Ever had a cardio memo for a week or two?

[DaveT81]

I only ask as I was given one last week, after waiting since my last appointment was cancelled back in February.

I have had week-long ECG type devices before, I also had one of the small, modern digital ones a few months ago that comes with no wires or anything for a fortnight. Both were fine, left me reassured that they'd be picking up activity throughout the day and night.

This thing is about 20 years old though - CardioCall. It's a device you carry with you and press against your chest, press a button whenever you feel symptoms. Once you've made a single 20 second recording, you call a number and hold the device to the mouthpiece. You can't even record over the last recording until you've sent the previous one.

My question is, when these symptoms often comes and go within a few seconds, how are you realistically meant to catch anything unless you actually go into afib or have long, steady periods of other symptoms?

I had a moment this morning where my heart felt like it was being squeezed but it had passed before I could even lift the cardiocall to my chest and my heart was just pounding by the time I did.

[CDreamer]

I had similar in 2006-7 which wasn’t even sophisticated enough to send message down phone. In the week I had it, nothing. Day after I returned it, bang!

[DaveT81 in reply to CDreamer]

At least I'm not alone then! I'm concerned as I've had several similar devices (albeit this is by far the most archaic) and none have caught much useful activity. There's definitely a lot going on but the cardiologist is going to think I'm paranoid if I keep pushing for more.

[CDreamer in reply to DaveT81]

I so recognise & resonate with sense. However, I’ve learned to recognize that is not a judgement by the cardiologist but his inability to diagnose because of a lack of evidence.

[Dodie117 in reply to DaveT81]

Have you considered getting your own Kardia device. A lot of people on here have found them invaluable.

[DaveT81 in reply to Dodie117]

Yes! I already have one, I also have a watch that can record ECGs and is certified to do so but the cardiologist isn't interested in my recordings, unfortunately.

[Dodie117 in reply to DaveT81]

Oh dear. Sorry to hear that.

[Buffafly]

BobD often quotes an EP saying that anything lasting less than 30 seconds isn’t worth a name (something like that) so maybe you don’t need to worry about the too short symptoms although I accept it is hard not to as they can be the most noticeable. I had a monitor - new type - for a week or two and only got to press it once. I was amazed when the recording showed ‘frequent AF’.

[DaveT81 in reply to Buffafly]

Oh, believe me, I've had doctors and cardios tell me the same thing but when your breath is being knocked out of you, and you feel light headed and weak, it's hard to share their sentiments really!