Holter monitor 7 day,any tips please?

[wilsond]

Looking for tips on wearing a holter for 7 days,i.e. Not being able to shower etc.

Had one in for 24 hours before. Got to go to the hospital Wednesday.

All advice received gratefully!😀

[Hidden]

The hospital should provide you with the information you need, possibly with a leaflet to take home. You will need to remove the monitor for showering being careful not to detach the pads. They will provide you with a supply or replacement pads as the should be changed after 3 days. When you remove them, it normally leaves a mark on the skin which helps putting the new one in the right place. You may only have two pads. When removing the monitor, be careful not to press any buttons. They will ask you to log any changes you notice. The first night may be a bit strange, but you do get used to it being there but it’s very nice when it’s finally removed!

[wilsond in reply to Hidden]

Thank you flapjack for this xx

[Rienij70]

No getting around it, strip washes I am afraid. Can you stand in the bath? I have a handheld shower in the bath. At least you can rinse the bottom halve. But I agree, it is a pain not to be able to shower. Good luck with it. Xx

[wilsond in reply to Rienij70]

Thank you,yes I have a hand held attachment on my bath that will help..hope you are keeping well xxx

[Rienij70 in reply to wilsond]

So so, next op. 1st of August. 🙏

Hope everything works out for you. Hugs your way. 🤗🤗

[wilsond in reply to Rienij70]

Sending you lots of best wishes......take care xxx

[Hidden]

The EP will sign off the computer generated report. I took the opportunity to ask written questions which he answered when reporting

What was my rate during 30 minute cardio gym sessions?

Where there any pauses which might explain my dizzy spells?

What were sequential 24 hour mean heart rates, to help determine the right dose of beta blocker for my permanent atrial flutter?

You may have your own questions. One of my leads became detached during the night.

Keeping an accurate diary of activities and symptoms may increase the value of the report.

A photo of lead placement and configuration may be helpful. The whole apparatus can be removed temporarily to allow any activity you want,as long as you record this in the diary.

[wilsond in reply to Hidden]

Ah that's good to hear. Photo a good idea especially thank you xx

[jeanjeannie50]

My last one was tiny and from what I can remember was stuck on to my chest by one plaster with a stud on. I was given plenty of spare plasters and could remove the whole lot every morning when I showered. I have had the other bigger types too but that was quite a long time ago.

Have you been told you won't be able to take it off to shower?

Jean

[wilsond in reply to jeanjeannie50]

All I have is a letter telling me to go in on this Wednesday.i expect more info then. I had 24 hour one years ago and seem to recall the no shower rule. Thanks Jean

[wilsond in reply to wilsond]

It did say it's worn on a belt round the waist....not fancying this at all ....

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to wilsond]

Sounds interesting and perhaps a new idea, let us know when you get it please.

[wilsond in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I will Jean xx

[wilsond in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Jean it's the old big box type hung on a cord with leads etc. Oh well! Hope you are ok in this heat...

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to wilsond]

I know the type, can you take it off to shower? Waiting for the sun to come out here, but it's still hot. x

[BobD Volunteer]

From my own experience you will be given extra pads and instructions on connection so you can shower at least once!. Ride Your Grannies Bike. Red Yellow Green Black from your top right. (if you have four like I did)

[wilsond in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob ..you always make me smile!

[bantam12]

My 2 week monitor was a tiny box which was poppered onto 1 electrode centre of my chest with 1 lead on my ribs, I could take it off to shower and simple popper it back on again, couldn't see or feel it, simple. If you are having a traditional holter then good luck, don't fancy managing that for 7 days !

[wilsond in reply to bantam12]

Hmmm we shall see,they mentioned it is worn on a belt round the waist so think it is trad...hi him!!

