7 Day Monitor coming up. Any questions I should be asking?

[Rainfern]

Having been diagnosed with paroxysmal afib in Nov last year, which seemingly progressed quite fast into persistent, I'm having a 7 day heart monitoring device fitted tomorrow. My GP said its unusual to have the symptoms I'm showing, but they seem common enough to me, reading through the fact sheets and forum posts here - eg clunky heartbeats, breathlessness on stairs and hills, heart racing most commonly at night, poor sleep, sometimes odd pains or tightness in chest etc. The echocardiogram showed my heart to be in otherwise good form. So I'm just wondering if there's anything I should be asking to get the most out of the appointment. We often think of these things afterwards. Thank you!

[BobD Volunteer]

There is little in the way of fitting involved and it is only a technician so proabably won't be able to answer too many questions. You get three (or maybe four) sticky pads on your chest connected to the little box and told what not to do whilst wearing it. Depending on type you may have a diary sheet to complete and maybe a button to press if you feel any symptoms which you record on the sheet.

The last one I had was a very simple two pad device with a tiny box attached to one pad about the size of a USB stick and it was sent through the post from a company in Yorkshire so nobody to help. It was very simple and a video to watch first made it easy. Technology is moving so fast but still plenty of the older style ones about. At the end of the desired period you go back to hand it in or post it back which ever way it was delivered.

Regarding your GP has he/she not referred you to a specialist. GPs seldom have enough knowledge on AF to treat you as you deserve.

[Rainfern in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob, it's helpful to get a measure of what to expect. I asked my GP for referral to a specialist and this is as far as I've got. I have to hand the monitor back at the hospital and hopefully will get t

[Rainfern in reply to Rainfern]

Whoops... Get to see a cardiologist soon.

[wilsond in reply to Rainfern]

You have the right to be referred to a specialist,preferably an Electrophysiologist( cardiologist with specialism in arrythmias)As Bob says,GP knowledge is often limited.

As far as monitor is concerned let it do its thing,be careful not to get wet or its damaged. I had old style one,a lot of wires attached to pads and a box which I tucked into waistband.

When you say 'persistent' can you elaborate? Usually that refers to AF which goes over 7 days,and needs medication to try to restore rythym.

Good luck.xx

[Rainfern in reply to wilsond]

Thank you Wilsond for advice and encouraging me towards a specialist. Although symptoms come and go on a day to day basis my Microlife Home A BP monitor shows up Afib every day and a resting heartbeat 80 - 95 but haven't been diagnosed persistent as such. Yet. Maybe that's what the monitor will show.

[mjames1]

Without knowing your history, other than stated, the fact you mention "persistent" suggests this is beyond the pay grade of a gp. You really should be seeing an electrophysiogist (ep) at this point, which is two up the medical food chain. GP-Cardiologist-EP.

Afib at times can progress swiftly and the junction between paroxysmal and peristent is often the last chance for a better outcome. At a point, the longer you are in persistent, the harder it will be to control/fix things, so you need the A team.

Not all that familiar with the UK system, but I do know that many go private when they can't achieve what they want under NHS.

Jim

[Rainfern in reply to mjames1]

James thank you so much for this timely advice. Its what I had been picking up from my research, and I will certainly be seeking beyond my doctor's limited knowledge!

[Buffafly]

Totally agree with Jim, the fact that your GP thinks your symptoms are unusual tells me that he isn’t well informed about AF. It seems he is used to permanent AF which people often hardly notice except for some tiredness. The switch from paroxysmal to persistent seems to be very difficult.

[Rainfern in reply to Buffafly]

Thank you Buffafly. I just wish GPS were faster to admit any limitations. And AF treatment has moved so fast the past few years!

[Afibflipper]

Hi Rainfern, as you are having it on for 7 days you might find the sticky electrodes irritate your skin (I got blisters) ask for spares that you can to lace every few days following a shower etc. They probably will give you a sheet to write on time, symptoms & what you were doing so anything you feel that causes symptoms document it on your sheet. Also utilise it to get the most from it, go for walks, climb stairs, go shopping all round the supermarket etc so it catches every day activities that often cause you to feel symptoms. All the best to you xx

[Rainfern in reply to Afibflipper]

Brilliant, thank you Flipper. I'm going to keep dancing and gardening too. Just going for my appointment now!

[Afibflipper in reply to Rainfern]

I guess you’re wired for sound by now

[Rainfern in reply to Afibflipper]

All fitted and wired up. I hope you're feeling lots better Flipper? At least the weather's not quite so freezing.

