is that this very relationship that is developed through this methodology, though this journey, this overall behavior with “me, myself and I” continues to take individuals places in health & wellness therefore their personal careers and overall, life. And that is our story. In the end the reward was worth the risk.

Kait, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

You go to school, get the degree, pickup an internship or two and land a job. From there, you climb the ladder and have a plan that in “x” amount of years down the road you’ll retire.

Not me.

I went to multiple schools, got the degree, earned a few certifications, landed a couple of internships. Landed a job. From there, I put in my two-weeks’ notice; started my own LLC and have been self-employed ever since. I run two businesses. All while being a farmer’s wife and the mother to three under the age of 9.

In the workforce I have found that I don’t fit any mold. I ask more questions than most, I challenge the formality and time and time again find myself siding with the 3%. I pick the path of most resistance. I have a can-do attitude and feel that every day is a chance to learn something new. I am a creator, a perfectionist by default.

My background is in health fitness instruction. Attending college, I never felt a calling to join the OT kids, or the PT kids- heck not even the PE kids. What I knew is I wanted to create- I wanted to educate so I figured obtaining my bachelors of science and personal training certification would open up doors – and it allowed me to land a job with a medically supervised weight loss center, then as the contracted wellness coach for Interlochen Center for the Arts and now POTS Strong™.

My personal experience with POTS and professional background offers a unique expertise to serve the POTS population. Clients who I have the privilege of working with typically are looking for that structure to “plug-in” medical advice they’ve been handed. Or they are at the “now what” point in their journey where I help them redefine their why. Help them train for that race or gain confidence in the workforce or gym. I simply offer appropriate progressions, education and become their number one cheerleader. It’s so rewarding to have that front row seat.

POTS Strong™ helps bridge the gap between patient and physician care. It is the tool my fifteen-year-old self-wished for. Essentially POTS Strong™ started on the largest platform I could ask for- the App Store. It is more than an App, it has offered awareness, education and hope for the POTS Community to thrive. POTS Strong™ Support Programming and Behavior Tracking offers accessible aid for the POTS community. POTS Strong™ grants users’ confidence that there time invested is not wasted. That each day, is a step in the right direction towards obtaining their optimal quality of life. The necessary, supportive and measurable environment for a patients medically prescribed treatment plan.

I am proud to encourage the POTS population to identify as strong. This is not just physical, but through behavioral changes, mindfulness practice, nutrition choices, trigger education etc. On a monthly basis I receive 20-30 new emails. That is 20-30 new persons that either have POTS or have a loved one with POTS they are trying to help. That is 20-30 new individuals I have granted insight too. Whether they take this information and pursue services with a local professional, they take this information and inquire with their physician, or they schedule a take action call to work with me personally. It is a win on an individual basis and for the for the POTS Community.

Majority of the time, patients are handed non-pharmacological treatment information from their cardiologist or their primary care physician. They simply then don’t know what to do with it. I want them to understand that success is within reach. That with the appropriate tools they can feel better. With the right tools, they will thrive.

My main goal is to spread awareness. I want to continue to be a respected credible source for our POTS patients and a recognizable name to the medical community. By increasing collaboration, we can better serve our POTS population. For me, POTS sparked a passion in health and wellness. POTS granted a new perspective to not take one single second for granted. POTS reinforced the importance of education and proved the amazing power and will the human body have to offer us in this life. I will continue to utilize this platform and in the near future establish local in-person programming or trainings for professionals.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn my medically trained background so I could offer a better service for the POTS population.

When you work directly with patients in a medical scene, HIPPA, set protocols and personal programming becomes your go-to.

Reaching the greater POTS Population as a service I believed would take the creation of an App, a website, blog to compliment and social media to market. I needed to still utilize the science and expertise but offer in a way that was user friendly. That is an entirely different experience. You have to think logistics, funnels, marketing and it is then you get to work with individuals. Running support programming groups in a simpler format takes away from the white coat fear. And I believe the POTS Community needs that.

There are times it needs to be light and airy. As I had stated, I never seemed to fit a mold and now in the present time it becomes more prevalent what my trade is, serving the POTS population.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

After Covid, and budget cuts I lost my ability to work. I really started to doubt my choice in the Exercise Science field. As I know many other professionals in my trade did. It was tough. It pushed for virtual. Some jobs could thrive on- educating youth and teaching them how to appropriately load a barbell…not so much. Then I thought about my faith, and how I truly believed I was meant to be in this position. I never advertised I had POTS; would I have met that student? Would POTS Strong be developed if I was working a full load? I don’t’ believe in “what-ifs”. I believe in the here and now.

I truly love helping people. I love asking questions and challenging the norm. I believe there is something new to be learned each and every day. For someone like me, this is the perfect field to accommodate that nature.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ko-wellness.net/pots-strong
• Instagram: @potsstrong_
• Facebook: potsstrong
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kait-olds
• Other: POTS Strong™ App https://ko-wellness.net/category/invisible-part-of-me/

Image Credits
Stillwaters Photography