Anyone with a loop recorder

[dwright12]

I went to EP yesterday and he recommends a loop recorder because of passing out or feelings of fainting. I've read a bit about it, but wondered if anyone had one and how you felt after the procedure. Thanks

[Padayn01]

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Padayn01]

May i ask is the passing out and faintness due to AF?

[dwright12 in reply to Padayn01]

I had an ablation for atrial flutters a little over a year and was doing fine.

[Padayn01 in reply to dwright12]

Very sorry to hear that this dreadful condition has come back, does your EP think it might be atrial flutter again? did you feel like this with passing out symptoms prior to the ablation?

[dwright12 in reply to Padayn01]

I was passing out prior to ablation. Also had a tilt test (of course I passed out after dr. gave me sublingual nitroglcerin) After the test the dr. told me to have more salt!

[Padayn01 in reply to dwright12]

i had an ablation 6 months ago and still get skipped/ectopics and getting a 7 day holter monitor fitted, just wished for the day we can all overcome this horrible condition

[dwright12 in reply to Padayn01]

Yes, I did the 7 day holter monitor. Dr, did not find anything....of course after I took the monitor off, I had flutters!!

[Padayn01 in reply to dwright12]

Always the case

[nikonBlue in reply to dwright12]

I'm having one fitted on Friday (again) for 2 weeks this time in the hopes that it WILL actually catch whatever is going on in there. Seems to me like veins running away at the sight of a nurse, that my AF behaves impeccably when I'm attached to the monitor!!!

Last time I had it on for a week and as I handed the damn thing back at the cardiology dept guess what.....yep, I went into flutters big time. Surely a 2 week monitoring will decide the doc whether to go ahead with an ablasion as he's suggested.

stay well all,

Blue

[kayberry]

I love this site; can learn a lot from others! I have a loop recorder since October last year. I had it installed because I had been having "spells" for about 5 years and had worn Holter monitor, had echoes, ekg's, all of it and nothing could be caught. I did not go to the Emergency Room when I experienced a spell (I should have) , as I didn't think it was dangerous, because I always got over it in a few hours. Determing factor was that I Had unrelated ER visit last September which EKG taken indicated afib, which was same feeling I had off and on for five years. Cardiologists then questioned the EKG from ER; Loop recorder caught the situation within about a month when it recorded a 21 hour episode of Afib. Sooooo, now we know for sure what we are dealing with and I must take anti coagulant which I detest, but no choice there! The loop recorder did the job but the cardiologists office do not read it for sometimes TWO weeks. I coulda been dead by then but they would have known what killed me! Getting the loop recorder installed was a piece of cake. I chose not to have any sedative (they did recommend a sedative for procedure) but it was not bad at all. Deadened with Lidacaine or similar... just felt pressure and a stitch was installed afterward. However, I am worried about having a mammogram, as it is somewhat in breast tissue. Men should be no problem whatsoever with installation. I am in USA, so my dialect may be somewhat different than what I read. Thanks for all info!!!

[siouxbee19 in reply to kayberry]

Mammograms didn't bother me as the recorder was just implanted under the skin, not in the actual breast tissue, although...I don't know why they implanted mine so low on my chest, on my upper breast, as opposed to higher on my chest. I was more concerned after I got my ICD, since it's in the tissue "pocket" they make and the leads are in your heart, but so far so good.

[Fazerboy]

Hi,

I've had a Linq Loop recorder for 18 months now. great piece of kit. Only about 4mm diameter and 35mm long inserted in my chest. Not obtrusive and I'm skinny. It automatically records any episodes outside of set limits (mine is below 30 and over 170 bpm) but I have a key fob that I can press and hold to my chest and it records 8 minutes worth (from 2 mins before I press up to 6 mins after). I can do this at any time that I think my hr is a bit odd. I can then download this to a sort of base unit that is by my bed and then send it to the cardiology team. I phone them to tell them I have sent it and they look at the ecg then let me know what it showed. I had very intermittent svt which almost no one would believe but this picked it up. I've now had an ablation and shouldn't need it but I chose to keep it in until the batteries run out after about 3 years.

[Hidden]

Yes I have a loop recorder. 10 minute procedure slight bruise for a week and don’t know I have got it now. It’s very useful you have a handheld device which if you are experiencing symptoms you hold to your chest for about 30 seconds and this is then recorded on your download monitor which is plugged in you bedroom (like a small landline telephone) and the hospital usually download the information to their computer every night. I had a problem only last week when out of town rang the hospital yesterday and they checked their comp. acknowledged I had an episode and now I am waiting for a call back from cardiologist. All very efficient. Go for it, it’s a safety net for your heart. You can do everything you normally do and unless you are very slim no one will know you have one.

[LMor]

I had one fitted in December (very grateful to have it) although they fitted it in the wrong place so it sticks out of my skin and I now can’t sleep on my stomach as it presses against my bones!! Lol (Only me this happens to) Had many episodes of rapid heartbeat after my ablation and 24hr monitor picked up an irregular arrhythmia, yet they have no idea what’s going on so the loop recorder was fitted....and nothing since....Good luck. I would recommend it any day for peace of mind

[Clscholz]

No problems... Insertion is quick.

[siouxbee19]

I had one for a little over two years. Here's a good link: mayoclinic.org/tests-proced...

I had similar experiences such as yourself in that I had a tilt table test, countless Holters, loop recorder, never picked up any "bad" arrhythmias until one random day at home, after I had an ICD implanted, my home blood pressure/HR monitor picked up an arrhythmia, I called my doctor, turns out the home BP monitor picked up ventricular tachycardia!! Turns out I have genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which almost no test picked up except a cardiac MRI, then had AFib and benign tachycardias afterwards.

Having said all that, I would still get a loop recorder if I had to do it all over again. It can pick up so much that a short term monitor might miss. It's an easy procedure, and since it's just implanted under the skin, it's less invasive than say a defibrillator or pacemaker.

Best of luck, keep us updated...

[dwright12 in reply to siouxbee19]

Thanks for the info....it is so frustrating!

[siouxbee19 in reply to dwright12]

You're very welcome! Yes, it can be very frustrating, my journey has been quite interesting & a learning experience! Best wishes to you!

[dwright12 in reply to siouxbee19]

Do you remember what restrictions you had after the implant. I was told I could shower for 2 weeks! Yikes....

[siouxbee19]

I don't really remember, it's been about 15 years ago, but I do remember much less restrictions with loop recorder (implanted subcutaneously) than defibrillator (implanted in tissue with leads in the heart).

I know you need to keep the wound dry till it heals, but I had that "liquid bandage" covering mine, so it stayed dry when I showered. I suppose if yours is just a regular gauze bandage, you might could cover it with a plastic baggie taped over it just for showers? I know that's how I've treated other procedure wounds for a bath or shower.

I know you're supposed to rest after the procedure, but then you can get back to your regular activity soon afterwards.

I am sure your doctor will cover all this with you, and do ask questions for anything not clear.

Best of luck, keep us updated!