- Growing up, Karina Drury would constantly experiences episodes of fainting. As a child she underwent tests for various conditions, including narcolepsy, seizures and psychogenic blackouts
- In 2019, at 16 years old, Drury, now 21, was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Drury has shared her experiences living with POTS on TikTok, where she has amassed more than 1 million followers. In one video she posted in August, which has garnered 9 million views, Drury captured herself sitting alone in a café, drinking coffee before fainting
Karina Drury has fainted more than 1,000 times in her life.
Growing up, the Fishers, 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 her quest for answers.
In 2019, at 16 years old, 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 up, which often leads to fainting episodes that typically last about 10 seconds.
“I’ve really gotten to know my body and what triggers my fainting,” Drury tells PEOPLE. “The first thing I feel is a sort of out-of-body sensation, which leads to hearing loss and vision loss. Slowly, my vision starts to narrow, and that’s a huge indicator for me. I can also feel my muscle tone diminishing, as if all the muscles in my body are no longer supporting me.”
“This process happens slowly for me, and I experience general weakness, which is another indicator,” she adds. “I know my body so well now that I can sense it without really thinking about it. I just know, ‘Oh, I’m about to faint,’ and I can feel it coming on.”
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For the past five years, Drury has shared her experiences living with POTS on TikTok, where she has amassed more than 1 million followers. In one video she posted in August, which has garnered 9 million views, Drury captured herself sitting alone in a café, drinking coffee before fainting. Aware that an episode was coming, she decided to write a note on a piece of paper to inform those around her that she was okay.
“I struggled with what to write on the spot, especially since it was a coffee shop 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 were to approach me, I wanted them to be able to read the note and not call an ambulance.”
“Whenever I catch an episode, I like to share it for awareness. In this specific video, I was alone, which doesn’t happen often. I thought it would be a great opportunity to film, not just for my safety in case something went wrong, 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 a coffee shop and pursue their dreams without letting their condition hold them back,” she adds. “It’s a blend of inspiration and practical safety measures, so I can feel secure and help those around me stay calm during an episode.”
After posting this video, the comment section flooded with responses.
“I get so embarrassed when I faint in public, the writing a note idea is genius thank you!” one user wrote.
“i have pots so I faint alot too. the scariest part is making sure ppl don’t call an ambulance lol,” someone else said.
“That is so scary 🥺 I’m glad you have the hang of preparing and that you’re safe 💜,” another comment read.
In high school, Drury tells PEOPLE she faced frantic teachers and students trying to manage her episodes, as she wasn’t yet diagnosed and couldn’t properly inform them how to help. However, once she entered college and was diagnosed, she learned how to advocate for herself.
Now, she believes that maintaining a calm demeanor helps keep those around her stay calm as well. If she faints when she’s with a friend or her husband, they remain very calm and collected, which reduces the likelihood of others approaching her.
“When I wake up, my body feels very weak, and I feel pretty horrible after an episode,” she says. “I try to immediately take the medication for my condition, as well as some form of electrolytes — either electrolyte powders or pills — which helps me regain my strength. I also have to listen to my body to determine if I need to stop what I’m doing and take a breather or if I can get back to what I was doing.”
Although there’s no cure for POTS, Drury has managed her symptoms through treatment. She takes midodrine and electrolyte salts, which have made a significant difference. Additionally, she has taken on strength training, which her doctors advised is better for her health than cardio, as cardio can trigger fainting spells.
When she wasn’t on treatment or medication in high school, she was having several episodes a day. Nowadays, she experiences episodes more like once a week, which is a significant improvement.
“I’ve been very open about my condition my whole 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 girl who fainted. I’ve always been in tune with it and willing to answer any questions people have.”
Drury often includes on-screen text in her videos to explain what she’s feeling during an episode, helping viewers understand what’s happening.
“Sometimes you can’t tell that something is wrong with me,” she says. “They call my condition and other similar conditions ‘invisible illnesses.’ I like to include information on-screen so people can better understand that, even if it looks like nothing is wrong, there is more going on beneath the surface.”
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