I have my tilt table test on Friday. I am scared shitless. So far, my mother, Jei and Warren will be there. Tyler mentioned he was thinking about not going to his sister’s graduation, which is ridiculous, I said he has to go. We don’t know what time my test is, as I have to call the hospital tomorrow to get the time. He may or may not be going. Which is fine, he was with me the whole time in emergancy room two weeks ago and it’s not like I don’t know he cares. I am still worried about everything, but I think it will be better since good people will be there. I really wish Kat and Boozy could be there, because I know they would read to me, or just playfully banter back and forth and take my mind off the rest of it.

I’ve had to sign a release form for the test stating that if something goes horribly wrong or I go into a cardiac arrest (that sounds like something going horribly wrong, doesn’t it?) I cannot, nor the members of my family, sue the hospital. How comforting.

I’m terrified of the whole hospital ordeal as it is, I really don’t want more pressure adding on to it. It seems as though the hospital workers don’t mind adding extra pressure, though. Apparently I’m getting strapped down. I’m getting an IV, which hurt like hell two weekends ago, so I’m not looking forward to it this time. I’m also told to pack an overnight back. I cannot eat before hand, which will make me crabby, and pretty much I’m terrified of the results. I don’t know what I would prefer, to be diagnosed or not. I know that they were unable to diagnose my father with tilt. I am uneasy, uneasy, uneasy.

I know I’m being a child about it, but I don’t care. It took a lot for me to share the hospital visit two weeks ago, and it took a lot for me to bring this up, but I feel good about it. I don’t know if I will post tomorrow. I will of course, try to post something, or have someone, post on Friday.

I’ve been reading wikipedia for the last few hours and it only made things worse. Go me.

A tilt table test is a medical procedure often used to diagnose dysautonomia or syncope. Patients with symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness, with or without a loss of consciousness (fainting), suspected to be associated with a drop in blood pressure are good candidates for this test.

Preparations
Before actually taking the test, the patient may be instructed to fast for a period before the test will take place, and to go off of any medications he or she is taking. On the day of the tilt table test, a patient may be monitored using an electrocardiogram (ECG) while lying down. Some facilities insert an intravenous line in case the patient needs to be given medication quickly; however, this may influence the results of the test and may only be indicated in particular circumstances.

Procedure
A tilt table test can be done in different ways and be modified for individual circumstances. In some cases, the patient will be strapped to a tilt table and suspended completely or almost completely upright (as if standing). Most of the time, a patient is suspended at an angle of sixty to eighty degrees. Sometimes, the patient will be given a drug, such as Glyceryl trinitrate or isoproterenol, to create further susceptibility to the test. In all cases, the patient is instructed not to move. Symptoms, blood pressure, pulse, electrocardiogram, and sometimes blood oxygen saturation are recorded. The test ends when the patient faints or has other significant symptoms, at which time he or she is given medical attention, or after a set period of time (usually from 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the facility or individualised protocol).

Diagnosis
A tilt table test is considered positive if the patient experiences symptoms associated with a drop in blood pressure or cardiac arrhythmia. A normal person’s blood pressure will not drop dramatically while standing, because the body will compensate for this posture with a slight increase in heart rate and constriction of the blood vessels in the legs.

If this process does not function normally in the patient, the test could provoke minor symptoms to a very severe cardiac episode, depending on the person. A common side effect during tilt table testing is a feeling of heaviness and warmth in the lower extremities. This is due to blood pooling in the legs and, to onlookers, the patient’s lower extremities may appear blotchy, pink, or red. Dizziness or lightheadedness may also occur. Tilt table testing could provoke fainting or syncope as this is the purpose of the test and it may not be appropriate, or indeed possible to stop the test before this occurs as the drop in blood pressure or pulse rate associated with a faint can come on in seconds, This is why the patient’s blood pressure and ECG should be continuously monitored during the test. In extreme, rare cases, tilt table testing could provoke seizures, or even prolonged asystole. If at any time in tilt table testing, a patient loses consciousness, he or she will be returned to a supine or head down position and will be given immediate medical attention, which could include being given fluids or perhaps atropine or adrenaline.