24 hour holter monitor

[Karendeena]

Here I go again worrying.I posted not long ago about my consultant asking for a 24 hour holter monitor because he 'needed the facts' following my ablation on the 26th of March this year.

Now call me paranoid but......I mentioned my heart rate was faster than before the ablation and sometimes I wake on the morning and it's faster than it used to be but not excessive. When I take my puse it's usually around 74bpm but I am still taking the Sotalol.

My EP listened to my heart and breathing in and out but only said 'good'.

I am worried he has detected something and he's not telling me - am I being paranoid? He said there was no hurry but the appointment has arrived for the 31st July (I only saw him on the 8th!

Anyone else had a holter monitor months after the Ablation? I am thinking alsorts of things and I am supposed to be going to Majorca on the 30th August. This is the first time I have been brave enough since I was diagnosed in 2020.

BobD I think you will say I am worrying too much, but what if the holter monitor stresses me so much it puts my heart rate up??

[BobD Volunteer]

Not high . Well within normal range. Sorry for brief answer, on way to RIAT this weekend.

[Karendeena in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, enjoy even if I don't know what RIAT is 😂

[Cat04 in reply to BobD]

Me too ✈️ (going to RIAT I mean 😊)

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Cat04]

Great event wasn't it. Shame about cloud base on Saturday but the Eurofighter on Sunday found a nice hole in the cloud up to 20,k ft. and took off like a homesick angel. Never seen anybody loop a transport aircraft before either. Reminded me of when Roly Falk rolled the Vulcan at Farnborough all those years ago. (I'm that old lol 😁 )

[Cat04 in reply to BobD]

😮That was in 1955 ! Thoroughly enjoyed it all - the last air show I went to was at A&AEE in 1971 when Princess Anne visited the base!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Cat04]

My boys bought the package for my birthday this year including accommodation and mobilty scooter and then proceeded to act as body guards and chaperones as well as doing most of the driving. When I die I'm coming back as fast food salesman at RIAT though. I stopped counting at £160 and a few of the coffees the boys bought. Used to go to Duxford a lot when I lived in Essex but probably nearly 40 years since my last one too.

[Cat04 in reply to BobD]

What a lovely birthday present. I was driven & escorted by one of my sons as my PA/carer/bodyguard. He is an advanced trauma first aider so I knew that I'd be in safe hands. The food prices were crazy! You weren't in the run away mobility scooter that we witnessed being chased after by 3 hiviz clad officials were you?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Cat04]

No I missed that. Sunday's scooter was a Ferrari of scooters and after a short play blasting up the runway and seeing how hard it wuld be to turn it over I switched it to low speed and behaved myself. Unusual I know. (My three wheeled fold up Travel Scoot is lethal on uneven ground so stayed in the boot of the car. )

[Jalia]

I think you are being paranoid. You previously said that you went privately. I would say that you are getting your moneys worth.

It's normal for a heart rate to he higher for a while after ablation and yours is certainly not high. I had an ablation 4 weeks ago and mine is still settling down, hovering in the 80s.

So what if the holter monitor causes your heart rate to rise ??? It will only be momentarily and all sorts of life events cause a raised heart rate. It's called living.

You sound like you have had very good treatment. Go ahead and look forward to and enjoy your holiday. Make the best of your life and live for today. None of us knows what life has in store for us.

Best wishes

Jx

[Karendeena in reply to Jalia]

Thank you for your frank response and your kind words, puts it into perspective. I think the paranoia is a result of my brother's health anxiety which is rubbing off on me as that's all I hear on a daily basis from him.

I keep thinking that the ablation has caused other problems. Worry too much I know 🤔❤️

[Jalia in reply to Karendeena]

Karen , I do recall now the problems you're having with other family members, in particular your brother.

I do understand the anxiety/ panic attacks associated with Parkinson's as my husband has this truly awful condition (and AF). Yes, it does rub off on to me as well but at the moment i have coping strategies which come into play. I've just arranged for him to have Psychotherapy with a practioner I was recommended....BACP accredited. Is he being helped ?

