Loop recorder incoming

[djbgatekeeper]

Hi all, due to my recent bouts of palpitations that are getting progressively worse I've been advised by my cardiologist to have a loop recorder fitted which is scheduled for next month. I was just wondering if anyone else on here has had this procedure and what were the results. I believe the recorder can pick up all sorts of data that otherwise would not be available to analyse. Anything to get a decent night's sleep at this point to be honest.

Thanks in advance, Dave

[Lamsie]

Hi Dave

I’ve got a Reveal implant had it about 3 years now it’s been very useful at recording my AT (which resulted in me having an ablation) and then also Afib started (which resulted in ablation last Wednesday) I have received calls from the hospital when I have already been in Resus having episodes to advise I should go to the hospital 😂 but very useful for your EP to see exactly what is going on.

Hope you get sorted x

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Lamsie]

Thanks for the reply that's very helpful 😊

[foxglove1]

I had one too. Stayed in until the battery ran out 3 years later. No problems having it inserted or removed. Tbh didn’t know it was there.

[Kaz747]

Sorry to hear you've been having some dramas again Dave. I hope all goes well with the loop recorder.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Kaz747]

Thanks Kaz, how's everything down under?

[Kaz747 in reply to djbgatekeeper]

All good - busy but heart is okay (it still gets lots of ectopics and occassional runs of tachycardia but no AF).

[Caza]

my husband had one fitted last December. in January after a horrendous night which was picked up on the loop he was rushed into hospital where he had a pacemaker fitted. Saved his life really

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Caza]

Thanks Caza, can I ask has the pacemaker stopped the irregular beats altogether? I've thought about having one that's all.

[Caza in reply to djbgatekeeper]

I think it has. He had a check up on the device about 6 weeks ago & his heart was going a bit too slow. He’s going back next week to have the pacemaker tweaked so his heart speeds up a little bit. He could have had it done whilst he was there but he didn’t catch on to what they were saying. I am going to ask them this time if it’s had to kick in at all.

After the 2nd ablation his AF wasn’t consistent so it’s hard to say.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Caza]

Sounds promising, best of luck.

[AussieHeart]

hi agree with all replies… it’s a quick procedure and provides peace of mind. My ILR picked up paroxysmal afib with pauses, explained my fainting episodes and led to a cryoablation. I wouldn’t hesitate. Good luck

[djbgatekeeper in reply to AussieHeart]

Thanks 🙏

[Cumbremar5]

If you haven't tried it drink a daily glass of coconut water not cream coconut water. Works for me no palpitations for years. Aldi sell it.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Cumbremar5]

Thanks I'll give it a go 😃

[Quilter43]

Had it recently taken out as. Had a pacemaker put in.Did give lots of info ..had pauses so went with pacemaker after much agita as to what to do.Surprised how much info pacemaker gives.didnt know that.so far.so good.only a month.

[1Golf]

It is a great recht tool which tracks everything happening in your heart, I’ve had mine since December. Procedure takes 10 minutes, no big deal and it downloads its days every night. A great help/ go for it!

[djbgatekeeper in reply to 1Golf]

I can't wait to get it done to be honest, thanks for the reply.

[milehighlinnie]

I chose to have one inserted after my ablation so I could be certain I had no further AFIB events. That was two years ago and the best decision I ever made. When the battery goes dead I want another one. It was inserted in the office. No issue whatsoever. It’s comforting to know my EP will call me if he sees anything reason for me to return to anticoagulants. In the meantime I just go about my life. It’s very freeing. If you get one you will not regret it.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to milehighlinnie]

Thanks that's great feedback. I must admit it will be a relief that a expert has visibility of my heart's behaviour as it drives me mad some days.

[BlueINR]

I've had a loop recorder for about 2 years now. Not sure what good it does, but cardiologist's office does keep records of the reports from it and they check what the recorder has been doing at each visit.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to BlueINR]

I suppose it's like having a monitoring service which is looking out for you. Thanks for the reply 🙂

[petmice]

I can't recommend a loop recorder enough! It gives you peace of mind that something is minding your heart at all times. You don't notice the recorder because it's only the size of a AAA battery and comes with a monitor (for transmitting the recorder's info to the doctor) that operates automatically.

I had a Medtronic loop recorder inserted in 2021. It needed only a local anesthetic for the small incision and the rest was painless and didn't take long to insert. It's comforting knowing that it is monitoring my heart 24/7. I wore an external monitor for a month which completely missed my atrial flutter; my loop recorder detected both the flutter and the afib that manifested later. The monitor lives next to my bed; while I sleep at night it automatically and wirelessly uploads that day's info from my loop recorder to their website where my EP's office can access it (and get notified if anything problematic shows up). I don't have to do anything more than remember to take that monitor with me if I go out of town.

When the battery on my loop recorder finally runs out, I would like to have another inserted. I really do recommend it and I don't think you will regret getting one!

[djbgatekeeper in reply to petmice]

Thanks for taking the time to post, that really helps to give me a great insight 🙂 very helpful. Dave.

[wdstk51]

After never being able to capture afib on ECGs for years, my Linq implant noted it in less than a month. My heart loves having its own personal guard-dog!

[djbgatekeeper in reply to wdstk51]

😂 I love dog's

[quanglewangle]

Hi. A cautionary tale!....

After other tests failed to confirm my problems I was fitted with a Loop Recorder. This indeed a simple procedure and, as described, it reports in daily.

Unfortunately I misunderstood the instructions and put the reporting device next to where I sit at every meal. A year later on a routine Clinical Physiology appt they said "all is well" - But, I said what about last Wednesday at 9am? and I gave some more dates and times when I had faltered and fainted. They checked the record and wow - yes - my heart had stopped for up to 14 seconds at the times I had noted - a clear case of cardiac syncope - and two days later my PM was fitted.

The problem was that my nightly reports were not getting through as my transmitter was in the kitchen instead of at the bedside. The problem had not been picked up, as the reports were not getting through. So, I said, why did you not react to nil reporting and the response was "people go away on holiday etc so we do not react to nil reports" ! But what if I had collapsed or died - would you not do anything? The answer was "no"! Needless to say I pointed out that their protocols were faulty and they needed to revise them to insist that nil reports were followed up.

So I could easily have been dead and buried by this time but fortunately I am 7 years on with my PM, but will always read instruction books more carefully, and I trust that my local hospital have updated their procedures!!!

[djbgatekeeper in reply to quanglewangle]

Wow that's shocking! I will definitely make sure I follow the procedures! Thanks 🙏