Tilt Table Test

[prttyprttyprncss]

Has anyone had a Tilt Table Test and if so, what can I expect? Again, I got the nurse calling me after one full week on the monitor. She said that I'm being referred to another doctor for the test and they will call to schedule the appointment. Any ideas of what they would be looking for with this test? She said it's to determine what happens when I pass out.

Thanks,

Shelia

 

[bvdr]

If I'm remembering correctly, I think our member abbanabba had a tilt table test several months back.

I just typed in ....tilt table test.. here on this board's search feature and there are several posts about it.

 

[Abbanabba]

I was SUPPOSED to have the test, but the doctor I was referred to decided I just needed more sleep and to disregard my regular doctor's request.

Anyway, the tilt test is really to see if there are any problems with blood-pressure, or what is techinally known as neurally mediated hypotension. It's when your BP drops more than it should when you stand up for instance. They strap you to a table which, as the name indicates, tilts. They lie you flat for a while, then tilt the table up to see if your BP is affected at all. They may also inject adrenaline to see if the BP reacts normally to "stress" (ie. like when you exercise). My stepmother had this test, and although her BP was OK, they found the part of the brain which is meant to make your heart-rate increase wasn't kicking in which is why she was having black-outs when she stood up sometimes.

If your BP is low, or not increasing as it should when required, they may prescribe sodium tablets to increase the BP. My cardio suggested I increase my salt intake (in general) to see if it helped with my dizzy spells, which it has - although I tend to have a pretty low salt diet at the best of times, so I wouldn't just do this without talking to a cardio first. In general my BP has gone up from around 90/50 to 110/65 which has been just enough to alleviate the dizziness.

If you type in "tilt test" or "neurally mediated hypotension" into Google, you should find some really helpful information.

Cheers
Anna : )

 

[prttyprttyprncss]

Low blood pressure!??

Low blood pressure!??

Anna,

Thank you for your reply! I was just reading over your old posts (I've got to learn to use "search" before I pose a question!) on the tilt table test. Now, I'm even more confused. My cardio started me on Verapamil last Friday because of an elevated BP and HR while working out. I got to the gym last night and before starting, took my BP, it was 140/78. My HR was 78 at the time. I started my workout and got 32 mins into it before I felt like I just had to stop. I was a little frustrated because this was the first day they had ok'd me working out since Friday. My event monitor was full so I uploaded as soon as I got home. The voice on the other end of the phone had me do another reading and told me to "take it easy".

My cardio's nurse (who is the only person I ever seem to talk to at her office) called and advised me not to work out - AGAIN and that they were going to schedule the tilt table test with another Dr that specializes in the electric pathways in the heart. So if it's looking for a dropped BP, then why on earth would they have me on a medication that drops my BP?! And why didn't it work when I exercised last night? It's not like I was going for 32 mins on the stair climber!! The fella next to me tapped me on the shoulder and said "your face is really red, do you need me to move the fan for you!?" I wasn't hot...it was embarrassing!

Thanks for responding (you too Betty!) and I'll let you know how it goes. From what I've read on here, it doesn't look fun!

Shelia

 

[ericaj]

tilt test

tilt test

Hi Sheila,

I too have had a tilt table test - due to significant tachycardia. My EP (electrical cardio) was looking into see why I had passed out and had also come very close to passing out in the recent past. Although my test didnt show drops in BP I was also doped on Benadryl due to a reaction to the IV antibiotic I was receiving for an EP study that followed my Tilt test. My EP study didnt really give any answers either so they inserted a loop recorder (just like a pacemaker insertion) and started me on Florinef (sodium retaining med) on top of my Nadolol. I have since then switched to Midodrine with my Nadolol, but if you have any questions feel free to ask. I will go add you too my yahoo id now too. [email protected]

Erica

 

[Abbanabba]

Hi Shelia, perhaps the tilt-test can tell them other things I'm not aware of, but from what I was told (and what I could find on the net) it's generally used to confirm or rule out low BP - and it doesn't sound like that is your issue at all.

Again, my stepmother wasn't having BP issues, but the tilt test picked up a problem with the part of her brain responsible for regulating her HR... so there may be something else they are specifically looking for with you.

I don't think the test is anything too drastic - you'll just get to lay around for a while

Good luck with it and keep us posted on how you go.

A : )

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Weclome
I have had the tilt table test and my youngest daughter when she was 18 too! I had an event montor inplanted because I was having passing out spells & irrregular heart beats. Now I have pace maker and have not had anymore passing out spells since.