summer Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 An article copied into a recent post mentioned the use of "pressure pants" for orthostatic intolerance. I'm wondering if anyone else had these used as part of your testing for POTS. This was part of my TTT and I'm wondering if anyone else had these used. They were called MAST pants (military anti shock trousers). They were like a pair of pants that could be inflated like a BP cuff. After several minutes of HUT they were inflated and, apparently in POTS patients, they are expected to decrease the HR, although not right back to baseline. When inflated they decreased my HR from 140 to 125. It was an interesting part of the test because it also decreased my foggy feeling, lightheadedness and chest pain. I have not heard others mention it as part of testing. Anyone else familiar with MAST pants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 I had something similar used on me after the birth of my second child. My BP dropped (apparently a great deal) and when an annoying nurse could not get me mad enough for it to come up, she put these WONDERFUL boots on me. They went up just to the knee and inflated and deflated at regular intervals. I was so sorry when they took them off, they were great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer Posted March 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Yes, I know what you mean. They really made me feel a lot better. I was so scared of what was going to happen when they were deflated. I was sure that I would pass out right away. I didn't pass out, but my HR immediately went back up and my BP went right back down. The ANS doc told me they only used them when they suspected POTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Hi,I had them in 2002. They inflated them after I was very tachyardic and it blocked my blood in in feet and my BP went to over 250/180 and I thought my head was going to explode. I felt much better after they deflated it. He concluded that compression hoses were not for me! Funny thing I went to see another specialist who gave me compression hoses and they help a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Yes, I had MAST trousers put on me by my diagnosing physician as part of a study in NYC. I immediately felt clear headed...and I suppose it must have been the closest I've ever been to feeling like a "normal" person in my life.Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 I wore them for gallbladder surgery in 2007. They were very fun & I felt grand and much safer with them.Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Ernie - That must have been really frightening! I'm sure your doctor was pretty nervous too. Glad you got through it OK.Nina - Yes. It was nice to feel clear-headed. My husband teases me that he is going to get me a pair so that we can go to the beach again in the summer! They were comfy, but not very attractive!Julie - For gallbladder surgery? Was it just as a precaution for your low BP, or did you actually hemorrhage? That would be scary too.Summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofsara Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Sara had these used on her when she was in the hospital and her B/P was very low and didnt want to come up. They made her feel much better.Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsgirl Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 I also had the pressure boots when I had my gallbladder taken out 3 months ago. I think it was as a precautionary measure, but I loved them!potsgirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 I just want to clarify, mast trousers and the boots they put on you after surgery are very different. The boots prevent deep vein thrombosis from inactivity by pumping the lower legs really firmly, and go on and off on a schedule. Mast trousers are intended to be placed on a patient who has blood loss, major trauma that can cause the bp to drop too low. The trousers are inflated and STAY inflated (not pulsing like the boots) usually until you get the emergency care you need to maintain your BP. They are not intended for long term use. MAST is actually an acronym for Military (or sometimes called "medical") Anti-Shock Trousers.Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Thanks for clarifying this, Nina. I was not familiar with the boots at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Thanks, Nina. I had the boots. They felt great. They made my circulation fab. I guess they were just precautionary....no one told me anything :-)Julie 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.