Erratic Heart Rate - Afib or Tachycardia 24 hour heart monitor.

[cjbroon]

Since my Open Heart Surgery's twice in April 2019 for an Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm I've had Afib and Tachycardia issues and was on Amiodarone for a few and months and now on bisoprolol. It settled for a while but its gradually came back and more recently its gotten more frequent. My heart doesn't race as such but it beats very irregular. ECG on my watch says Afib. My GP noticed it as well and referred me last year to cardiology where they picked up irregular heartrate. They decided to leave it to see if it settled but hasn't.

It's got gradually worse and my GP has re referred me again and I'm now waiting on a 24 hour heart monitor to get a more accurate reading.

Meanwhile, I'm going through ill health retirement at work due to my heart surgery and a couple of other conditions I have. I had a Zoom consultation with a work GP who said the heart rate issue was nothing to do with my heart surgery and that i dont have heart failure! Where that came from I font know.

Has anyone had a 24 hour heart monitor number fitted and they help with any sort of diagnosis.

[BobD Volunteer]

24 hours is often not long enough where AF is concerend as it can be paroxysmal and here today gone tomorrow, back next Tuesday. IF you do have AF, which is quite likely * following open heart surgery then you may be lucky enough for it to be recorded but in extreme cases seven days or longer may be needed.

* Open heart surgery is a known possible cause of a Atrial Fibrillation as any cardiologist can tell you due to the damage caused. People who have by pass operations often develop it as the natural pathways are changed. I would seek a second opinion from an electrophysiologist if the matter is critical to your retirement.

[cjbroon in reply to BobD]

It's not critical to my retirement as I also suffer from Cranial CSF Leaks and have Serious Skull Base Defects according to my ENT Consultant. I saw her on Monday and she wasn't best pleased with what my work GP said. She said he'd be nothing more than a 'locum GP' and he's questioning the opinion of specialist Consultants. She said from her side of things I'm not going back under any circumstances as I'm extremely high risk and she think cardiology will come to the same conclusion. I'll try and phone them this week regarding the monitor and find out a bit more and try and push things on a bit as it's been ongoing for some time now.

[Qualipop in reply to cjbroon]

Three weeks ago I suddenly noticed erratic beats that had been there for a week; showing on my BP monitor but I hadn't noticed. Various ECGs and tests show heart missing every 4th beat. Last Monday GP Ordered a 24 hour monitor to be done within 2 weeks. I have to have it fitted November 14th just slightly over 2 weeks. It can be done quickly if your GP requests it.

[Ppiman]

I can't help but you can buy, I see, a portable home ECG that takes a trace over a 48 hour period. Heart failure will have shown on any echocardiograms you have had (i.e. a reduction in output, reversible or otherwise, below 50%).

Steve

[Terjo]

when I wore a monitor it picked up a nine second pause in my breathing while I was sleeping . I had been wearing the monitor for 14 days. I now have a pacemaker and take bisoporol and digoxin and have permanent AF but am in much better health than I was and am 90. Hope you get the help you need. Good luck.

[RobertoJimenez]

The monitor is good - but also consider Bisoprolol side effects - GPs sometime do not want to remove it since it is part of the whole treatment package - but there are multiple research that highlight its misuse - (After many times going to A&E) and thinking to get a heart attack again - an A&E doctor said - to stop Bisoprolol - then my cardiologist support the decision and after few months (three to six) and monitoring my withdraw side effects - I can say that I am much better - specially with my HR, breathing and pains on my chest. Hope I am in the right path.

[cjbroon]

I'm going to try and chase things up this week with cardiology to see where we are with the monitor. I know it might be running behind due to the backlogs in the NHS though. But my follow up appointments from my heart surgery stuff are already long overdue anyway.

[Bloodredroses]

I get irregular afib. Had 24 heart monitor many times . G P SAID must 48 hour . Hospital only gave hot 24 hour ref, again normal . A helpful nurse tech staff in Cardio clinic advised ( by phone ) to get 7 day halter , obvs 24 hr just do not show irregular episodes . Just press on get referrals from G P to electrophysiologist. I have been told mine is an electrical extra great beat for example . Many different specialities within Cardiology . You do the research , google ask on here , as you have . Then request to your G P your thoughts. Good G P s do not mind , and do not have the time these days to research for every patient , do they ? If you are in UK and can go private , for Cardiology that is a way forward . I’m poor and I go private for dentistry . Borrow for implants and complex surgery . 🤗