Bethenny Frankel opens up about her battle with POTS Syndrome

Bethenny Frankel, The Real Housewives of New York alumni shared an Instagram video explaining her worsening battle with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that causes varying symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and fast heart rate.

The reality star is known for posting makeup tutorials and product reviews on her Instagram account which prompted fans’ curiosity leading them to ask about the changes in her facial appearance between videos.

What is POTS?

According to The National Health Service, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that causes your heart rate to increase very quickly after getting up from lying down or sitting. There is no cure but can be improved with lifestyle changes.

POTS is also known to cause multiple other symptoms, including chest pain, shaking and sweating, fainting, dizziness, heart palpitations, digestion problems, weakness or fatigue, headaches, and problems with thinking, memory, and concentration.

Frankel shares the Instagram post detailing her condition and explaining why her appearance varies between posts and photos. She goes on to explain her condition can cause bloating and swelling.

“There were some comments about my face looking different in recent videos, so here is why.

I’m bloated, swollen and I’ve gained 4 lbs in 3 days because my body is desperately hanging on to any water it can,” reads the caption of the post

In the video, Frankel addresses her condition to her three million Instagram followers, “Only because I love you will I share this with you. Many of you are asking why my face looks different in makeup videos and it’s because I’m messed up, I’m not doing that great.”

Dehydration and POTS

Frankel continues to explain, “I’m so dehydrated and riddled with aches and pains. I have had liters of Pedialyte, water and kombucha, and coconut water and it just goes right through me.”

According to Cardiogram.com, staying hydrated is one of the key ways to manage POTS symptoms, but many people with the condition struggle to stay hydrated due to the nature of their condition.

The former Real Housewives of New York star continues in her video, “Dehydration is so real. This is like very intense and it’s gotten really bad in the last few years since this autoimmune thing I’m dealing with. So that’s why I look F—ed up.”

“I wake up like every two hours in such pain and dying of thirst. So it’s like my body won’t hold onto it. It’s crazy.”

“My doctor said it’s definitely connected to this POTS Syndrome that I have. So many of you have experienced that too I think.”

Frankel also explains the efforts she takes to manage her condition, describing how she makes an effort to stay hydrated, gets IVs, and cut out alcohol entirely.

She concludes her post with a message for her followers written in the caption,

Frankel concludes, “PS. When you comment on someone’s physical appearance, you may not know exactly what they’re enduring personally, physically, and emotionally.”

The reality star continues to use her social media channels to post both the lows of her condition and the highs of her life. Her latest Instagram post showcases her enjoying her life living in Aspen, Colorado.