28-year-old Lyndsi Johnson suffers from an incredibly rare and debilitating condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which creates reduced blood volume and an abnormal increase in heart rate whenever she stands or sits up.
Essentially, Johnson is allergic to gravity.
The Bangor, Maine resident explained per The New York Post, "I can't stand up for longer than three minutes without feeling faint, being sick or passing out. I feel much better if I'm lying down. I'm in bed all day."
Johnson first started experiencing symptoms in 2015, while working as an aviation diesel mechanic for the Navy.
She was experiencing incredible back and abdominal pain, and soon began fainting on a regular basis. Doctors believed she was experiencing "anxiety," but her symptoms only worsened.
She was medically discharged from the military in 2018 due to her mystery illness, though she only continued to fall more ill.
By early 2022, Johnson struggled just to keep food down and was projectile vomiting on a regular basis. She said, "I'd throw up so much my heart would start having prolonged QT intervals and I'd be in the hospital on cardiac monitoring."
A cardiologist theorized that Johnson might have POTS and suggested she undergo a "tilt" test, where she was secured to a table while lying down, and the table is slowly tilted upright, with doctors monitoring heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen and exhaled carbon dioxide levels.
By February, she was officially diagnosed with the syndrome.
Unfortunately, there is no cure, though Johnson does take beta blockers which has helped reduce her fainting to three times a day, and has helped with her nausea.
However, because she spends nearly 23 hours in ed every day, she is unable to live a normal life, and relies on her husband James to be her caregiver.
"It's really debilitating," she said. "I can't do chores and James has to cook, clean and help me shower and wash myself. I've gone weeks without brushing my teeth because it just makes me feel awful."
Through all this though, Johnson remains determined, and is now pursuing a music business degree from the confines of her bed. She also hopes to soon get back to work, in a job where she can work remotely and lie down.
She says, "I've really had to adapt to this new life. I can't do a lot of what I used to be able to, but I've come to terms with that now. I'm grateful for what I have."
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