[healme]

The one I wore 18 months ago could be detached from the pads for 20 minutes each morning they didn't want you to get the pads wet so I used the shower hose to clean below the waist and a flannel for everything else. It's only a week so no hassle really although in my case I was allergic to the pads and had very itchy and raised bumps around them. Good luck

[wilsond in reply to healme]

Thank you xx

[irene75359]

Whatever kind you have you have my sympathy if you are wearing it during the heat wave we are experiencing here in London - best of luck!

[wilsond in reply to irene75359]

Yes it's funny,as soon as I got the letter ,it was,when we had all that rain,I said well we will have a heatwave that week! Deep joy!!!

[siouxbee19]

I have had several monitors over the years, prior to my ICD implant, even an ILR (implanted loop recorder).

I was able to shower each time, I just "unplugged" the leads & monitor, set it aside, showered & dried really well, then snapped the leads back on & strapped the monitor belt back around my waist, or stuck it in my pocket when it didn't have a belt.

My biggest aggravation was dealing with all the wires when I had to use the bathroom. I would put the monitor in my bra, then back in my pants pocket.

Best tip came from a nurse...she said to avoid skin irritation, apply solid deodorant to spots where you apply the patches. Works like magic, no irritation, and leads stick like glue. Just make sure to use solid deodorant, not gel or spray. LOL!

Best of luck, let us know how it goes.😀

[wilsond in reply to siouxbee19]

Thanks for all the tips appreciated!

[LindaDaisy]

On Amazon there is a range of cleaning wipes (not baby wipes). I use the Tena ones when I’ve been ill and can’t stand for long. For the sticky residue from the pad, there is a product called Zoff which is really good which I got it from a pharmacy.

[wilsond in reply to LindaDaisy]

That's a great tip,I do struggle getting the sticky stuff off thanks xx

[Jennifer53]

The hospital will give you a diagram of where to place the pads after your shower. Once you get it sitting comfortably on your body you will forget its there.

[Sereza6]

Flapjack’s advice is spot on! I wore a monitor for 30 days and it actually wasn’t that bad, you get used to the routine, and it is indeed so nice when finally removed!

[allserene]

They are a bloody nuisance. Last week I was fitted with a 4 week pad kit ! It connects to a monitor by Bluetooth so at least there aren't any leads... The sticky stuff came loose after 24 hours and it beeps like crazy when the skin contact is lost like turning over in bed... I am holding it on with surgical tape (high performance waterproof hospital grade not Walmart pink stuff which is useless), and I look like a torn parcel... but at least I can shower. I did the colonoscopy thing yesterday with it taped to me...and you lose a pint of 'liquid' as you are returned to the recovery room..so showers are ESSENTIAL ! 3 more weeks of the damn thing... Its enough to give me a flutter !

[wilsond in reply to allserene]

This is it! Meant to capture normal life and we are wired up etc! Oh well. Thank you xx

[allserene in reply to wilsond]

I was dropping off dozing last night on the couch and my wife shouted at the cat really loudly (I mean SCREECH!) and it scared the bejaysus out of me as she was 2 feet away. I felt my palpitations pounding away but they settled an hour later.. This morning I asked her not to do that again ... This proves that the settling effect of beta blockers can be overcome by loud anger at short range while dozing...

[wilsond in reply to allserene]

Lol! Sorry to laugh a little ....glad it settled back down afterwards for you. X

[barabas]

May only be available in US, but wore one over a year ago that taped to chest and never had to be removed for shower. Wore it for 2 weeks. The device sent data to a cell phone type device that you carried around or kept nearby, and uploaded all data at least once a day to a cloud platform accessible by EP. If there were serious readings, the EP received a text message immediately. After wearing it for 2 weeks, the EP said "just throw it away" as all the data he needed had already been sent to him wirelessly to data cloud. (The device does store all the data on a memory chip, as a backup...if needed).

Here is a link to the company that provides this device, which I assume must be prescribed by an EP/MD irhythmtech.com/patients/wh...

[wilsond in reply to barabas]

Thank you very much,see what I get given today!

[Dangerfield]

Usually you can wrap it in a bag or temporarily remove the nodes to shower. If not just sponge bath.