Kardia and diagnosis of AFib

[Clyde12]

In March noticed very irregular and fast heart rate. Eventually went to Gp. Ecg x 2 normal but as Gp noticed irregularities he sent me to cardiologist who organised 48hr monitor.......no particular irregularities! Gp advised to treat my high blood pressure only. I got a Kardia, ‘captured’ irregularities and sent them off to cyberspace for evaluation......AFib! Gave these printouts to Gp who immediately put me on warfarin and sent readings to cardiologist. Got a letter today to say as I MIGHT have AFib he will be repeating the monitor! As I now feel safe on warfarin and lisinopril 10mgs I’ve had very few ‘episodes’.......I do not want to stop warfarin. What if the monitor doesn’t catch another episode? From feeling much much less anxious I’m getting concerned that this cardiologist will advise stopping warfarin. Nearest EP is 100 miles away and Gp will not refer me. This site has been very supportive and informative so thank you all.

[jedimasterlincoln]

You're unlucky not to have gotten anything in a 48 hour capture. It might be worth asking for a "spiderflash" or 7 day tape, and with this one when you feel symptoms you press it and it starts recording, as well as detecting and recording increased heart rate whilst wired up.

[jwsonoma]

My cardiologist had me on a Zio Patch which is a 10 day monitor. It is about the size of a large bandage. Still didn't capture my P Afib as I was only getting them every 6 months to a year but it confirmed I knew when I had one. I was lucky that my fib hasn't progressed and is being kept at bay with Flecainide, a rhythm control drug. I would continue using the Kardia and taking Wafarin.

A-Fib strokes are no joke.

I also have a pill in the pocket with more Flecainide and a rate reducer, Bisprolol, so I can try to convert an afib if I get one. A-fib jams calcium ions into heart tissue facilitating another fib episode. So it can get progress to constant.

This is a great board to get ideas from others to run by your doc.

Cheers and good luck

[falah12345]

Ask for a 7to 10 days monitor in this caseMost Cardiologist prefers edoxaban or xarelto over the warfarine so he may talk to you about them!

also they depend on CHAD score wheather to give anticoagulant or not so you could write down all your questions and concenrs before you meet the cardiologist and once you have even one single a fib episode ,I personally think you should arrange an appt with an EP despite the distance!!

All the best

[IanMK]

You don’t say why your GP will not refer you to an EP. If you decide to go privately then do some research to find one with a good reputation; in view of the distance to your nearest EP you may decide to travel further to get better care. Email your Kardia trace(s) beforehand and remember that if a 7-day holter monitor is required this will probably mean 2 visits even if the monitor is returned by post. An initial consultation should cost no more than £300 but the EP’s secretary should be able to give you a better idea.

I hope this helps.

[momist]

As you are already in possession of a Kardia, you are the one best placed to capture further evidence of your AF. I have only had three events in sixteen months, so far. Nevertheless, due to me capturing the traces on my Kardia from the last two, and keeping the files safely in the 'cloud' so they are on my tablet, phone and PC, I have seen an EP and I'm on his waiting list for ablation. It seems a long shot that even a 10 day monitor might give them the information they need to progress with treatment for you. It's now up to you to gain the evidence.