Table Tilt Test and Dysautonomia

 

Table Tilt Test

About two weeks ago I had a table tilt test done. Prep included no heart medication for at least 5 doses and no food or drink for several hours prior to the test. It was very unpleasant... to say the least. Going into the test my resting heart rate was about 120. When they strapped me to the table and hooked me up to the EKG, they tilted the table up right, and the test began.

A table tilt test is a test that looks for dysautonomia through heart rate, blood pressure, and the heart rhythm based on position. 

Prior to this test, I saw a cardiologist who immediately told me based on my symptoms that I do have dysautonomia. They went ahead with the test to confirm.

Back to the test -- When they had tilted me upright to a standing position, I was told that my heart rate went from about 120 to 170. Right off the bat I felt dizzy, nauseous, and light-headed. Every few minutes of being upright on that table I would get waves of dizziness and nausea and feeling as if I was going to faint. The test was supposed to be 45 minutes unless I fainted or started dry heaving. The latter happened, unfortunately, about 30 minutes into the test. I came very close to a faint but was lowered back down before it got to that point.

Diagnosis

I was told I would get a call or a message from the cardiologist following the test. I have not gotten a call or message, but I have gotten the test results which stated that the results were consistent with dysautonomia. So, I have been diagnosed with dysautonomia, but not POTS specifically. However, I am treating it as though I have been diagnosed with POTS because the cardiologist said that was what it was most likely. 

After the test I continued my heart meds (midodrine) and got compression leggings and socks which have been helping slightly. I also got Vitassium electrolyte chews which were recommended to me by a friend who also has dysautonomia. The electrolyte chews are for when you feel extra fatigued and bad physically to give you a boost. It has been helping a little as well. My next step for this new diagnosis is to treat it with compression, exercise, salt, and lots of hydration. I will admit I have not been very consistent with the exercise part because I haven't been feeling well. The doctor told me that if I do everything I can to treat the symptoms and it only gets worse or stays the same that there is a doctor about three hours away that can treat me. 

Dysautonomia is something that can either be life-long or something that you grow out of. I have had these symptoms since I was about 13, so I'm not very optimistic about it going away. I am hoping that these new techniques will help me bear with it though. 

Living With Multiple Chronic Illnesses

I will admit that it was a little discouraging to find that I have two chronic illnesses to balance. However, I am grateful that the UC issues are being managed well and I have a way to manage the dysautonomia now. The hardest part is feeling incredibly fatigued almost all the time and needing a lot more rest than a healthy person to feel normal.