Kardia 6L or the regular one?

[ellamental]

Thinking of getting a Kardia... is the regular one fine or is the 6L better?

Thanks

Ella

[mjames1]

i have both. For me, the 6L has better connectivity making it easier to use. Also just feels better and more substantial. You also have the ability to optionally take a six lead ekg which offers more information. This might be very helpful for example with aflutter. That said, the Mobile model is great and I was very happy with it until the 6L came out. Can't go wrong with either.

Jim

[ellamental in reply to mjames1]

Thanks for that Jim. Just on YouTube checking it out. I think I will go for the 6L.

Ella 😀

[mjames1 in reply to ellamental]

I think you will like it. Just keep in mind that even though it's a six lead device, you can still take quick and easy single lead ekg's with it, just like with the Mobile model. I use the six lead function only occasionally, but it's nice to know it's there when you need it.

Jim

[ellamental in reply to mjames1]

That is good to know. I am hoping it will be reassuring and my obsessive personality won't do it all the time!

[ozziebob in reply to mjames1]

I have only ever recorded 6 lead ECGs since I bought my Kardia 6L, but am wondering why you choose to use the 1 lead option which provides less information if later examined by experts.

Others on the Forum also mention preferring the 1 lead option on their 6 lead device. Does your reasoning revolve around a perceived "inconvenience" of accessing either your knee or ankle as needed for a 6 lead ECG? or something else?

I am now thinking I might be misunderstanding the value of the extra information provided in my 6 lead ECGs.

Can you please clarify the situation for me.

Bob

[mjames1 in reply to ozziebob]

Just easier and quicker for normal use, especially when I have a very short flutter episode, say under two minutes, which might be gone by the time you roll up your pants, etc. More stealth as well, say at a party lol Say I'm in afib for four hours, no need to take more than one six lead, as the single leads give me all I need to know which is mostly rate. But yes, if I'm going to share with a doctor, I'd probably do a six lead, but I only share very few ekgs at this point. BTW, as far as the automatic determinations go, Kardia only uses Lead 1, so it doesn't affect that. But certainly no harm taking six leads all the time, I just hardly do anymore, but still like the ability to when I want to.

Jim

[ellamental in reply to mjames1]

Good to have the option to use it on the foot too. I think when I am at home I will do that and also while I am new it and trying to work out what is going on with my PR and if it is related to the blood clot. Thank you. 😀

[ellamental in reply to ozziebob]

Thanks for that info. 😀 I guess it will become easier when I have it in my hands as to whether I will use all or one depending on where I am. I will carry it with me I think so I can keep a record if I am feeling odd/fast pulse. I have bought a container that attaches to your keyring.

[Cookie6 in reply to ellamental]

I’ve just bought the 6L from Amazon as it was discounted recently.

[ellamental in reply to Cookie6]

That is good to know. Will look out. Thank you. 😊

[fairgo45]

Personally I've had the original kardia since it came out snd its been a great help, I can take strips 30 seconds 1 minute 2 minutes long and it diognosed a blocked artery before any harm was done so for me no need to upgrade

[Tellingfibs in reply to fairgo45]

How did it diagnose a blocked artery ?

[fairgo45 in reply to Tellingfibs]

I had a result on the kardia that was completely inverted t waves.I sent the strip to my cardiologist.

He called me in for a full ecg.

This was the same result.

He did an angiogram it showed 2 blocked arteries.

I was sent to hospital for 2 stents.

So that's how I knew by the kardia picking up inverted twaves

[Tellingfibs in reply to fairgo45]

Wow, that’s very interesting, and a bit scary ! Thank goodness you had your Kardia

[ellamental in reply to fairgo45]

Thank you for your reply Fairgo45. It sounds like money well spent! 😊

[lovetogarden]

I have the 6 led Kardia, though I usually just use the single lead option. But, I like knowing that the 6 lead is an option.

[ellamental in reply to lovetogarden]

Hi. I love to garden too but broken leg right now means it’s all a big mess. I can see your thinking. Just the straightforward single lead is ok mostly but then if anything is wrong you can do it again with all the bells and whistles. I am going to order one today. 😄

[lovetogarden in reply to ellamental]

oh, so sorry about your broken leg! Hope it heals quickly and you feel well enough to get out in the garden.

[ellamental in reply to lovetogarden]

Thank you. It is frustrating. Enjoy the sunshine 😀

[mountainwalk]

I use the simple Kardia which showed my AF clearly when I had an episode. Whenever I have a normal ECG in a hospital or surgery, it is normal so having the Kardia was a godsend.

[ellamental]

Thanks. So from these replies it seems more than just reassuring. Can potentially be life saving. One if the haematologists is keen for me to just have 3 months of apixaban and the other for life 🤷‍♀️. I have only had one blood clot ( but have prothrombin gene). How would the Kardia show me if I had another blood clot? I can feel my heart racing but it seems up and down between 50 and 147 using husbands blood pressure thing. What does it mean?

[Drounding]

I don't know how the Kardia trace can be used to identify a clot but blood pressure readings whilst in afib can be erratic due to the nature of the machine needing to detect a pulse to work properly.

[ellamental]

Thank you for that Drounding. Oh I see. I have ordered one so hopefully it will become clearer.

[Lacontie]

regular one is fine for everyday but I use the 6 lead which be very useful if you need to send to your GP or Cardiologist giving them a lot more information. Often there is an offer or reduction on Amazon making it not much more to buy the 6 lead.

[ellamental in reply to Lacontie]

Thanks Lacontie. I did order the 6L one so it is on it's way. Hoping it will make sense of things. Ideal really to email myself or the Consultant if needed. I read up a bit and folk seem to think you don't need do the subscribing thing? 😀

[Lacontie in reply to ellamental]

Agreed! I have not subscribed and you have all the information you need personally and for the professionals who look after you . 👍

[Poochmom]

I have the 6L and I always take 6 lead ekgs. The reason why is because I have ectopics a lot which is what I mainly use it for since my AFib surgery and the 1 lead doesn’t pick them up. It isnt a huge deal but I like to know which kind of ectopics I’m having. PvC, PAC, SVE.