Permanent AF monitoring.

[Love100cats]

Now I've been discharged from heart failure nurses I want to do all I can to monitor my health. I'm on the usual medication to control my symptoms and my BP is low (90/60) my heart varies greatly according to my oxymetre from 30 to 80. Because my HA is permanent, would it help to have one of those mini heart rate recorders? I have two BP machines, one wrist one upper arm but they just done record numbers but tell me to see Dr. As BP too low. I have the occasional twinge from the heart but no longer feel the flutter and am not breathless. Any thoughts please?

[jedimasterlincoln]

I use my samsung app to record a history, but thats manual checking once or twice a day.

Before I lost the charger for it, I used an activity monitoring watch which took it at 5-10 mins intervals and was very handy for looking at trends when it was unstable.

I'm looking at replacing this with a smart watch or something similar.

[Love100cats in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thank you. I'm just going to sift through info before I decide what's best for me.

[Buffafly]

An oximeter doesn't work very well with AF.

[Love100cats in reply to Buffafly]

I'm realizing that however the h.f. nurses use one which is confusing! So I need something that I can use to check my heart rate when I don't feel it's right. The search continues.

[Buffafly in reply to Love100cats]

Kardia is one of the best if you have a smartphone but of course very expensive if you have to buy both.

[Love100cats in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks. I don't want anything too technical. I will try my BP machine again to make sure it works. I think this is all to do with being discharged. I never expected that to happen but they were happy to keep seeing me if I felt I needed it. I'm trying to fly solo!!!!!!

[S11m in reply to Buffafly]

When I had AF I got a pulse-oximeter and recorded that my SPO2 was getting down to 75 at night - and that enabled me to prove that I was ill and get referred to a cardio.

[Love100cats in reply to S11m]

My readings are 90 or under oxygen and sometimes 30 heart rate. I had it checked at H on Wednesday and it was BP 90/60. So it's low. That's my concern really.

[Hidden]

Do you really need to monitor anything?

I got a bit obsessed with my Kardia and it only told me what I already knew, or gave me something else to worry about (needlessly )

[Love100cats]

Thanks. I think that's why I'm hesitating. I haven't been told to monitor just to 999 if I get an angina attack which I've not had yet. I don't want to get overly anxious about what might be and maybe just focussing on how I feel is the best indicator.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Love100cats]

I agree with Mike (or the other way round. not sure). Monitoring unless you aer attempting to get a diagnosis merely focusses one on the condition rather than getting on with and enjoying life. I joke that I never started to feeel better till the batery died on my gismo.

[Love100cats in reply to BobD]

Thanks for that. I need some down to earth comments. I see your point. I knew that posting a message would help.

[S11m]

I have an Apple Watch 4, and it can now record ECGs in the UK, as well as logging pulse rate 23/7.

If you need to buy an Apple Watch and an iPhone, it is not a cheap option - but it works.

[Love100cats in reply to S11m]

Thank you. I will look into that.