I was over 10 mins in and started to get hot and sweaty and said I felt sick. They had no sick bowls though and wouldn't go anywhere to get one so options were be sick all over the place or end test. So the test was ended and after she said well if I had been sick then maybe my usual symptoms would have shown themselves. Now I feel it was a wasted test and am upset with how it went. If they had a sick bowl, then I would've persevered.
They said nothing significant stood out. But it ended before I really wanted it to, just was too awkward to accept just being sick all over myself and the floor.
Thinking about going private for a retest but I've never done this before. It's 260 for the test but do they give you proper results without paying for proper consultation? Tempted to go for it before my NHS follow if I end up with proper info from it I could show as additional info
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NightOwl8
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With private medicine, you gets what you pay for. So if you have a test, you will pay for the test and a report, that's it. But if you want a follow up appointment with a consultant that will be extra, and will likely double the cost. As for getting the test done in private medicine you will certainly need to speak with the unit involved and you might find that they require your GP to request the test. That certainly applies to many requests for a consultant appointment , although in my experience some consultants will proceed without a GP request whereas others won't.
You can request to be retested and have that fast tracked in the NHS system. Be polite , positive but firm .You need to point out that the test was cut short before any significant results would have been tested , and the reason for that was because the testing unit were not adequately prepared to cope with helping you continue the test when you suffered nausea or even able to supply a sick bowl which is why the test was stopped.
Explain to the Department that you would prefer not to make a complaint and would prefer just to be rescheduled for your test asap with proper provisions in place , but that if they cannot accommodate your reasonable request you would unfortunately have no other choice but to put in a complaint to the Chief Executives Office about the standard of treatment you received on the day.
One problem with the Tilt Table system that I've found is that they don't fully prepare people for the Physical Stress of the test.
Creating the same Stress and Orthostatic changes that could bring on your symptoms for certain health conditions is what the test is about.
They want to bring on your worse symptoms so they can make a diagnosis.
It's really unpleasant but if you get a proper explanation about that beforehand and you know it's safe and will only last the period of the test you can at least taking a big gulp and prepare for it and not do what comes naturally and protect yourself by stopping when symptoms, except for vomiting which would require a halt, occur.
When my Mum had two failed tilt table tests each time she began to get the sweats go very dizzy and because she was near fainting she panicked and asked to stop.
At the second test one of the testers pointed out that unfortunately that's exactly what they want the test to do, if you get the right swings in heart rate or BP and then nearly faint or pass out that's a good result for them as it's the proof of the illness.
If you get off unfortunately it leaves the results at square one because they can't assess how your symptoms improve when they change your position again so they don't have the data to make a diagnosis.
Although , they should definitely be prepared to help you deal with sickness when this occurs the fact that you unit wasn't is why they need to do your test again.
Knowing it's a stress that will happen , but that you should not be a anxious about getting those symptoms , as it feels like bad spells at home , because you are in a safe setting with instant help if you need it is something that people doing the tilt test should be considerately talked through.
You can go private , but research what is included with the units available for you to find the better one.
The best options would involve the cost of an initial consultation as to whether you require that test and why.
The test should come a few days to a week later.
You should then get a full detailed letter including your results for you and your NHS Cardiologist, but also either a short telephone or F2F follow up appointment included.
Even if a F2F follow up isn't part of the private test without extra consultation cost , these tests do allow you to call up and request to speak to the doctor involved to explain things and dispell any confusion .
Privately, you should expect that this ring back follow up should occur within 24-48 hours after you've received your test results automatically, or , after you have called to request it.
If they do not do this in good time or refuse a simple explanatory conversation you are in a position to complain.
You can also contact the Consultant involved in your tests on the NHS in any Department via a request on the direct line to their Secretary, and also expect they contact you to answer queries within 24hours to a week. This is particularly of their good practice guidelines.
This is true of any test and information requests you have as part of good medical practice guidelines, in any Department or GP surgery , both private and in the NHS , it's part of your reasonable rights as a patient , so any refusal to help you with a follow up conversation is a matter you can complain about.
Personally, I'd rearrange the test with the NHS first , but being prepared for what's coming making sure you time any food and drink before the test carefully , and maybe taking with you a bottle of water , sick bag and towel and cooling damp flannel to help you cope either during the test , or in reducing your symptoms after it.
This , at least gives you the opportunity to use the private option at a later point if you aren't satisfied with the results or the second NHS test doesn't go successfully.
Otherwise , you could request a week long Holter and do a "Poor Man's" Tilt Table at a specific time each day at home with someone there with you to keep you safe as it's done.
You mark the specific times the test starts and stops on your Holter diary and you have a separate cuff monitor to take your own results through the test for your own record , and also to write in the Holter Diary so the assessing EP has chance to compare your result with those picked up on the Holter.
Sometimes this type of testing can create enough relevant data with orthostatic cardiology conditions for them to make a diagnosis without you having to go through the Stress of a Tilt, or if you find that you can't manage to complete a full Tilt Table Test because of the additional stress or nausea it causes.
I actually got to avoid the stress of a second test using that method after my Tachycardia was far too high for me to complete the test first time around.
Hope that helps , let us know how things go , take care , Bee
I felt annoyed with myself as much as with them. I felt prepared to feel awful but was thrown by them not having anything ready in case I was sick. I would have pushed through even to the point of actually being sick if I had something to do it in, rather than down me and on the floor. I was so disappointed.
I really think they should redo it but I just can't stand the thought of having to chase up and request it. It was difficult enough to get it the first time and they'll likely think I'm just being annoying.
I work at the hospital (which I think adds to my feeling awkward about complaining) and am in tomorrow. I might try to be brave and pop to the department to discuss it. I really struggle with that sort of thing though. If it's for my family I get it done. If it's for myself, I just feel like I'm being a nuisance!
Definitely, big deep breath and go and sort it out.As you say they are hard to get so if it's not been completed because of their lack of supplies , it doesn't matter if they think you are annoying , they should really be arranging you a new appointment anyway,
You are not being a nuisance you are just trying to get answers to your symptoms.
Without the test you can't rule things out and the progress in getting a diagnosis , getting the right treatment, and then not needing to keep going back and forth all just stops.
If you turn your thoughts in their head on this you are actually doing them a favour by pursuing it because knowing what you've got and how to adapt to cope with it will mean you need less appointments.
Better to get things sorted as early as possible with these sorts of cardiovascular issues too, it means that it is less likely to start causing other health problems in the future ,
I would do exactly the same when my symptoms first started to have a daily effect. I know exactly how you feel though , I've got several uncommon health issues , got pushed from pillar to post because nobody looked enough to see the things were linked and I wouldn't necessarily have symptoms on test day so I'd get discharged or they'd jump to the idea it was Anxiety, it took so much effort and pushing to get my diagnoses done and in my notes.
It does often feel like there's nothing that makes you feel more ill than trying to get well when you are faced with those sorts of attitudes.
But believe me , it's worth being brave and fighting in the end .
Great reply and nothing further to add, other than it is eye-wateringly pathetic that a department doing tests that are not likely but designed to stress a patient does not even have basic equipment to deal with an obvious side effect, unbelievable.
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