summer Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Hi Everyone,I'm Summer. The more I read here on this forum, the more I am convinced that I am in the right place, and along with my GP, am pursuing the correct diagnosis (POTS). I became sick about a year and a half ago, and like many of you, have been brushed off by a number of specialists. I finally have an appointment with an ANS specialist and am scheduled for a TTT. I have been through a lot over the past months, and expect that on the day of this appointment, I will be very anxious. I have a 12 hour trip to get there the day before, and along with making preparations for the trip and for my children before I go, I expect I will be exhausted. There is a lot riding on this appointment, as I have been unable to work since I have been sick and have yet to get a proper diagnosis.Here is my question. Have any of you been very anxious during your tilt table test, and how did it effect the results? I am concerned that I will be told (again) that my increased heart rate is due to anxiety even though this happens every day, whether I am anxious or not. I regularly experience a HR increase of >30 BPM but I expect on the day of my TTT my resting HR will be very high due to my stress level. I'm hoping this specialist will actually listen to, and believe my history, unlike the others I have seen so far.Summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Hi,Welcome aboard,Even if your baseline HR is high, when they will stand you up, if your HR rises by 30 bpm you will get your diagnosis. So you don't have to worry about being anxious. Most people are anxious when being tested. Doctors are aware of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloppyllama Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 For me my mother and other docs before diagnosis did like to blame my anxiousness, or lack there of sometimes....on why I was ill and having HR increases. So I guess just dont worry about what they think, making you more anxious, about being anxious, and in turn worrying them more, or skewing the results. But my hyperactive anxious personality did not make them think I was not actually ill. Good LuckMary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flop Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 My HR when lying down is usually 50-65ish. I have had a several TTT and each time I have been nervous / anxious and have had a lying HR of more like 80-100. BUT my HR has always gone up dramatically to 160+ if I am off medications, and to 135 when I was still on some of my meds.The doctor should know how to interpret the TTT results and take into account any nerves / anxiety. Don't worry too much about the TTT, with mine the worst thing was that it was boring (lasted over an hour).Flop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenwic Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I felt exactly like you do before I took my TTT. When I get anxious or nervous my heart rate skyrockets. When I took the test, my heart rate was a little over 100 lying down, but when they stood me up it went to 160. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer Posted April 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Thank you all for your responses. When I really think about it, I guess it's a lot more likely that my anxiety will make my symptoms more pronounced (as it always does) rather than mask them. Is the TTT more challenging than standing still in my kitchen or about the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Hi,A TTT is less challenging that standing still in a kitchen because they put you in an angle, between 45 and 80 degrees. The difference is that when you are in you kitchen and you start to feel symptomatic you sit down. When you are on the TTT they keep you standing and most of the time they wait until you faint. Some doctors inject isuprel if you don't faint on your own to increase the vasodilation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollie Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 I just had my TTT about 6 weeks ago. I wasn't anxious, but extremely excited - if that makes sense?!?! I had taken SO many tests and seen SO many doctors with a response of "You're fine" SO many times. I knew this test WOULD show that there is something wrong with me and they'll finally believe me!! So if it takes me passing out on a table n front of two techies to find a dx, fine by me! It's easy and painless. You'll do fine, good luck!Hollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deucykub Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Hi, Summer:Welcome to the forums! I hope that your doctors are able to confirm what is causing your health troubles quickly. It sounds like you are on the right path!I don't really have much to add, and it sounds like you are less concerned now with the previous posts. POTS will rear its ugly little head even if your resting heart rate is high. It's persistent that way. Also, if you do feel anxious, you are always in control and can stop the test at any time. The same goes for if you start to feel too sick. I ended my test about 25 minutes in when I started to feel too sick to stay upright (my blood pressure was dropping rapidly). Had I stayed upright I would have fainted.You'll do great! Please let us know the results of your test and how you are feeling afterward.Best wishes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.