- Growing up, Karina Drury experienced frequent episodes of fainting. As a child, she was tested for various conditions, including narcolepsy, seizures and psychogenic blackouts
- In 2019, at the age of 16, Drury, now 21, was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
- Drury has shared her experiences of living with POTS on TikTok, where she has amassed more than a million followers. In one video she posted in August, which has garnered 9 million views, Drury captured herself sitting alone in a coffee shop, drinking coffee before passing out
Karina Drury fainted more than 1000 times in her life.
Growing up, the Fisher, Indiana native felt like her life was a medical mystery. As a teenager, she underwent tests for various conditions, including narcolepsy, seizures and psychogenic blackouts. She had numerous blood tests, heart evaluations and consulted many cardiologists, neurologists and seizure specialists in search of answers.
In 2019, at the age of 16, Drury, now 21, was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). According to the Cleveland Clinic, POTS is a chronic condition that causes an abnormally large increase in heart rate when standing or sitting, often leading to episodes of fainting that usually last about 10 seconds.
“I really got to know my body and what triggers my blackouts,” Drury tells PEOPLE. “The first thing I feel is a kind of out-of-body sensation, which leads to hearing and vision loss. Slowly, my vision starts to narrow, which is a big indicator for me. I can also feel my muscle tone decrease, as if all the muscles in my body they no longer support.”
“For me, this process takes place slowly and I feel a general weakness, which is another indicator,” he adds. “I know my body so well now that I can feel it without really thinking about it. I just know, ‘Oh, I’m about to pass out,’ and I can feel it coming.”
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Karina Drury as a child.
Karina Drury
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For the past five years, Drury has shared her experiences of living with POTS on TikTok, where she has amassed more than a million followers. In one video she posted in August, which has garnered 9 million views, Drury captured herself sitting alone in a coffee shop, drinking coffee before passing out. Aware that an episode was coming, she decided to write a message on a piece of paper to let those around her know that she was okay.
“On the spot, I struggled with what to write, especially because it was a cafe I had never been to before,” she recalls. “I didn’t want to draw attention to myself because I’m a little shy. So if someone came up to me, I wanted them to be able to read the message and not call 911.”
“Whenever I catch an episode, I like to share it to raise awareness. In this particular video, I was alone, which doesn’t happen very often. I thought it would be a great opportunity to film, not just for my own safety in case something went wrong. wrongly, but also to help me remember what happened while I was unconscious,” she continues.
“I think it’s valuable for people with POTS or similar conditions to see that they can still enjoy life, go to the coffee shop and follow their dreams without letting the condition hold them back,” she adds. “It’s a mix of inspiration and practical safety measures, so I can feel safe and help those around me stay calm during an episode.”
After this video was posted, the comments section was flooded with responses.
“I’m so embarrassed when I pass out in public, the idea of writing a note is genius, thanks!” wrote one user.
“I have pot so I pass out a lot too. The scariest part is making sure people don’t call 911 lol,” said someone else.
“That’s so scary 🥺 I’m glad you have the strength to prepare and are safe 💜,” read another comment.
In high school, Drury tells PEOPLE she faced frantic teachers and students trying to control her episodes, since she wasn’t yet diagnosed and couldn’t properly inform them of how to help. However, after entering college and receiving a diagnosis, she learned how to advocate for herself.
She now believes that keeping a calm demeanor helps those around her stay calm as well. If she passes out while she is with her friend or husband, they remain very calm and composed, making it less likely that others will approach her.
“When I wake up, my body is really weak and I feel pretty terrible after an episode,” she says. “I try to take medication for my condition right away, as well as some form of electrolytes — either electrolyte powder or tablets — to help me get my energy back. I also have to listen to my body to determine if I should stop what I’m doing and take a breather or if I can back to what I was doing.”
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Although there is no cure for POTS, Drury has been treating her symptoms. He is taking midodrine and electrolyte salts, which have made a significant difference. In addition, she started strength training, which her doctors advised was better for her health than cardio because cardio can make her faint.
When she wasn’t on treatment or medication in high school, she had several episodes a day. Today, she experiences episodes more like once a week, which is a significant improvement.
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Karina Drury smiles for the camera.
Karina Drury
“I’ve been very open about my condition all my life,” she says. “I mean, I’ve had it for as long as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, I was known as the fainting girl. I was always in tune and ready to answer any questions people had.”
Drury often includes on-screen text in her videos to explain what she’s feeling during an episode, helping viewers understand what’s going on.
“Sometimes you don’t see that something is wrong with me,” she says. “They call my condition and others like it ‘invisible illnesses’. I like to put information on the screen so people can better understand that even if nothing seems wrong, there’s something more going on beneath the surface.”
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Source: HIS Education