Tilt Table Test and others before chiari surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Well, I had the red cell mass and plasma volume test last week. I had borderline low red cell mass. Normal is 25-35. Mine was 25. I don't know if that means anything.

Dr. Milhorat ordered another tilt table test, vestibular test, another cinc-mri, and SSEPS.

I had my first tilt table test 4 years ago, and after a positive test I had 3 more to regulate me with medication. I''ve been taking beta blockers to control Neurally Mediated Hypotension. During the first test, when my heartrate reached 100, my pressure dropped to 46/palpable and heartrate fell to 50.

So today I had a tilt table test. And of course it was positive. There is no description of the horribleness that you feel when you're in a form of shock before your pressure and heart rate actually drop down. I am so glad it is over.

For those of you who don't know what a tilt table test is, you are strapped down to a table so that you can't move. You are tilted up and stand for 15 minutes. Then they stimulate your heart with isopryl---similar to your own adrenal output stimulation. It speeds up your heart.

When my heartrate got to 110, my pressure started the drop going to 70/36, and heartrate fell from 120 to 55.

Thankfully the tech listened to my screams and begging to stop and put me down and stopped the isopryl before it dropped further. It is such an awful feeling.

Monday I go for the vestibular tests---ENG and Caloric. I am having SSEPS on Tuesday and Cine-mri on Friday.

If anyone has any experience with vestibular and SSEPS that they haven't already shared with me, I would appreciate it.

Wishing you all a better than ever day,Maureen