ALIVECOR KARDIA EKG MONITORING DEVICE FOR AFIB SUFFERERS?????

[Janith]

Alivecor kardia devise for ekg checking. I DON’T KNOW IF I REALLY NEED ONE?? SHOULD I? SHOULDN’T I?? We bought one, but l think that l should return it??? I have the kardia blood pressure monitor ... l think that should suffice as it shows irregularities??

[BobD Volunteer]

Contentious question with lots of different views I am sure.

IF you are still trying to get a diagnosis of AF then Kardia is a very useful device which is accepted by most consultants.

My own view is that once you know what is wrong with you then constant checking only creates extra worry and stress. Go with how you feel rather than what a machine might tell you. Others say that they find the Kardia comforting and reassuring. It seems that depending on which group you fall into it is either good or bad .

A manual pulse check is still the fastest and easiest way to see if you are in NSR.

[Janith in reply to BobD]

I agree! Thank you!

[Takamine in reply to BobD]

I agree if you are confident taking your pulse it’s the best way.

[Buffafly]

Do you need to prove you have AF? Do you need to demonstrate how often you have AF, or how fast it is? Do you need to show frequent ectopics or runs of tachycardia? Do you want to establish your resting HR? If the answer to all of those is NO then you don't need one.

[doodle68]

Hi Janith I have a Kardia, I wish I had known about them during the 6 months I was trying to get a diagnosis of P-AF. Once diagnosed I was horrified to find while undiagnosed I had an increased chance of having a stroke.

I use my Kardia to monitor my episodes of P-AF which last up to 15 hours. I know from the symptoms when I am entering a bad episode and as I always sit it out at home I like to keep track of my heart rate and confirm for sure when an episode ceases.

Is a Kardia really necessary, I guess not for some people but because I am managing my own care with just occasional visits to a GP I like to keep a record so I am aware of any improvement or progression in my condition.

[mishugenah]

I use one, and its helped me in showing that I definitely was "off" around 8 months following an ablation, when I just wasn't feeling on top of my game. Because of the Kardia, I was able to get back in a timely fashion to the doc, and got put on a drug that prevented me from an additional cardioversion and another ablation. I've had 4 cardioversions in the past few years. This device is really helpful to me at least, and well worth the 100 dollars as far as I can see. The phone on the other hand, will never be worth the money

Michelle

[Gillybean123]

Hi Janith, take it back. And treat yourself with the money. I through experience know now that the more you check the worse you are. Only check when you know you are having an AF turn. You get to know your body.Have a good day. Xxxx

[Dovelady]

I bought one, initially to get a good enough read out to print and take to my GP who forwarded it to my cardiologist to get a diagnosis. It was worth every penny to me, I now record events as they happen on the advice of my GP. My 90 year old mother has one , she had persistent AF and records her heart about once a month, as she says she likes to see proof she is still alive. Manually taking your pulse often only goes so far. Personal choice of course but I love mine, I feel it keeps me in control .

[Morzine]

O found it a comfort when this all started but as time went on it’s been left in the drawer I never use it....if I’m in doubt I just take my pulse that reassures me and it’s quicker than goung getting the machine, finding my phone etc.....

But we are all different.....

Sue

[Janith in reply to Morzine]

I am more like you. I probably wouldn’t use it. My episodes are very infrequent.

[irene75359]

Like doodle68 I use my Kardia to record what is happening with AFib, how long the episode is and how quickly the flecainide kicks in. I never think to use it unless I am aware something is going on. I have the Kardia as part of the phone case which I always have with me anyway. I wouldn't be without it, but I am aware that it may make some users anxious.

[Gertsen]

I find it reassuring to know how fast your pulse is, so if it goes sky high you can go to A and E. It also make me keep track of how long an episode lasts.

[Janith]

I have only had three episodes in three years ... it goes up to 120 ... l go to the emergency room and remain until it stops.

[Hidden]

I think it’s worth having one as you can email the ECG’s to consultants and doctors. This might be useful if you had a change in type or frequency of symptoms. Recently, my GP noted that there were some ectopics on the ECG which I thought might be AF- so on this occasion, the Kardia was reassuring.

Of course, having the Kardia, doesn’t mean you have to use it all the time. If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are stable, you could just use it from time to time , rather as you might check blood pressure to make sure everything is on track.

[Deacon-L]

I am delighted with my purchase of the Kardia ECG monitor. Firstly, it is small and much more portable than the blood pressure monitor .... and I don’t have a blood pressure problem but I do have P- AF.

I have just completed a cruise in SE Asia where the food was excellent and plentiful. Twice during the cruise, I awoke with palpitations and a high resting heart rate. On one occasision, Kardia told me it was AF (irregular heartbeat) and this was later confirmed by the Ship’s doctor when checking me out next morning and the Flecainide hadn’t returned me to NSR.

On the second occasion my heart rate was also higher but the Kardia test noted I was in NSR which gave me great peace of mind. I did keep checking Kardia again and did not slip into full AF.

The knowledge that I wasn’t in AF ( it was simply caused by an upset stomach with acid reflux), help me cope with much less anxiety.

That is where the small Kardia device really works well and the fact that I can now email my cardiologist the various ECG graphs taken on Kardia at different intervals when my heartbeat was very fast and irregular which will assist a better informed diagnoses when I have my next appointment with the cardiologist.

When I don’t have the discomfort/ anxiety around the symptoms, I am not fixated in continually taking the Kardia tests... but it’s good to have that support when you do need it.

[lovetogarden]

I’ve had one For a few years. In the beginning, I found it helpful to see the rhythm and rate info when I was feeling off. And to see what normal looked like too. But I do tend to be a data geek, so it’s been a good educational tool for me. I also like the idea of having it which me when traveling, should I need to be seen by a doctor in a far away place. Your question prompted me to take mine out, found it was full of sand! I dropped my phone in desert last week. Still works! Lol! 😂

[Lotus4]

I’m wearing an event monitor now will be wearing it for 30 days, I am having irregular heartbeat and slow heartbeat my cardiologist recommended this to see what’s going on.

[wilsond]

Ive just managed to lose my Kardia somewhere in my house! Find it useful in that I can email directly to my EP,and he can put in my records.(we are trying a new drug regime and he wants to see how im doing.) I can see some people might get a little obsessed with taking ecgs but I dont.xx

[Hidden]

I find the Kardia very helpful. I first bought a blood pressure monitor which indicated irregular heat rates but often these are not fast and are ectopic and according to my EP, nothing to worry about. Also the blood pressure monitor is quite bulky to carry around with you (well the one I have is!) whereas the Kardia is tiny and I carry it in my bag along with my mobile phone so that it is ready to use and check on the odd occasions when I have an episiode of atrial fibrillation so that I can pop flecainide whereupon things calm down in well under two hours. You can attach the Kardia to the back of your phone but I just keep mine in the plastic case it came in. I check with it every morning too as advised (though weirdly, I get a message to check it at noon daily) to encourage myself that my heart is doing just fine!

[Hidden]

ps it is fun to introduce it to others and offer to check their ECG- I was able to assure a friend that she did have AF when she doubted her diagnosis and it interesting to see how different people's heart rates are!

[JudyMarieC]

I bought one about a year ago and found it helpful for sending a copy of the tracings to my EP, especially if the afib felt different from other episodes. I didn't use it on a regular basis since I knew only too well when afib was occurring - I can feel every irregular beat. I had a pacemaker implanted last week so I won't be able to use it any longer.