[Karendeena in reply to Jalia]

The problems really started when he had the stroke which took his left periferal vision and subsequently his driving licence. I saw my brother deteriorate rapidly, he used to go regularly to a health centre and swim, now nothing, he has given up 🥹He is convinced the stroke has made his Parkinson's worse and that all of his tablets are causing it. He tells everyone it's worse and cannot be convinced otherwise. He does need to exercise but he does nothing now but sit around all day with mum, it's awful to see 🙈

[Jalia in reply to Karendeena]

I really do feel for you here. My husband had a great deal of help and support from our Community Rehab team including Boxing for Parkinson's. As a result we now have a free-standing punch bag as well as treadmill and stationary bike! ....and kettle bell ( meant to be for me but say no more 😏😅) Exercise is so important for Parkinsons patients but unfortunately they are also fighting against the apathy which is also part of the condition. It's very hard.

Having the stroke cannot have helped his condition.

[Karendeena in reply to Jalia]

Wish I could get through to my brother 😔 How long has your husband had Parkinson's?

I have a friend who has had it for 20 Years!

My brother hardly shakes, only occasionally, but he walks very stiffly and sometimes doesn't move his mouth very well when he speaks ( this is not from the stroke)

[Jalia in reply to Karendeena]

Diagnosed 5 years ago but probably had it 3 years before at least. He doesn't have the shakes. Walking is very stiff and jerky with lots of freezing. Speech is a problem. Voice is very soft ( he used to be very loud...). Sometimes incoherent. He has had speech therapy and still has voice exercises to do. I'm not sure it has done much good though

. It would seem that there is no typical Parkinsons patient . I've heard it said that " if you've seen One person with Parkinson's then you've seen One person with Parkinson's...That's about it really.

[Desanthony in reply to Jalia]

So true. We had a 97 year old man with Parkinson's in our church choir he shook so much it seemed he was never still sitting down and strangers would wonder how he would manage to stand and hold the Hymn sheet and music - but as soon as the music started he could stand up straight and the shakes stopped and he sang well until the end of the hymn and then it all started again. Apparently it is the rhythm that helped. My Mum was diagnosed with Parkinson's and like your brother gave up and hardly went out and when she did grumbled that everyone was staring at her- diagnosed at 62 died at 89 - that's a lot of life to miss out on. One thing we did find was that getting her to count when walking helped her move so 1.2 3,4 and move leg on 4 or something like that

[Jalia in reply to Desanthony]

Desanthony, you are so right with the rhythm business and the counting. My husband bought a device called Cue1 last October ....its attached by adhesive pad to his chest and when activated sends out impulses at preset intervals. It has helped . We have also put my daughters metronome into action at various times.

Very interesting to hear about your church member.

Fortunately my husband takes any excuse to get out. He has always been very sociable. He has taken up Bridge again which helps to keep his mind active and stave off the anxiety attacks.

[Desanthony in reply to Jalia]

That's great.

[jeanjeannie50]

I agree with every word that Jalia has written. I have a feeling you know that your reaction to your EP getting your appointment so quickly is verging on Paranoia. I don't think your EP would have said 'good' if what he could hear wasn't.

Just think how lucky you are that it's all happening so quickly. Also you have the wonderful heart rate of 74bpm. How a lot of us would like to have that. A monitor for 24hrs points to all being well, if not you would be wearing one for a lot longer.

Wishing you well.

Jean

[Karendeena in reply to jeanjeannie50]

IThanks Jean, I can always rely on you coming back with a positive response. I know I am getting worse it's just that I have had so much going on all at the same time. What with mum and her behaviour, a brother who has severe health anxiety due to a series of small strokes from undiagnosed afib and Parkinson's. A partner who has had a couple of heart attacks and just finished treatment for prostate cancer.I then have this done and having a series of small infections, including infected horsefly bites needing antibiotics. Then I get episcleritis in one eye and had to have a series of tests for auto immune, then they discover a lamellar hole in the macular of the other eye which I have to go to the hospital for next Tuesday. It's just all too much. Maybe the holiday will help, if I ever get there, see I am being negative now 😞🥹 Never used to be like this Jean

Thanks

Karen x

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Karendeena]

Bless you, it does sound as though you've been through a lot. The saying is, 'It never rains but it pours' and it's so true.

