So, a few weeks ago I passed out while sitting next to my wife - which made her panic. Short version of the story is that the episode was followed by influenza so may have been the beginning of that. Also an ECG I had shortly after passing out was normal. (FYI I am 49 and healthy).
But she insisted on going with me to my annual check up with my EP yesterday - and his recommendation was that I insert a Loop recorder mayoclinic.org/tests-proced...
To be accurate - he proposed it as an option and was neutral about whether I should do it as this is the first time I have had one of these incidents (passing out) and there isn't anything about it that shouts it was a cardiac issue ... but as I have stenosis of 2 valves and am in persistent a-fib he said if he was pushed into a yes or no he would lean to yes to inserting it.
It sort of depends on whether my medical aid will cover it (I live in South Africa) - but there is no real down side to having a regular record of my heart rate. The link above explains it well. I hadn't heard of one these before yesterday..
Within the last few months someone one this forum discussed this sensation they have where some limbs get warm for a short period (a minute or so). I sometimes get the same thing. My recollection of that discussion was some people thought it was caused by a low heart rate. I discussed this with my EP and he didn't think it was related to that - just sharing.
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Jonathan_C
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Your poor wife, eh? My friend has had similar maybe three times in his AF journey and frightened everyone! He's 90 this year, though, so he is evidence that AF can seem much worse than it is at times!
I've never had a loop recorder but anything that checks the heart's action seems to me to be a Very Useful Thing when we suffer as we do.
loop recorder could be ok. I would prefer a month long holter monitoring hoping to get to the bottom of your syncope. You need to get a diagnosis of your syncope asap to get a treatment. I don’t know the medical system in South Africa to advice more. Best wishes.
A holter monitor can miss things, especially if they happen infrequently and not during the month one is wearing the monitor. My holter monitor picked up nothing, so I went with the inserted loop recorder. It picked up loads of things that my holter monitor missed.
I had a loop recorder inserted after my MiniMaze last year to record my heart rate so doctor could keep track of what was going on since. It is peace of mind for me. I don’t even know it’s there and my doctor knows every beat. So much better than those inconvenient holter monitors that are a pita.
Simple insertion procedure in doctors office. I would jump at it if I were you.
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Seeking advise about an implantable loop recorder.
