Recommendations

[SVTSophie]

Hi all,

I think someone has asked this question before, but I'm looking for the most reliable device/app thing to capture the most accurate ECG on. I know a lot have people have said about the 'Alivecor' was just wondering if there were any other recommendations as I had my reveal device taken out a few years ago now.

Thanks in advance x

[BobD Volunteer]

Not really available for public use Sophie. There are some devices out there which produce ECGs for tablets etc but these are for medical use. Many of the so called apps advertised are not very good I believe. Alivecor does what it says on the tin even though I worry about people becoming obsessive about their use.

[SVTSophie in reply to BobD]

Hi BobD,

Have I done something to upset you? or do you think my age makes me less knowledgeable than others? Every post I've written over the last few weeks you have left negativity?

I'm just asking genuine questions as I'm still learning a lot about arrhythmia's as much as everyone else on the forum. I wanted to be able to create as many new ECG readings for my new cardiologist who I am yet to see so he can get a better understanding of where I am at now and how my heart is still reacting with numerous medications.

I appreciate your a volunteer and use your time to help most of us on here, but sometimes I think no comment is better than a negative one.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to SVTSophie]

So sorry Sophie I didn't see anything I said as negative. I have no idea of your age either. Many people use photos not of themselves so I learned long ago not to take any notice of them . My facebook photo is forty years old!

Alivecor is a useful device but I know that many people can get OCD about constantly checking. I was one once hence my words of caution.

Cardiocity have a very good lap top style device which produces really good ECGs but this is for medical use and not available for patients. This is no slight on yourself just a statement of fact.

[SVTSophie in reply to BobD]

I just think some of your comments come across as a little bit brash, like a comment I have seen you post on another thread today. Maybe I'm just reading too much into things, but just some of your comments are very blunt.

I love this group, it's like a Wikipedia of arrhythmia experiences and I'm not very clued up on my knowledge of heart conditions and the cardiologists are still unsure what I have, I've had 3 different diagnosis so have just not read anything into them. Hence the reason for this post for my new cardiologist and I wouldn't get obsessed as I'm not medically trained and have no idea what I'm looking at. I know these are for medical professionals but as many people will probably agree, trying to capture the symptoms in a very small time frame at the GP's or A&E is sometimes close to impossible. Which is why I think they should be made for public use for those that do suffer with conditions so we don't have to worry ourselves silly at home and then we can compose a massive pile of our own findings to the EP's/Cardiologists.

Seeing as you have been 'fixed' for a number of years, I'm curious to know how you still educate yourself with up to date facts and figures that are supposed to be for medical professionals only? I know you're a volunteer, so maybe you have more freedom to these things than we do? But you seem to have all the 'right' facts to comment on people's conditions with such responses that are very black and white.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to BobD]

I must be the most naive human on the planet...it never occurred to me that people's photos aren't current ...gasp It makes me crazy if mine are not updated to within the past 6 months....haha.

[bluebell111 in reply to BobD]

Keep on being you Bob......you have helped me so much.....I was very frightened when first diagnosed......your no nonsense comments helped me calm down .

[Rellim296]

Sophie, I have an Omron HCG 801 which my other half bought for me. I think it was about £200. We have found it really useful. It's not an app and has nothing to do with a mobile phone. It's a little pocket sized gadget which will do a 30 second ECG. It gives you a brief analysis (eg 'irregular heartbeat' or 'fast & irregular heartbeat'). The software to print out what it records was very expensive.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Sophie, I use the AliveCor and I'm pretty impressed with it. As Bob says, it can become an obsession, so instead of using the phone case that comes with it, I keep it tucked away and take it out about once every couple of weeks and then quickly put it away again. Just after my ablation, when I was back in AF I took an EKG hourly, which only confirmed that I was making myself crazy during that first couple of weeks when my freshly ablated heart was so inflamed and just starting to heal and NSR seemed like a wish that would never be granted.

I do like the feature to just email a result to my EP if it is abnormal.

