New to AFib ...Any thoughts on the KardiaMobile Personal EKG?

[Vinoandpasta]

I saw a commercial today for the KardiaMobile Personal EKG for tracking AFib. Do any of you have one and is it worth investing? I am up for trying anything to put my mind at ease with this condition!

[mays10]

Hi there..I have paroxysmal AFib which has suddenly become much worse.. have been to A&E twice in the last month but I was back in normal rhythm

by the time I got there! My niece is a cardiologist and she suggested I invest in a Kardiamobile 6 lead. It is a absolutely the best monitor .. I can use it when I’m feeling a bit wobbly and feeling palpitations and it reassures me no irregularities found . ...or in the 2weeks I’ve had it I’ve twice captured AFib ! I then paid £5 for a full report which I then showed my Doctor who on seeing it ,changed my medication. It is a marvellous wee device and so small and easy to use ! Good luck x

[Kaz747]

I love my Kardia. It’s great to be able to email readings to my Electrophysiologist and get him to check and offer advice (you can get the Kardia team to interpret the reading for a small fee too). Some people get a bit caught up and anxious about checking every five minutes - don’t do that. My heart has been pretty good since my last ablation 18 months ago. I have had a couple of wobbles and it’s good being able to take a little ECG myself as when things happen.intermittently, it can be hard to capture it at the doctors.

[siouxbee19]

I love mine! It's really handy, portable, and puts my mind at ease. It's quite accurate as well, it's been in sync with other monitors I've worn, and also with my ICD/pacemaker readings. 🕊️🌻

[Hidden]

It’s recommended by British Heart Foundation and my GP has one which he uses with patients. It’s particularly valuable when you are going to see an EP as it enables you to provide direct evidence of what your heart is doing.

[CDreamer]

Ditto to all above with proviso - some people get obsessive about taking traces & instead of soothing your anxiety tends to fuel it.

There are quite a few quirks that show peculiar spikes & dips, especially at the start of a trace which are normal, just the machine settling or electrical interference. So if you get one, personally I found it invaluable - use with care & don’t obsess.

[Stinky1953]

I've had a Kardia for years - got it on the advice of my first EP and find it most useful but it is frustrating if you then find an EP, such as my current one, who takes no notice of it.

Tim

[Buffafly]

My experience is that GPs are not always impressed but cardiologists and EPs find it useful.

[Aus19]

Hey there Vinoandpasta, I've had my 1 lead Kardia device for twelve months. It's great - I haven't even had to change the battery yet and believe me it's had a lot of use! I have a lot of ectopic activity, so I can't always get a valid reading (but even that is useful info). If you get one, you will find the best way to use it for your own purposes (e.g. you might use it to find out your heart rate when you're in sinus rhythm to make sure it's not too slow). I thoroughly recommend it. One of the worse things about AF is uncertainty - literally not knowing what's happening to you. The Kardia helps to overcome that.

[cpalmermn]

As my PAF progressed, I’d go into the doc for an EKG to verify I was back in NSR. Kardia saved me that hassle, and was helpful for tracking my episodes.

[greencrop]

I've had my Kardia a few years and used it fairly often before I had an ablation in June 2019. I seldom use it now but I'm glad I have it. I say go ahead and buy one, you'll find it's well worth the price.

[flippityflop]

Hi I bought a Kardia a couple of weeks ago & I love it, it’s so easy to use & I have recorded 2 episodes of A Fib , so I can show them to my cardiologist. (Just check that it will work on your phone)

I’ve set mine to record the ECG for 2 minutes (in settings) as I believe 2 minutes is needed to confirm A Fib .

I’d definitely recommend getting one

[wilsond in reply to flippityflop]

Oh didn't realise you could set for longer I'll have a look !

[flippityflop in reply to wilsond]

Yes you can set it for up to 5 minutes.

[momist]

If you have not already made up your mind, here's my ha'porth. I would not be without my Kardia. I have the older two lead version, as it was the only one available at the time, and now I don't really see the value of the six lead version. You are only likely to use it to confirm what you already suspect, that your AF has started again, and to record a trace to pass on to your cardiologist or EP. In my experience, he only glances at them to confirm you've not misinterpreted, and will only rely on his own observations on a full twelve lead machine.

However, for me the proof that I am right, and the evidence of that, is of major importance. Others will tell you that it can lead to anxiety, but I think that is entirely down to the type of person you are. I get more anxious about lack of knowledge, than I do about knowing anything. I want to know everything!

Just a note about how they work: The older two lead version used 'ultrasound' to communicate with the phone or tablet through the microphone, the newer ones use Bluetooth. The older system seems not to suit up market phones due to their audio filters. My current phone doesn't work with it, while three earlier ones all did. I now use my tablet.

[ramblerbaz3]

The Kardia is a great bit of kit & picked the AF up as soon as I was having the episode. It was a relief to know what was happening.

Without it I don’t think my PAF would ever have been found.

All the best to you !!

[wilsond]

Well worth it for me. I can email results directly to my EP for advice on meds etc or for his records.

A proper ecg gives obviously more detail but Kardia identifies AF,Tachycardia ,Bradycardia .