Did you ever try to do a "tilt table" at home??

[Pharmgirl]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever used a BP cuff at home and done their own version of a tilt table? I don't have a diagnosis, but it seems like it would be fairly easy to recreate a laying to standing scenario at home while measuring BP and heartrate?  Am I missing something that they do that I wouldn't be able to see? A specialist will be a wait I'm sure, and I'm just trying to rule things out in the meantime on my own!

Thanks. 

[Sushi]

39 minutes ago, Pharmgirl said:

I'm wondering if anyone has ever used a BP cuff at home and done their own version of a tilt table? I don't have a diagnosis, but it seems like it would be fairly easy to recreate a laying to standing scenario at home while measuring BP and heartrate?  Am I missing something that they do that I wouldn't be able to see? A specialist will be a wait I'm sure, and I'm just trying to rule things out in the meantime on my own!

Thanks. 

I do this regularly and when I was seeing an autonomic specialist he did it at the end of every appointment. And yes it does give you some basic information but a full tilt table test in a clinic gives you much more. I had my current EP’s nurse do this in her office just to get my drop in blood pressure on my current records. I always drop 30 or more points systolic. To do this it is good to go from lying to sitting and then from sitting to standing. Also it is good to have a blood pressure machine with a memory so that you can show it to your doctor.

[Pharmgirl]

Thanks - how long do you remain in each position before changing??

 

[Pistol]

Hi @Pharmgirl - here is a link to dysautonomia international and the video shows how to properly take orthostatic vital signs ( poor man's tilt ) 

 

[Sushi]

@Pistol That is brilliant! I haven’t seen a video of it before—thanks!

[edriscoll]

Just to add a safety note here - since the expected changes in HR and BP can cause syncope or presyncope symptoms, please be sure to have someone with you if you attempt to measure at home, especially the first time you try this.  Fainting suddenly can result in serious injury so please take precautions to have someone available who could lower you to a safe position if you feel faint or become dizzy.