Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

GettinHutched Posted: Jul 09, 2007 09:38 PM

Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

I'm a little freaked. After my almost-fainting episode a few weeks ago, the cardiologist suggested I have this test because he thinks my blood pressure has a tendecy to get low. So you go to the hospital and they put you on a table and tilt you at different degrees and check your blood pressure. Goes on for about 45 minutes...yikes. They also have to hook me up to an I-V during it! I've NEVER been hooked up to an I-V before.

I have to go Wednesday morning...soooo not looking forward to it. I almost feel like all these tests are so pointless...I have one more test to take after this!

Thanks for listening! I'd love to hear anyone's experiences of this.

bonitachyc Posted: Jul 09, 2007 10:10 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

huh...sounds really wierd ! i haven't heard of it, but i did, recently, get hooked up to an IV (for the 1st time ever)...your whole arm gets really cold when you get hooked up to it, bring a sweater!

GettinHutched Posted: Jul 09, 2007 10:23 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Thanks Lupe! That's good to know...especially because it takes nothing to make me cold!

HamptonsBride Posted: Jul 09, 2007 10:31 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

I am picturing something from StarTrek right now!! Never heard of it...but don't stress the IV...they poke you with a needle quick & leave it in your arm placing some tape over it, then attach the tubing from the IV drip...you won't even really feel it..just the initial prick!!!

OK it's a goofy pic but it'll give you the idea

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FullersBride Posted: Jul 09, 2007 10:34 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

It's a pretty non-invasive procedure other than the IV. THe IV will sting for a bit when they first put it in and the area where they put it will be a little sore and feel weird, but the needle will be out. All it will be ia a little piece of plastic in your arm going into your vein which allows them to give you medicine or fluid if your blood pressure drops.

Here is more information on the procedure:

Clickety Click

Click Click Click

JassyandOscar Posted: Jul 09, 2007 10:41 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Hey Girl,
A tilt table test is exactly what it sounds like. basically you are placed on an upright table that is verical and then gradually turned horizontally (placing you in different inclination) The point of the test is to determine how your body's physiology responds to different positioning.(I will not belabor you with the terminolgy our heart receives signals from different receptors - baroreceptor that help maintain our blood pressure) Sometimes individuals have symptoms such as orthostatic hypotension which we tend to see in older people/ or individuals on hypertensive meds such as beta-blockers which can cause some of the symptoms that you decribed. I hope this is helpful. Also just wanted tolet you know that the test isn't hard and not painful so don't worry.
Dr. Jassy

znycgirl Posted: Jul 09, 2007 11:07 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Agree with above. It's harmless, not painful.

Try iron supplements (worked for me & is the easy cure in menstruating women...and side effects are as severe as constipation).

diva7531 Posted: Jul 09, 2007 11:26 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

tests are better than death. Sorry to be so harsh, but maybe it just because of my cousin and the other post about a young man passing away unexpectedly, but I want pics of you at your Yankee themed wedding!!!!! So take your tests, like a good girl. Get your billof good health and then they'll be over and you won't have to do it again. And if your like me, you'll probably fall asleep, I haven't had a table test, but fell asleep during an MRI once. I'm not sure how with all that knocking noise!

enjft Posted: Jul 09, 2007 11:27 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Never heard of it but for u!

SusanAdam Posted: Jul 10, 2007 12:35 AM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

My FH had to take this test a few years ago after he fainted on the bus to work one morning. He had also fainted two other times in his life but had blamed it on being hot and never got checked out. His doctor recommended this test and an electrophysiology study which is where they insert a catheter up to the heart. He was petrified of both but went for the tilt table one. He had never had an I-V either and that seemed to scare him most. I went with him, but wasn't allowed in the exam room. He came out about 35-40 minutes later telling me that it was much easier than he thought it would be. The I-V barely hurt and he just basically layed on this table the whole time as it moved around and nothing happened. He said if anything it was boring. They had put the I-V in the top of his hand. They felt he had vasovagal syncope which is where your blood vessels dilate too much due to any number of reasons and this can cause you to pass out. He never went for that other test since there is a small risk involved and he has not fainted since. Good luck! I hope everything turns out ok!

yanks2007 Posted: Jul 10, 2007 03:06 AM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Like some have said it's a real easy test, my Mom has a form of syncopy where her blood pressure drops for an unknown reason and she faints(she actually fell and broke her arm a few years ago because of it) she had to take the tilt table test. they still aren't really sure what caused the fainting, but, they had her lay off the caffeine and since then she has been O.K. the hardest part of the test is the I.V., I've had several and it hurts as much as getting a flu shot, hurts for a second then its fine. Good Luck and I'm sure you will be fine

twinkle164 Posted: Jul 10, 2007 06:20 AM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Yes I have heard of it. Don't worry. I don't think is is uncomfortable or anything. I am a fainter, although I have never had the test. Basically, it will just tell you if you have a tendency to faint. I do. So my doctor didn't think it was necessary.

tricia3381 Posted: Jul 10, 2007 06:25 AM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

i don't know what the test is but iv's are not bad. good luck!!

Pencils Posted: Jul 10, 2007 07:08 AM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

I've never had that test, but I've had many IVs--it's no big deal. If you think it's going to bother you, don't look at them doing it, and ask them to put something over it so you don't have to see. Once that's done, you can forget about it.

Good luck! Doesn't sound like a fun thing to go through.

melisjoe Posted: Jul 10, 2007 10:44 AM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Good Luck Tara!!! Everything will be ok!!!!!!!

GettinHutched Posted: Jul 10, 2007 05:44 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

You're all so sweet- thank you so much! I was doing all this googling on the test and it was freaking me out- so it's great to talk to people who know what I'm talking about!

Thanks everyone!

bettybcafe Posted: Jul 10, 2007 06:38 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

Im sorry. Ive actually never heard of that but I do hope everything turns out ok. Im sure youll be fine...

stoebe07 Posted: Jul 10, 2007 06:56 PM

Re: Has anyone ever had or heard of a tilt table test?

It is a really simple test. It will let them know why you are having very low blood pressures. It sounds like you have vasovagal syncope. Which is the most common cause of fainting, they just need to make sure that nothing is wrong with your heart. You will do fine. Let me know how it all goes.