BP Monitors and AF

My heart surgery was not able to resolve my AF, the surgeon ran out of time (11 hours i was 'under the knife').

Since discharge from hospital they are trying to get my medication right to resolve instances of dizziness and lightheadedness - as part of this process i have to record my BP using our Braun BP Monitor. It is not designed to handle AF so often get readings that are all over the show.

In doing research to get a BP Monitor that can cope with AF, i read that monitors take 3 readings and present the user with an average - if that's so, should i just stick with the monitor i have and take 3 readings and create my own average OR

Are their BP Monitors that can actually cope with the issues created by AF?

Thanks to anyone who can resolve this query for me - it is frustrating.

[Physalis]

Even well known BP monitors take three goes to get a reasonable blood pressure reading. However, they are totally incapable of high AF readings. You need a Kardia or Emay or an Apple watch series 4 or one of the other watches that record an ECG for that.

[Hidden in reply to Physalis]

Ah, that's interesting - thank you. Think i might try to wangle an Xmas prezzie Apple Watch

😆

[baba in reply to Hidden]

I don't think an Apple watch alone will record your blood pressure.

Kardia records an ECG, not blood pressure.

[Physalis in reply to baba]

He seems to have already got a BP monitor.

[Hidden in reply to Physalis]

yes, already have a BP Monitor, just trying to find something that offers more reliable readings like an ECG does.

Heart Failure does get you acquainted with an ECG

👍

[golfcity in reply to Hidden]

I have the same setup as doodle68. Omron + Kardia (6 lead version). GP is on board with Kardia scans I send him. Like doodle, I don't attempt to analyse Kardia scans.

[doodle68]

Hi Brand 😊I use an Omron BP monitor (as used by my GP) to monitor my BP and a Kardia to keep track of my misbehaving heart .Some BP monitors mine include can note an irregular heartbeat and at that time can often give give an erratic BP reading or no BP reading at all in the form of an 'error'.

So I don't use my BP monitor when in P-AF. If I am recording my BP I take 3 readings at the same time each day when not in AF and take an average of the 3.

I think it is 'horses course' and for accuracy it's better to have a BP monitor to record BPs and a Kardia to monitor to note heart irregularities and to request a diagnosis of the type of irregularity if need be.

[Hidden in reply to doodle68]

i think you are right - after doing a bit more research, i'm in a lot better position than before asking. Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to doodle68]

I think i also need to speak to my GP to see if they accept readings from machines and if so what ones they work with

[doodle68 in reply to Hidden]

See below....

nice.org.uk/advice/mib232

[Hidden in reply to doodle68]

thank you, looks like the job. Not sure we have room for a full 12 lead ECG kit, nor the price 😆 - so will give that a look.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My cardiologist happy with my simple basic Kardia readings. Best £99 spent!

[Seventy9]

Hi Good Morning A couple of points firstly I’m( Seventy 9 .)

My name is John

Have written my experience in PAF a

Lot on this interesting site and I have

found a good few tips over the years.

Should say over year 17 18 19 20

I’ve spoken about 1 replacement Hip

2 Replacement Knees all excellent.

2020 had Cardio Version and lastly

on 9th November had Ablation at

The Royal Brompton Hospital all good

But unsure where I’m at.

Jumped back into AF around post 16 Days

I’m told it maybe Blanking Period lasts for

3 Months. Until you can say for sure how

The Burning went.

One point about Ablation your not under

The knife as such it’s not an operation.

It is a procedure.

11 Hours of ablation seems tome a very long time??

You may be offered a retry with cardio Version like the jolt this is possibly my

Next course of Action I have an

Appointment with my Doctor who

Carried out the Ablation this Wednesday

all be a Telephone Service

Good luck John

Ps I take 10 mg Bisoprolol

And 10 mg of Ramipril my pulse keeps

Normal now

You can buy a lot of Home blood pressure

Home machines that take AF as well

Around £79 - to £100

[Hidden in reply to Seventy9]

Thank you for the info, illuminating. Ramipril i cant take, it causes me the cough.

Bisoporol ive stopped taking as they seem to prefer Veramipril and Digoxin.

I'm in no hurry to go under again any time soon, nor am i in a fit enough state too go under - i can feel my sternum still creaking if i do too much laying o none side or overdo the lifting of a 1/3 filled kettle.

[Seventy9 in reply to Seventy9]

Keep your chin up hope it works out for youRegards

John

[Hidden in reply to Seventy9]

Thank you - the only way for me is forward - just got to understand it all.

👍

[Golfer60UK]

I have a Boots BP which shows AF which I use daily to monitor not only AF but BP too to view trends. The monitor is excellentI am 11 weeks in after my second ablation, so far so good.

Best of luck

David

[DevonHubby1]

Hi Brand,

We use a microlife WatchBP Home monitor. Its NICE approved. You get a choice between single and multiple readings and it all has some intelligence to say whether it thinks your in AF. Readings are stored and you can download them if you need to share with your doctor.

However it's not cheap, and if you have fat arms you have to buy the longer cuff at additional expense.

Hope the doc gets your med levels sorted quickly.

[Hidden in reply to DevonHubby1]

Thank you for that, will give it a look.

[purpleswimmer]

Hiya. My GP told me to always ask that an old fashioned pump up blood pressure machine be used rather than electric. She said you get a truer reading. Xx

[Hidden in reply to purpleswimmer]

Sadly, i have never managed to grasp the old fashioned way of checking BP and heart rate. But when ever i attended the GP or the Cardio Clinic, they often used the old fashioned method just to make sense of what hte machine was saying

[Kateuk1]

Hi. I’ve been in continuous AFib for about 3 years after having 2 procedures that worked only temporarily . I use an Omron BP monitor which tells me I am in AFib, but seems to be mostly accurate in recording my BP. Initially I was dismayed to be in continuous AFib, but I don’t have symptoms and it doesn’t really affect my day to day life. I am in favour of minimal interference so long as the situation doesn’t deteriorate. I take my meds and get on with life. I’m grateful to feel well and content at 71.

Best wishes to all for Christmas

[cuore in reply to Kateuk1]

Are you on a rate control med or a rhythm and which one? Do yu have to take it since you are on continuous AF for three years?

[Hidden in reply to cuore]

I only found out i suffer from AF in July 2020 when i was admitted to hospital for OHS.

The surgeon advised he wwould correct the issue during surgery if he had time, but after 11 hours of surgery ran out of time.

As said in another post, my surgery was a success but i suffered complications afterwards and have only been out of hospital for 2 months, still rather shell shocked by it all.

As such, i am now only start to enquire what AF is, how it affects me and what i can do to manage it.