just a question

[samanthaash1993]

Hi. My GP thinks I may have paroxysmal AF. However, every time we get an ECG done, they do not catch it in time. My heart rate will sometimes go up to 180 or 200 at times. It's also irregular. But, by the time I get there, for an ECG, it only picks up sinus rhythm or sinus tachy. I just wish it would catch something. I ended up in A&E the other day, because my heart rate was high. I am getting a holter monitor fitted on Wednesday, after I had to go private, as on NHS, it would be a 3 month wait, which both me and GP thought was ridiculous. I hope it catches something. I really do.

[BobD Volunteer]

It may pay you to buy an Alivecor/Kardia device which links to an i phone or tablet and can provide a single lead ecg. Most cardiologists will accept these readings.

[Hidden]

And your question? 🙂

store.alivecor.com/products...

[Hidden]

Hi

Its long time i was diagnosed but they couldn't catch mine even when i had monitor on for week. What they done cardiologist wrote me a letter to carry around with me and if if felt it happening I could call in anywhere ambulance station hospital or any doctors surgery and they caught it 3 different times.

CarolB

[Hidden]

Surely your GP can loan you a pocket ECG monitor which might catch something.

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Yes, our surgery just started doing that.

Or you could buy the iWatch..........I’m rather fascinated about that one and want to have a look when it’s launched here - but I couldn’t possibly justify the expense, now I have a pacemaker so the AF doesn’t show On the Kardia.

[Clyde12]

My Gp thinks I have AFib and has put me on warfarin and lisinopril (for high blood pressure) ....like you ecg didn’t show up irregularities. Holter monitor didn’t show it either so I got a Kardia. ‘Caught’ several episodes which were AFib and sent them to cardiologist. I’m to have another Holter today but I doubt if AFib will show up! Hopefully he won’t stop the warfarin and will believe the Kardia. Good luck to you.

[Hidden]

You could record the rapid heartbeat on a Kardia device (you need an iPhone or Android) whilst you are waiting for a holter. Often the holter won’t capture PAF either if the intervals between episodes are a matter of days, weeks or more. Apparently, the new Apple Watch (series 4) will be able to detect and alert the wearer to episodes of Afib. Holters do seem to be in short supply at GP surgeries.

[jennydog]

Make sure that you have the monitor on for long enough - at least a week if nothing is happening. Mine caught AF on night 4 whilst I was asleep.

Keep a diary of happenings whilst the monitor is attached. You may well be having events that you do not recognise, particularly when asleep. They can compare your monitor readings with your diary.

[Hidden in reply to jennydog]

The thing is, we are all so different. There are those who have little wobbles that they don't notice and at the other end of the scale, those who have a rock solid rhythm for weeks on end and then a proper burst of AF which can be all too elusive. A 7 day holter can be quite a torment unless it's a swish new gadget that may as yet be in scare supply.

The big plus that you have samanthaash1993 is that your GP suspects AF rather than dismissing what you report as anxiety or panic attacks. Hopefully there's a suggestion that you see an electrophysiologist and not an ordinary cardiologist.

[samanthaash1993 in reply to Hidden]

I tried kardia but couldn’t get a good ecg. 5 times kardia said possible AFl

[samanthaash1993 in reply to samanthaash1993]

AF

[Hidden in reply to samanthaash1993]

The Omron HeartScan HCG-801 ECG Monitor is three times the price of a Kardia and is possibly a diagnostic aid to health professionals rather than a gadget for patients but as I said above, if your GP can loan you something like it you would be able to take an instant ECG. It is a good bit of kit - very neat and quick and easy to use. It gives a basic analysis - fast heartbeat, slow heartbeat, fast and irregular and so on but not a diagnosis. There's a 28 second display and I think up to 300 readings can be stored. Software to print out what it records adds significantly to the cost.

[samanthaash1993 in reply to Hidden]

I'm getting faros.

[Dodie117 in reply to samanthaash1993]

With Kardia, possible AF usually means you are in AF.

If you want absolute confirmation and for £5 kardia will check it and send you analysis.

[samanthaash1993 in reply to Dodie117]

I did send it, but they couldn't tell because of the EcG quality. I'm not very good at it because I can't see, but it detected it more than 10 times! But people kept saying it was artifact.

[nikonBlue]

Guys, what about these kind f 'fitbit' watch thingys that count steps, calories etc? Some of them give heart readings too and for me, well it's the cost to be really honest. I have a sony android phone that's not compatible with the kardia and anyway I couldn't afford it. I just wondered if anyone has used the fitbit type of thing and if so, is it any good for us AFers?

stay well all,

Blue

[Hidden in reply to nikonBlue]

It's fine for us AFers when in normal rhythm but surely it's a fitness aid rather than a medical device and unless designed for the irregularity of AF (and they may be moving into this sphere) it won't help much with diagnosis. I have the feeling some types of arrhythmia like bundle branch block can fox the Kardia too.

[KMRobbo in reply to nikonBlue]

I tried my wife's fit bit, it said 80 bpm while my Garmin running GPS with chest strap said 165. When I got to a&e the Garmin was proved right by an ecg. Unfortunately I was away for the weekend so I did not have the Garmin with me so initially believed the fit bit and stayed away.

[Hidden in reply to nikonBlue]

My view is that they are just fitness trackers. Nothing more nothing less. I have a Garmin forerunner 35, it's just a tracker. I do not have a kardia as they cannot guarantee that they are compatible with my smartphone. I do have another brand of mini portable ECG device and if I want an analysis of a reading I take a hardcopy to my GP. No sweat.

For my AF, this device and my blood pressure monitor ( which also tells me when I am in AF) are all I need. 1 AF event in 3 & half years doesn't justify anything more.

John

[Gilldy]

Hi - my consultant though i might have afib and I've been fitted with a reveal device whic is implanted over my heart -a very simple op which is less painful than the dentist! I've had it in for 18months and it takes a constant ecg. So far no afib. This means I haven't had to take anticoagulants which i was struggling with. My gp had never heard if it but they're fairly common now

[Nybroc]

I bought a hand-held ecg machine mail order from China. Cost me about £65 or £70 pounds. Very good results though you need to teach yourself how to use it. I had what I thought was a very successful internal cardioversion but 5 weeks later I was back in AF, now persistent but likely to be permanent. My ecg machine told me exactly where I was without having to wait weeks to see the Doc. Would give you details but on holiday at the moment.

[haltemprice]

Hi Samantha proving that what you know is happening is not uncommon, i am 60 years old had AF all my life this year while having an ultrasound on my heart before having the monitor fitted the nurse asked me if i was ok as my heart had stopped for 6 seconds, i now have a pacemaker fitted but still having issues.