Bethenny Frankel took to social media earlier this week to open up about her “very intense” struggles with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
In a series of videos, the first of which was shared to her Instagram page, the Real Housewives of New York City alum explained why her face has looked different in recent makeup tutorials before noting that she’s “messed up” after experiencing a post-COVID flareup of the disorder.
“Many of you are asking why my face looks different in my makeup videos and it’s because I am messed up,” Bethenny began in a February 23 post on Instagram. “I am not doing that great. I’m so dehydrated and riddled with aches and pains. I have had liters of Pedialyte and water and kombucha and coconut water. It just goes right through me and I’ve gained like four pounds while being here because my body’s trying to hold onto any water it can.”
“This is like very intense and it’s gotten really bad in the last few years since this autoimmune thing I’m dealing with,” she continued. “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.”
After contacting her doctor, Bethenny was told her health struggles are “definitely connected” to POTS.
According to WebMD, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is “a disorder in which most of your blood stays in your lower body when you stand up, and in response, your heart rate jumps,” which can make you feel “dizzy, lightheaded, or faint.”
Other symptoms include blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, brain fog, extreme fatigue, shaking or tremors, body aches, and insomnia.
In a video shared to her TikTok page, Bethenny broke down as she considered the possibility of not being in good health for her 12-year-old daughter, Bryn Casey Hoppy.
“My real thing is the terror of just not being healthy for my daughter. That’s the biggest thing,” she admitted. “Who cares about the rest of it? I just want to be healthy for her. I want to go on Aspen vacations and take her snowboarding, wanting to live a long life because I had a child later in life.”
“I’m absolutely scared that I do everything to be completely healthy and still, sometimes this thing is winning and it’s upsetting,” she added.
@bethennyfrankelI never do this but I don’t want to seem like I always have it under control. I definitely don’t.♬ original sound – Bethenny Frankel
In a third clip, Bethenny noted that while most people wouldn’t show themselves looking like she was, she wanted to be honest with her audience.
“I posted a picture of myself today on Instagram. I would’ve loved to filter the black circles and creases under my eyes but this is me today,” she explained, sharing that she’d received “several IVs” and consumed “a ton of salt.”
“This is a disorder that has gotten really much worse since COVID,” she went on. “People discuss whether it’s the vaccine or the virus itself. I do not know. I am not an expert but it is an absolute fact that post-COVID, this thing is a beast. Not every single day but when it’s a beast, it’s a beast. This is a beast.”
@bethennyfrankel POTS is real & COVID effects are also. #pots #autoimmunedisorder #potssyndrome ♬ original sound – Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny starred in the first three seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City and returned temporarily for seasons seven through 11.