tilt table test

[soccero]

i am going to have a tilt table test for pots and i am pretty nervous about it they said it is three hours long is it really that long? i cant imaging being tilted for three hours! i might throw up ugh im not looking forward to this
molly

[drewlevas]

ok notted

[Viva001]

Yes, definitely fasting!

[drewlevas]

One question do you need to be fasting for this test. The receptionist at the hospital told me that I should be fasting for at least 4h previous the test!

[Viva001]

Indeed!  I find the dysautonomia more difficult to deal with than pain.  No one asks, what is your POTS level today?

[zygy2]

Lots of information I read said that if you don't pass out they will give you meds by IV that will help you!  If you call that help!!  Anyone that has had those meds say they make you feel horrible when you pass out.  I was a bit paranoid and told them IF i was going to pass out I did not want my head to snap when I did.  You are strapped to the table everywhere but my head was not attached and I was afraid I could do neck damage which just seems bad for Chiarians :) LOL  THey were great about watching my head.  My legs shook like crazy, I could not stop them no matter what I did and my heart rate went from a nice low number laying down and then into the 170 range within probably only a minute of head up tilt.  I felt odd but it was not horrible as others have said.  BUT like I said, they did not wait for me to pass out so I did not have to deal with that or the IV.  As soon as they saw the heart rate do crazy things they let me back down, they did do it a second time to watch things but that was it.  I would like more information though on the blood pressure because there is a type of pots that isn't the typical low blood pressure (Hyper-POTS)  I am curious if that is my issue.  I have been dealing with the Shunt now so much that there has not been time to follow up on that lead!  It just seems like too many things associated with Chiari.  My cardiologist even said he did not think it was the job of a cardiologist to do a tilt table test... that is never a good outlook for someone helping you!  I hope you get someone good to help you figure this out!  POTS stinks!

[Viva001]

It shouldn't be more than 30 min.  I've had 3.  You are well monitored& they will assist you accordingly.  I understand that they don't let your BP drop as dramatically as they used to.   The down side of that is that some docs then conclude "it's just a little hypotension".

[soccero]

im having it done in june i dnt  no the exact date tho. what do they have to inject i didnt even no that part. im scared i hope its not bad. i dnt think i have pots but i dnt no thanks for ur answers!
molly

[zygy2]

Mine was much quicker.  They did hook things up and that took a few minutes but they only tilted my table twice and when they saw my crazy heart rate they said that it was enough information.  I don't think they paid enough attention to the blood pressure, I go up instead of down but he was just not really good at this test.  It was fine, they got to see that it was POTS and that was a start for me.  It did make me feel pretty icky though when it was tilted, they did not wait for me to pass out... I am lucky about that and they did not have to inject the stuff and they say that stuff is nasty.  I did have an IV in case they needed it.  Good luck!

[selmaS]

  Hey Molly,

When r u having this done?....I never did, so I have no idea, I thought they moved u around and if they get a reaction from u, pass out or nausea they may stop as they have their answer....but I really have no idea.
I had no idea it may be 3 hrs...goodness....

Know I will be thinking about u <3