Tilt test

[Corrie12]

Has anyone had the cardiologist recommend you have a tilt test he has booked me in for a tilt test because my heart rate is going low and obviously I'm falling over quite a bit. Has anyone had one let me know what it's like please they want to know if it's my blood pressure or my heart which is doing it before getting a solid plan for treatment for the AF low heart rate and falling over x

[baba]

Sorry you have not had a reply. I have never had this test so no personal knowledge. I hope this link works:

api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Info on second page re tilt table test.

[Corrie12 in reply to baba]

Hi thanks for responding I just guessed no one has had it. I know what it entails sorry I don't click on random links due to security risks but thank you.

[baba in reply to Corrie12]

I know it has been discussed in this forum previously, maybe search old posts.

[Kittyca]

Hi Corrie12, my ep has also sent me to tilt table test because of fainting episodes. Read a lot about this test but don’t know what to expect. Last week fell unconscious and even broke my right wrist.

[Singwell]

Have a look at York Cardiologist YouTube channel. He's covered most things heart related including types of test.

[Stentrunner]

From the BHF Website:

During the test: 

Electrodes are attached to your chest and connected to an ECG recorder like in a standard ECG test. A blood pressure monitor will be attached to your finger and/or arm. 

You’ll be asked to lie down flat for five minutes on a special bed that is able to tilt. Your bed will be slowly tilted upwards to around 60 to 90 degrees, so that you’re nearly stood upright.

The test will continue for 20 minutes, or until you feel dizzy or faint and show a change in your heart rate or blood pressure.

 If you are still feeling well, you may be given a glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray under your tongue and tilted for another 15 minutes. This can help reproduce your symptoms by making your heart rate a little faster and your blood pressure a little lower. 

At the end of the test, you’ll be allowed to sit up and given a glass of water before you’re ready to go home again. 

[Corrie12 in reply to Stentrunner]

Yes I know how it's done I was asking if people had axle experience of it but ty

[Stentrunner]

there’s also a video of the procedure on the same page.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Or do a search for tilt table test.

[Hilianna]

Hi Corrie I had one back in2014, following, what was later described as, a vaso vagal faint, where I lost consciousness for a few minutes. I was sitting down at the time and would not have known I had been unconscious if family members, who were present, had not told me. I felt fine after the table test but experienced a significant drop in blood pressure during the test, which made me feel unwell for a short time before my heart rectified the situation. You are given a buzzer to sound if the test causes you too much distress. I am one of those people who cannot stand for long and if I feel queasy try and sit down with my head between my legs or get down on the floor. No after effects from the test. Best of luck. x

[Corrie12 in reply to Hilianna]

Thanks for you rely hope your doing well now hugs Corrie x

[john-boy-92]

I've had a tilt table test after a syncope episode. You will go to a room and stand against a tall board (the table) and I think I was held by straps. The table will be tilted back about 10 degrees or so. There will be a doctor and one or two nurses in the room, and they will turn off the lights leaving about the level of star light. The room will be silent and that will remain for some time. Then the doctor will spray nitoglycerine under your tongue and the table will move to vertical. Your heart rate will hit maximum. If your heart can respond with heart rate and volume, you stay conscious. If it doesn't you pass out. Because I didn't pass out the doctor gave me a second spray. I still didn't pass out. That meant they couldn't diagnose what had caused syncopy. It sounds worse than it is.

John

[Hilianna]

I had no medicine when I had the test. I was strapped to a table/bed lying down which was then elevated to a vertical position so that your feet were not in contact with the floor. Perhaps there are variations.... x

[KootenayTrails]

Yes, I had a tilt table test as part of my Rhythm Clinic EP Studies, also because of unexplained fainting, bradycardia, high Troponin (but no heart attack), abnormal EKG. I passed out in 2 1/2 min, so “positive tilt table test”., which they felt was mostly an overactive cabal response. Then did full angiogram, catheritization and heart biopsy which showed mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). That was 1999 - was told to go home and enjoy my life, which I thoroughly did until Afibs/dizziness / sometimes fainting started this February. Further contrast stress Echo identified the HCM as “Apical HCM”. Hopefully your tilt table test will also lead to a more specific diagnosis and therefore solutions! Best of luck.

[KootenayTrails in reply to KootenayTrails]

*Vagal, not cabal