Kardia - AliveCor

[LornaAnne_X]

Hi, had one of these a few days now how legible are they to uk doctors please. if I take it to my gp do you think It will be taken seriously? I have readings flitting between the 30's & 190's =/ but it sort of feels like a toy =/ not sure if I've wasted my money or not.

[BobD Volunteer]

Not a toy at all and most cardiologists will take the readings seriously if done correctly. Just make sure that you follow the instructions as it is all too easy to get fake readings if you are near a computer or apparently even a hearing aid.

[LornaAnne_X in reply to BobD]

=)

[Auriculaire in reply to BobD]

I took mine to show my GP who was very interested in it. At the time my tablet was on it's last legs so I tried it on the mobile. Although I had got it to work evenually at home on this by moving round the bedroom there was no place in my doctors consulting room that it would work. It kept giving the electrical interference warning.

[checkmypulse]

Definitely not a toy , I agree with Bob readings are best taken in a quiet room, no TV, WiFi, fluorescent lighting, computer etc. The NHS is using them, apparently as this article advises.....

nhsaccelerator.com/nhs-roll...

[LornaAnne_X in reply to checkmypulse]

So if I turn the lecky off readings should be accurate =) thank you xX

[momist in reply to LornaAnne_X]

I don't think it is quite that critical

Just sit quietly in a room away from other mobile phones and TVs and such, and sit as still as you can for the 30 seconds. If you have problems, try putting the receiving gadget (phone or tablet) in 'airplane mode'. If you have trouble getting a good connection, just lick your fingers.

I email my readings to my EP's secretary, never had any criticism. GP's are not necessarily trained to 'read' an ECG in great detail, but they will certainly recognise an event such as AF or a string of ectopic beats. With a bit of reading on the AliveCor site, you can train yourself to do this much.

[LornaAnne_X in reply to momist]

Ha u know I did it anyway =) lol getting such crazy readings I wanted to be sure lol =/ =)

[Kaz747]

My cardiologist/EP asks to see my latest readings when I see him. I’ve also emailed him a couple when I needed advice.

[Finvola]

You might be very unfortunate and have a doc who is out of step but my GP, cardiologist and EP all take notice of my printouts from the Kardia and use them to help reaching an opinion.

[LornaAnne_X in reply to Finvola]

I hope I'm not =/ lol x I have an appointment on Thursday so I'll find out then =/ =) I've been aware of the fast heartbeats & of fluctuating heartbeats for a while feeling mildly alarmed discovering the slow heart beats & the huge fluctuations from one beat too the next if im honest think it's probably why I'm always covered in bruises =( =( hope I get a good doc =)

[Hidden]

As Finvola has suggested , print outs are probably more helpful than scrolling on the Kardia screen. You can customise comments for each recording.

[Buffafly]

Definitely printouts, I had a GP who thought I was using a rubbish phone app so it took ages to see a cardiologist when I was having pauses of up to 5 secs.

[Hidden]

My GP has one himself for patients, and yesterday when I mentioned I had recorded an AF episode to a doctor

at the hospital he asked to look at it. So yes it is taken seriously.

[LornaAnne_X in reply to Hidden]

That's good to know thank you =)

[Hidden]

Depends on your GP, mine won't even have an ECG machine as they don't have anyone able to read the results.

I know more about ECG's and AF than he does, without doubt

[LornaAnne_X in reply to Hidden]

Here's something a different doctor told me last week... GPS themselves can't read the ecgs they are always given written reports on such things ect but they do have an email address especially for ecgs so that they can seek advice from cardiology. X

[S11m]

I am wondering how UK GPs will react when thousands of us are able to get ECGs on our Apple Watches?