ECG machines

[audrey2543]

Which home ECG machine is recommended and does anyone know where to buy, price etc?

Are there any I'll effects of home usage?

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Audrey, the machine of choice is currently Alivecor which is an affordable device which can deliver a one lead ecg. These traces are usually accepted by specialist although there may be some about (and quite a few GPs ) who are not aware of them. Look on Amazon or ask the AF Association office.

You ask about ill effects of home use and medically there are none. The only caveat I always give is that these sorts of devices can become rather obsessive which as I found to my personal cost is non productive. If you are trying to get diagnosis of a condition then they are a godsend but it is all too easy to fall into the trap of constantly checking rather than moving on with one's life. I think most people can tell when they are in AF or not so unless there is a new symptom then keeping it in a drawer (but not as I did once with a flat battery) is a good way.

There are other personal devices out there of varying suitability of which I have no experience.

Good luck

Bob

[audrey2543 in reply to BobD]

Many thanks to Bob and all who replied. What a mine if information you all are!

[Dodie117]

I use alivecor and I find it very useful. I know Bob talks about becoming compulsive but it is not so for me. In fact my EP asked why I don't take a reading on a more regular basis. I only take a reading if I feel something unusual and then I print these out when meeting my EP. It has identified a couple of short episodes of AF even though I had an ablation in Nov 2013. It means EP keeping an eye on me but no need for further ablation yet.

Information is power and this gives me good info to inform my EP and therefore my treatment.

[EngMac in reply to Dodie117]

I see the iheartrhythm.com device is not listed in the previous thread on devices.

I also see the author who listed the devices has said that a search will be made for more devices.

I find the charts that I can record are helpful to compare previous to present situations. If I want to know the rate while in AF, this is one sure way of doing it. Also if, as Bob says, I think something is different, I can record a chart, and for what limited information the device is able to detect, I at least can see any change and decide whether to check with the doctor; and if nothing shows and I still feel something different, I know I should check with the doctor. Sometimes, I just want to know if the rate is the same. I also can check, if my pulse indicates sinus, is the sinus chart the same. I can also see if there are missed beats, stumbled beats, how many, if I have really returned to sinus, etc. Sometimes, when I think (and the operative word is think) my heart is misbehaving, the charts will tell me, as Bob says, to move on with life and stop obsessing with ever little blip that before I had AF I would not notice or just ignore.

[PeterWh]

AliveCor can also be used as a 2 lead ECG by placing one sensor on knee and hand on other.

I take mine every morning and evening at about 7.30 (and BP on a Microlife WatchBPHome) and log it down on paper (separate columns for morning and evening) and then weekly or so enter it into excel. I also record when I feel worse or there are "events" (I am in persistent AF). My readings were up to an hour later but at consultation he said to try to get it closer to the same time each day (even with setting phone alarm I don't manage that).

My GP is finding these regular readings very useful and is adjusting my medicines as a result to get a best fit balance between HB and BP (because my BP has been dropping too low every 5 to 10 days but also HB up). GP says having my daily readings is much better than a snapshot at the surgery once a month when they have been ok. she picked up some patterns that I didn't.