"I used to be able to do so much more."
"I feel like I'm failing at everything."
"People think I'm just not trying hard enough."
If you have POTS, chronic fatigue, or dysautonomia, you've probably had these thoughts. And you've probably wondered if maybe everyone's right — maybe you ARE just lazy.
You're not.
Your Brain Needs Fuel to Function
Your brain runs on oxygen and glucose. Both are delivered by blood. When blood flow to your brain drops, you're literally running on empty.
“Oxygen and glucose — they're like the substrate, the ingredients for making energy. If we're having a hard time being able to continually give the brain the ingredients, it makes it really hard to run it. You can't run the car on empty. Same with your brain.”
This isn't a motivation problem. It's a supply problem.
What "Brain Fog" Actually Is
When people describe brain fog, they're often describing what happens when the brain doesn't have enough blood flow to process normally:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Words not coming easily
- Feeling "fuzzy" or "off"
- Struggling with tasks that used to be automatic
- Mental exhaustion after minimal effort
These symptoms make physiological sense. A brain that's not getting adequate fuel can't perform at full capacity — just like a phone at 5% battery goes into low-power mode.
The Numbers Tell the Story
This isn't theoretical. It's measurable.
“We know huge percentage of cases — 90 plus percent in the cerebral hypoperfusion case and 70 plus in the hypocapnia case.”
90%+ of chronic fatigue cases show decreased blood flow to the brain when tested on a tilt table with transcranial Doppler. This is objective data, not speculation.
Your Body Is Trying to Compensate
When your brain isn't getting enough blood, your body does what it can to help. Your heart beats faster trying to push more blood upward. Your body might even trigger you to lie down — because horizontal equals easier blood flow to the brain.
“When she stands up and you're having a decrease in blood flow to your head, your heart's going to do the one thing it knows how to do in order to try to keep blood flow there — which is increase your heart rate.”
The fatigue isn't weakness. It's your body trying to conserve resources for a brain that's not getting what it needs.
"Just Push Through" Doesn't Work Here
You can't willpower your way through inadequate fuel delivery. A car with an empty tank doesn't drive faster if you press the accelerator harder.
The solution isn't trying harder. It's figuring out why blood isn't getting where it needs to go — and addressing that.
Bodies Can Heal
Here's what matters: when the underlying blood flow problem is addressed, symptoms often improve together.
“Bodies heal. They heal themselves, right? That's where the process happens. We're just trying to create an environment where they do.”
Patients who couldn't function have gotten their lives back — not by trying harder, but by identifying and addressing the actual mechanism behind their symptoms.
What This Means
If you're struggling with fatigue and brain fog:
- It's not laziness — Your brain may literally be running on reduced fuel
- It's measurable — Transcranial Doppler on tilt can show what's happening to blood flow
- It's not permanent — When blood flow regulation improves, symptoms often follow
- "Pushing through" isn't the answer — Identifying the mechanism is
You're not broken. You're not weak. You're not lazy.
Your system is dealing with a supply problem — and that's something that can be addressed.
Exhausted and Tired of Being Dismissed?
If you're exhausted, foggy, and tired of being told you're just not trying hard enough, a free consultation call can help determine whether your brain is getting the blood flow it needs.
I'm Ready to Get Better