[Afibflipper in reply to Rainfern]

Hope things get sorted from the results.

Yes Rainfern thank you, I’m seeing quite a bit of improvement in the lungs, the last two days especially, today despite my SATs being 93 on waking with headache - the spoiler is the HR consistently 115-120 at rest to 140 with just a 10minute walk ( both days have been a bit light headed/dizzy but the BP is OK ) maybe just the heart working harder but inefficiently - strangely I don’t feel worried or anything right now, just on auto pilot but I’m OK thankfully -just glad I don’t feel as ill as I did these last weeks so that’s good too - all positive as there are others far worse than me so just in happy mode right now while it lasts.

You have a good weekend and coming week and let us know how things turn out 😊

[Rainfern in reply to Afibflipper]

So glad to hear you're feeling some improvement and your lungs in better shape. Keep with the positive and have a good week!

[Bell50]

when I had mine on which was for two weeks I was told not to have a shower for 24 hours and when you do make sure the shower head is not pointing at the device and mine got rather itchy after the first week so I put odds of moisturiser on after I took it off. I am still waiting for my results which I will get in three weeks time but it was typical only the odd 150 when I moved around and I took it off last Wednesday and full on tachycardia since Saturday which is now making me tired I am hoping there will be enough information on mine for the EP to decide if I have to have a second ablation.

[Rainfern in reply to Bell50]

This is exactly the kind of thing I'm expecting to happen to me 😂 Good luck Bell

[Rubymurray25]

I had my results through on line ( copy Letter ) this week from my new EP re an Echocardiogram I had done in September ,saying to my doctor that he felt my heart looked OK with only a dilated left Atrium and that in the absence of any mayor AF episodes there was no need to see me and was prepared to sign me off but I could contact if anything worsened ( I have had 2 ablations ) . Four minutes later, from the same EP, I had a letter addressed to me online and CC'd to my doctor saying that following my 7 day Holter last month the report showed I was experiencing Nocturnal Sinus Bradycardia and when I wrote down on the record sheet the times I was experiencing chest pains during the night ( waking me up ) it recorded extra beats in the top chambers. I was then told I would be getting an appointment letter to see him.

Thumbs up to the Holter report . So easy to use .

[Rainfern in reply to Rubymurray25]

Thank for this Ruby. I'm learning on this forum just how complex each situation can be. I wish you luck with the next stage of treatment. Just shows how important a thorough investigation can be!

[wilsond]

Ps,to get the sticky glue bits off ,baby oil is great. Ive had 3 holters.

[Mugsy15]

i may have seen this too late, but one thing you should ask: are there are at least 21 spare pads in the plastic bag they give you? If not, ask for more. I've always found they don't give you enough to shower or bathe once every day! (You must use 3 new ones each time).

Also you'll probably need to make your own diary sheet, based on the tiny one they give you but on an A4 sheet. The one I always get given is woefully inadequate to cover 7 days, even if one were only recording bedtimes and rising times!

[Rainfern in reply to Mugsy15]

That's really helpful Mugsy. Just going in for my appt now!

[Jmc43]

It is interesting to read all the responses and to find out about all the different kinds of monitors that are still in use. Last November, I had a 30 monitor, very small, in the middle of my chest, hardly new it was there…and it was monitored all the time with a small box that I was supposed to keep within Bluetooth range. It sent reports to a third party monitoring organization that was to complete a report at the end and send it to my cardiologist…unless something cropped up in the meantime. Which it did. They discovered I was having a couple of long pauses while sleeping — sometime 6-8 seconds — most likely as a result of slow H/R at night. They alerted the cardiologist, who called me in for an appointment, and I had a pacemaker implanted three days later. Feeling a lot better now.

[Rainfern in reply to Jmc43]

That's a happy outcome Jmc, nice to hear that.

[mjames1]

The most important question to ask is for a referral to an electrophysiologist (ep). A GP is not the one to analyze or advise on ekg's and symptons. Not all that familiar with your medical system, but if you cannot get a referral, then go private if you can afford. Afib tends to be progressive, so the sooner you begin proper treatment, the better the outcome. This forum and others like it, are full of stories of people who have lost valuable time with improper treatment, offer under the guidance of a GP.

Jim

[Rainfern in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim. I heard the happy news today that the EP I'm under is the same doctor whose talk I'm attending next week on latest developments with arrhythmias! The monitor I've now got fitted could be a deciding factor on whether it's worth his time seeing me so the cardio technician suggested I "make myself known!"