Yes, you deserve that holiday.

I had covid last week and had to cancel an appointment this week to have a cataract removed. Two scars on my legs where having small skin cancers removed this year are taking forever to heal. Phew, you're not alone!

When young I used to wonder why old people went on forever about their illnesses, myself and a friend said we were never going to be like that, but fate steps in and we have no choice in the matter!

Take care.

Jean

[Karendeena in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Oh that's awful Jean, you never know what other people are going through. I feel for you too ❤️You're so right about the illnesses, all the time it seems like we talk about nothing else. Conversations seem to gravitate towards what's wrong with you when you meet someone and all the appointments we seem to generate as we get older.

I now find myself arranging social events around doctors, hospitals and dentists! ❤️

[Desanthony in reply to Karendeena]

Yes that's it. there is always an appointment or something wrong so you can't go somewhere or to something until you know about another appointment! I have just been messaging a friend about this very thing!

[Desanthony in reply to Karendeena]

You have so much going on. I do hope you get your long awaited holiday and am sure it will do you good.

[Karendeena in reply to Desanthony]

Thank you ❤️

[Buffafly in reply to Karendeena]

Biggest hug is all I can say, you are a strong and caring woman and I hope the holiday is all you could wish for 💖

[harkim1]

Hi I had an abulation which unfortunately wasn't successful. When I see my EP he wanted me to have a 24hr holter monitor to actually confirm that it was my same old AFIB problem. So I got the feeling that it was standard procedure.

[Karendeena in reply to harkim1]

Thank you. As far as I know I haven't had any episodes of AF just my heart rate is faster than pre ablation. Did your EP want you to have the monitor because you were symptomatic or would you have had this anyway?

My EP said there was no rush to have one but the appointment came through really quickly

[Auriculaire]

I never monitor my pulse rate unless I go into afib and then I do it once at the beginning . Sometimes I don't even bother with that. I check it most days for a few seconds to see if it is regular . Put whatever device you use away ! Try to stop worrying and look forward to your holiday.

[Karendeena in reply to Auriculaire]

Thank you. I just check with my fingers. It's the EP that's requested a 24 hour holter monitor and I'm just paranoid.

I dream a lot (think this is the medication -sotalol) and wake in the early hours with my heart going a bit fast. It calms down when I get up.

[Jonathan_C]

if an EP says it’s all good. Its all good enough to go on a holiday.

[Karendeena in reply to Jonathan_C]

Thanks Jonathan ☺️

[Buzby62]

We know HR is higher following ablation and can take a year or so to settle down, mine is still higher since ablation in December and higher again since stopping the bisoprolol in March. I think I feel better for the higher HR and definitely better for being off the meds and wonder whether the low HR (bradycardia) was causing or feeding my AF episodes to some extent. Try not to think about it, easily said I know, 70s is not high in my opinion at your stage of recovery.

Best wishes

[Karendeena in reply to Buzby62]

Thanks a lot, feel a bit more confident with support and advice. My EP won't take me off Sotalol at the moment and while I am happy to continue for a while, one of my reasons for ablation was to get off the meds ( I know I have to continue the apixaban for life)

[Morzine]

hi

I too had ablation in early may and I’m due a holster monitor in aug 7 , cardio booked it after my first check up. I think it’s normal in France. Cos the heart takes a while to heal so no point in doung it soin.

My cardio said it’s yo check all is good and see if I can stop the flecaine.

I haven’t given it a second thought.

It’s to see if you have any mini afib s . I used to have mini ones in night . I would see this as good follow ups.

Sue