Fitbit Irregular Heart Beat Monitoring - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Fitbit Irregular Heart Beat Monitoring

Ducky2003 profile image
25 Replies

Evening all.

Sorry no recent update from me but a few things have been going on and keeping me busy. I will do an update in the next couple of days but meantime, I just wanted to let folk know that my Fitbit app has popped up with an irregular heart beat monitor.

Bizzarely, for some reason, its apparently for people who haven't had an AF diagnosis 🤷‍♀️. It asks you when you add it, whether you have been diagnosed with AF so I ticked no ....... as Im not currently in AF, to my knowledge.

Its not a premium feature and I have a Versa 2.

Be interesting to see what happens with it.

Pity it didn't detect the rogue chicken katsu curry which gave me food poisoning 2 days ago.

Best wishes

Ang

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Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003
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25 Replies
CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I think these apps/devices are multiplying by themselves. Interesting to see what it picks up.

Now was it the curry or could it have been the rice?

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toCDreamer

Much more likely the rice.

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toBobD

I wasn't the only one who had rice in our group. I pinned it on the chook as I wouldnt have been able to tell if it was cooked properly as it was smoothered in sauce.

However, hubby has been speaking to Hughie and Rolf this morning so Im wondering if its a bug now....... he didn't go to Wagamama.

Think I need to get some more electrolyte replacement sachets.🤔

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toCDreamer

Im hoping that it doesn't pick anything up 😁.

Threecats profile image
Threecats

The Apple Watch is the same, it asks if you’ve been diagnosed with AF, I said no, as I’ve heard that Apple prevent use of that feature if you say yes, which seems daft to me, as that’s why I and no doubt many others, bought the watch - to keep an eye on what my ticker is getting up to!

Hope you’ve recovered from your food poisoning bout, that can leave you feeling totally wrung out from my experience!

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toThreecats

It did seem daft to me to exclude those who may benefit the most. Also anyone under 22 .......... sadly I wasn't fibbing about that.

Still feel a bit washed out, but hubby has been sick this morning so Im now thinking bug.

Frances123 profile image
Frances123

3 guesses who has just checked their Fitbit and seen the same message. I’ve also set it up as like you I am interested to see what happens. I have a Versa 3. Good to hear from you Ducky. x

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toFrances123

Thanks. I will post an update about everything else.

Im guessing, like myself, youre hoping it wont show anything 😁.

A useful add on so not sure why they wanted to exclude those who may benefit.x

Angie06 profile image
Angie06

Hi, yes my fitbit had the same message a couple of days ago but I thought it was a premium feature so didn't bother with it 🤣 . I might go back and give it go now!

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toAngie06

That was the first thing I checked as its true about ducks backsides 🤣.

September17 profile image
September17

Hope you are feeling better! I bought a fitbit too, Sense 5, specifically for the ecg function......and was surprised too to see the msg about Afib dx! Annoyingly the ecg on mine has stopped working, so it's off to the repair shop! I did find it very reassuring to use.

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toSeptember17

Better thanks but still a bit washed out.

I think this just sends you a notification rather than anything more elaborate. I did think of upgrading to the Sense but had read some not so good reviews.

Here's hoping I dont get any notifications 😁.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

I think there's a legal requirement that stops its use when AF has been diagnosed. All devices seem to be similar in this way (except specific devices such as Kardia). I think most people do the same as you and tick the "not diagnosed" requirement in the software.

Steve

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toPpiman

Legal as in covering them or legal as in them giving me a slap? 😕

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDucky2003

:-) Only them. I read somewhere (looking for info on my Apple Watch) that the health authorities in each country would need to approve its use as a specific medical device (i.e. for people with a diagnosis), which it isn't, hence the get-out option for them, which we all ignore.

Steve

Autumn_Leaves profile image
Autumn_Leaves in reply toPpiman

I’ve discovered in today’s Apple Watch update there is an option for people with AF to track their AF. As I have paroxysmal AF I’m undecided as to use it at the moment

support.apple.com/en-gb/HT2...

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toAutumn_Leaves

Aha - they keep updating things. I have read that this isn't 100% accurate as it checks at sporadic intervals to save the battery from running down.

Mine is so unusual these days (fingers crossed) that I wait till I feel symptoms then check. It's usually "inconclusive" meaning lots of ectopic beats!

Steve

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toPpiman

Kewl! I didnt know if Fitbit were going to send a couple of heavies round to have a word 😄.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDucky2003

I gather all Fitbit staff are enviously lithe having exercised so very much!! 😉

Steve

SuziElley profile image
SuziElley

I noticed that with my Fitbit as well. However, I know I’ve had the occasional ectopic, so causing irregularity, but no notification…… hmm 🤔

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toSuziElley

Im not sure how accurate its going to be as my app has just registered a HR of 108, yet my watch showed 54 and my wrist pretty much tallied with the watch.🙄.

SuziElley profile image
SuziElley in reply toDucky2003

I find the watch more accurate than the app…..

frazeej profile image
frazeej

I saw that also, but declined the option. I can tell if I go into afib, and can confirm by just checking my pulse. If I can't feel the symptoms, then I don't care. When I first got my Kardia, I was obsessed with it, and had ecg's all over my desk! I don't want some "alert", which may or not be accurate, telling me that I am in afib! Fortunately, my afib is reasonably well controlled right now, so that helps. General rule of thumb-if you don't feel it on your own, don't bother looking for it!

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply tofrazeej

I dont bother looking for it. It was free so I downloaded it and I dont think you can compare this to the Kardia which relies on you choosing to stick your fingers on it. I can usually tell if Im in AF but if, for some strange reason I dont notice, I do care. I would rather be alerted to it as I have other heart problems linked to the AF and would need to get in touch with the hospital straightaway.

One size does not fit all!

MrJD profile image
MrJD

Afternoon,

Post cardioversion and ablation I changed my Apple Watch settings to diagnosis of AF.

It now gives me a weekly update re percentage in AF. <2%.

This helps in someways as stops me worrying but seems counterintuitive as I would like to be aware.

Perhaps I should change the settings back to not diagnosed AF?

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