[SVTSophie in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thank you Does your EP think it's useful to have? As I wasn't sure of the Alivecor's accuracy as it reads through the fingertips? (I may be wrong, that's just what I've seen so far). Just want to be certain before I part with my money

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to SVTSophie]

My EP has never said one way or the other if he is glad that I have it, but on the few occasions that I was puzzled with the result, he quickly emailed back with a reassurance that it was nothing to worry about. I definitely think it is worth the money. It is equivalent to lead 1 in a 12 lead EKG..

[SVTSophie in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thank you SRMGrandma, you have been most helpful

[PeterWh in reply to SRMGrandma]

AliveCor can be used as a 2 lead ECG as well as 1 lead (I've both hands).

See my comments this evening on two other similar posts (both up in the last 24 hours or so) about actually taking regular readings.

In your case from what you have posted (I have a pretty good memory, not boasting !!!!) I would consider one of the other ECG recorders but you have to have a PC or laptop but I must admit that I didn't look into them too much because of the flexibility of the AliveCor.

As for accuracy I'll relay a few of my EP's comments (I am on ths NHS):

.... On the morning after my ablation I told him that I had bought an AliveCor to monitor (he had said 4 months previously that my ablation would not last) and he said brilliant and you can email the results when you get any problems.

..... The AliveCor is recognised as a suitable device and I can act on it's readings and printouts without having to see you.

..... When I saw him a month later (I reverted to persistent AF less than 72 hours after ablation) he said the hospital's brand new ECG machine costing many tens of thousands of pounds has confirmed exactly what your AliveCor costing under £100 has shown.

..... He had not liked to suggest buying one so as not to put any pressure on someone from financial aspects or in case people don't like gadgets.

...... A locum GP I saw who was in her mid 20s and was up on latest things said that they are brilliant. She actually felt that all GPs should have one in their bags!!!!

[PeterWh in reply to PeterWh]

PS can you tap up your dad / mum to help you???

Also I think that regular and methodical logging of data etc will certainly help when you see new cardiologist / EP. It certainly can't detract.

I am not medically qualified but I do have a lot of experience of data logging and analysis and presentation and analytical thoughts and analytical analysis from various work scenarios and would be willing to give you thoughts and ideas. Just PM me if you want to.

[CDreamer in reply to SVTSophie]

I used Alivecor - the original version - I loved it - my GP loved it and my EP loved it - the paramedics were fascinated by it - I emailed my ECGs to my EP & had skype consults rather than make a 500 mile round trip when I got really concerned and all I can repeat is that it really does what it says on the tin - and being so mobile it slipped easily into my handbag so I could use it when travelling or just out and about. No hesitation in recommending it.

I am sure we can all get a little sensitive sometimes, especially when we are anxious, I read and re-read Bob's reply and did not experience it as negative - I don't always agree with what others say but please don't take it as a slight - we are all here to help each other.

Keep asking anything you want to know, very best wishes CD

[Hidden]

Dear Sophie, I purchased a Heart Observe model MD100 P10 -It is licenced by the NFA and can be obtained off prescription. I could not get it to download on windows 8.

The hand help pen was a great asset to identify the different arrhythmias as a guide.

This a lot easier -if one is trained to read and interpret ECG's?

Since having my pacemaker implanted... I have discovered that this item of equipment is NOT compatible with a pacemaker?

Please check that your new device is compatible to download on your laptop?

Most sites have good feedback-reviewing this ( I stupidly did not check this before purchase).

Is it viable with a implanted pacemaker?

It cost me about £150.00 .

Good hunting,

All the best.

[PeterWh]

Future learning (I think) are soon going to be running a course on ECGs.

[ILowe]

practicalclinicalskills.com... is a good easy introduction to reading an ECG

See recent thread: Home ECG Machines in which I comment on this marvellous site for detailed comparisons. ndsu.edu/pubweb/~grier/Comp...

My use is rather simple. I do not need to understand the details. All I need to have is examples of when I am NOT in AF, ie my normal resting situation, and then if I hit problems I take a few recordings. I can then see if the treatment I take has worked, eg exercise, eg PIP, eg extra Flecainide etc.

One day, when I know more, I will study the traces which are not normal. Right now, it is extremely reassuring to know that whatever happened, I am now back to non-AF.

In my opinion, the Prince 180D gives me a clearer trace than the ECG at the cardiologist. What it does not do, is give the different types of reading.