UC Journey

  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 ...

  Echocardiogram Last week, I had the echo done on me. It was a very relaxing experience. They kept me well covered and gave me a warm blanket during the procedure. The results came back quickly, and everything was normal.  What's Next? I have several doctor's appointments coming in the next few months: natural doctor, GI follow-up, cardiologist new patient appointment, and the table tilt test appointment in that order. I created this blog to keep family and friends updated on my health, and possibly to help others who have ulcerative colitis like me, but lately I haven't had many issues as far as GI stuff goes. Which has been awesome! I may flip flop between ulcerative colitis and whatever else is going on. Low Blood Pressure I still have a while to go before I figure out whether I have POTS or not, but in the meantime, I have been taking propranolol to help with the POTS-like symptoms. I was instructed to keep track of my blood pressure because of it being low last time I...

  Ever since I was a teenager, I struggled with standing for long periods of time. That only happened occasionally. Lately I have been struggling with feeling dizzy, weak, and short of breath. It would get better when I would sit or lay down though. I recently completed a two-week Holter monitor test that tracked my heart rate, and I wrote down everything of significance that I felt during those two weeks along with the date and time.  The results came back last week, and my doctor was concerned with how frequently tachycardia (fast heart rate) occurred. I mentioned how there was one point I felt pretty short of breath and tired when I was just putting on a coat to leave the house and when I checked my heart rate it was at 150. That was just from walking and standing. After I mentioned that, my doctor prescribed me propranolol, ordered me a table tilt test, and referred me back to the cardiologist for an echo.  POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) POTS is what...