Today I have been fitted with a heart monitor for 6 days, it's only a small thing so no problem. Hopefully my heart will do it's thing and someone will see that what I am feeling is in fact true!! Won't see the consultant til June though. I just wanted to tell someone ............
Thank you for this site, my daily reassurance really helps x
That sounds really good. I thought the heart monitor contraption with three leads and a thing the size of a sat nav was a real pain.
Hope you get good results.
Tomorrow I expect to receive the results of the 7 day monitor which I was attached to a fortnight ago. It was no problem except for the extreme itchiness. You can still see where it was attached and the areas are still itchy. I will post details of the results which should show that I had several bad attacks.
I found that if when you take the patches off - if one immediately applies an gentle astringent and then immediately a heavy cream they don't itch as much. I made the mistake the first time of scratching and they turned into huge welts! One other thought, they make "sensitive" patches. They cost more so they never "offer" them, you can ask for them. State up front that you have sensitive skin that reacts badly and if they have them they will usually grimace a bit and then give them to you! I still apply the cream after and it has helped. Good luck
Hi Iris. Good advice, also noted. Good to hear from you. Are you going to create a post, spill the beans and tell us how your ablation went?
It's good that you have a 6 day monitor.
I only ever had 24 ones, several of them at intervals over 10 years. They didn't pick up a thing, only very few ectopic beats. It took a prolonged episode in 2012 where a paramedic was able to get it all on an ecg tracing for A Fib to be diagnosed for me. I didn't and desperately don't want A Fib but was so relieved that something was recorded as evidence.
If you think anything sets your heart off, do that thing whilst you're wired up to increase the odds of it being recorded. If you think nothing's happening, have a glass or 2 of wine or perhaps go a bit short of sleep one night etc. before your 6 days are up.
Good luck!
Thanks for that useful advice. Noted.
this is so true..... white wine, pizza or too little sleep. Was afraid to incite the AF, but in the end... they will catch it and you can get the help you need. Just go get it recorded!
Pizza........... well I have stopped eating pizza because it made me feel 'funny' but thought that was only me! what's in it that does that?
Pizza always gives me vivid dreams and disturbs my sleep. Don't know why.
Great! Isn't it awful isn't hoping for an episode just so someone believes us! You are not alone in this. Mind you I just had my ablation yesterday but it took 3 1/2 years to get to that point and several doctors. Courage, ask for what you need from your doctors ... don't be surprised with the monitor- mine never caught it once. I always had to go to the Emergency to get a recording!
I would have a glass of wine or two, sleep on my left, get involved in something that stresses you out, or whatever brings on your AF. Had a monitor fitted last year, only 24 hours, and after a year of 24/7 wobbles, got nothing at all even though I stopped the drugs!!! Bloomin' waste of time and another delay.
Koll
I'm on one now - 4 leads - I'm 5 days into a 21 day program. I told the tech that I am allergic to adhesive so they sent me some with a cloth instead of the plastic, but the adhesive on them was so much worse than the adhesive on the plastic ones. I didn't get welts after 4 days on the plastic, but had big welts after one day with the cloth electrodes. They don't bother me except when I am in bed and they get disconnected during the night, so the cell phone transmitting the info starts screaming. Sure be happy to get rid of this. I had problems with the arrhythmia the first night, but once I increased the flecainide, the heartbeat has been under control since. Good luck to you.
thank you all for your comments and advice, and I must admit it is a bit itchy but I'm not finding it too uncomfortable. Last night we had the most enormous storm (Hythe Kent) which sent my heart into AF with chest pains and shortness of breath which lasted about an hour ...... all noted and the button pressed!
Let's see what happens today. Will do a follow up on Monday before I give it back.
Whenever I had a heart monitor fitted I felt absolutely wonderful, full of life and energy. I did wonder for a while whether having the security of the device stopped my PAF and if it was my mind causing the attacks.
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As my PAF became worse and lasted longer my GP, paramedics and A+E were all able to record it. Now I have episodes where my pulse won't return to normal unless I have a cardioversion, all drugs have failed to help me. Despite this I still take Amiodarone which I think brings my pulse down slightly, but not low enough to feel safe. I hate taking this drug and have an awful fear of it damaging other organs in my body. It's already damaged my thyroid function.
Hope your monitor manages to catch what is happening with your heart.
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