The Tilt Table Test

I've always known something was up, I just didn't know what. It started in Jr. High with the constant exhaustion and weird random fainting. We just figured I was a teenager with crazy hormones. It continued getting much worse around a certain time of the month in High School, but medicine seemed to clear up that problem. Sporadic fainting continued until college with some pretty embarrassing scenes of carnage. During pregnancy, the passing out and exhaustion was pretty scary, but it's never been more difficult to deal with until kids came along and I had little lives depending on me.


I've had COUNTLESS tests performed on my body from head to tummy, and every procedure pointed to a healthy young girl. One day I happened upon a show on The Discovery Channel called Mystery Diagnosis. This particular episode depicted a woman with exactly the same symptoms as I had, I couldn't believe it. It tells how her problems were lifelong, until she received a Tilt Table Test and she found her out her mystery diagnosis.


After finding a Cardiologist in my area, and more preliminary tests, of course, I was ready for my miracle test. I didn't really understand the complexity of this particular examination, so I just walked into the hospital all by my myself thinking it'd take an hour or so. I wondered why everyone kept making a big deal that I didn't bring anyone to drive me home. After they made me de-robe and they administered an IV, heart monitors, and oxygen test thingies, I started taking it more seriously.


The test was super simple. I was strapped to a table which they raised 75 degrees (pretty much a standing position). Then everyone went into a little room separated by a glass window to chat and talk on the phone while I just stood there bored out of my mind with no music to listen to or books to read. I was about to say, "Okay! Nothing's going to happen! I know you're going to tell me everything's normal and perfect!" When I started feeling nauseous. Next thing I know, I'm lying flat and everyone's bustling about me asking if I'm okay. Yes, I fainted. It took me 17 minutes of standing to faint. My doctor's words were (in a strong Indian accent), "We know what is wrong, we will fix it, everything will be okay!" I could have kissed him right there, but I was trying not to vomit.

As I look back on that crazy day I can't help but laugh. I walked in looking healthy and happy, joking with the nurses and staff. I think they were convinced nothing was wrong with me, because after I fainted they kept repeating questions they previously asked like, "How long has this been going on?" or "How often do you faint?" with bewildered expressions. Apparently most people need medicine in order to induce fainting during the test. I don't need any assistance to faint, thank you very much.


It was a crazy day, I woke up a semi-healthy person with mysterious symptoms and went to bed a person with a life-long disease and medication to go with it. I officially have Cardiocirculatory Syncope (which pretty much means my heart slows down and I faint). We still don't know exactly why my heart decides to slow down, but at least we understand more than we ever have. I take a vaso-constrictor (which raises my blood-pressure) three times a day, drink eight ounces of water every hour, and wear tight socks up to my knees. So far I've felt much, much better.

I can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if I'd taken the Tilt Test sooner, but then I remember even the yucky days lead me to an AMAZING man who is the best husband for my sickly needs, and the most darling kids who make it a joy to get out of bed even if it's agonizing.