Yikes - wellue ecg (24/72) with ICD (defibrillator)?

[Efka]

Ok I’m slightly panicking, as I’d rather not kill my husband (yet)…

Bought the wellue ecg recorder (24/72) and it arrived today. I’m keen to use it as we have the first EP appointment in a weeks time.

But… I appreciate they give the standard “readings might not be fully accurate with pacemaker” - however - now I’ve got it and read the first pages there is a bullet point that says “do not use with defibrillator”.

Is for the same reason ie unreliable readings?

Or

Does it use magnetics and I might do something silly like fry my husband?

Does any of you guys/gals have an ICD and use the wellue or similar devices?

Thank you so much for you help,

Eva

Ps and yes I did email and ask them about having a ICD before I bought it but just got a rather standard reply about readings possibly not being accurate… I pray this is all it is!

EDIT:

Pps hmm now thinking maybe they mean an external defibrillator which I can see could maybe damage the wellue device?!?

[Ppiman]

It is entirely safe to use. Have no fear whatsoever. It is passive in its effect on the body, only reacting to electrical signals produced by the heart.

If you have an implanted device that also produces electrical signals such as a PM with defibrillator, then it will pick up these signals, too, and those will distort the ECG.

It's an excellent device and unique for home use, as well as being at a very good price for what it does - free AI analyses on top with no monthly fee.

Steve

[Efka in reply to Ppiman]

Phew thank you! You are me hero!! I needed a sensible calm voice.

I can now with a clear conscious “hook my man up” and get a few days worth of data to forward to the EP before our appointment.

I admit to being a bit of a (health) geek so I am rather looking forward to seeing the AI interpretation etc. I’m a firm believer in trying to understand (best we can) what is going on so we can help ourselves and also advocate for ourselves.

Thanks again Steve!

Eva

[Ppiman in reply to Efka]

One word of caution. As with all home ECG devices, if your hubby has a "left bundle branch block" (i.e. LBBB, like me), then the AI can be fooled and show wrong readings, even showing "ventricular tachycardia" when it isn't. This isn't the fault of the device, really, just the way the ECG changes with LBBB making it near impossible to read properly.

Steve

[Efka in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks Steve I will double check the diagnosis over the years.

So for you do they show accurately at all or only some of the time? Or do you always manually read your own traces?

Do you happen to have any good resources for learning to better read an ecg trace?

I have sort of looked on YouTube and med journals but not found a great one (aka one I could understand). I’ve only gotten as far as prqst… 😂

[Ppiman in reply to Efka]

The ECG trace from the Wellue AI ECG is very good indeed if you use stick on patch electrodes (supplied with it but I get mine from Amazon,.

If there is movement, as with all ECGs there's a risk of the reading becoming weirdly noisy, so the best trace comes from keeping still.

The AI analysis is also excellent and very comprehensive, except for occasions when it misreads as I suggested.

As for reading a trace - that is too hard for most of us. I trust to the AI summary.

Steve

[Efka in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you Steve, I will then not give myself too a hard time for feeling like I can’t understand it all.

And I am so sorry to trouble you further - would you be happy to share which stick on electrodes ones you buy (either here or private message)? I will for sure need some more soon.

Again, thank you, you, and this forum is incredible, the most helpful and caring on all of HU 😊🙏

[ozziebob]

Good to see Ppiman 's reassuring reply. He is our resident Wellue "expert".

By the way, which device did you buy, the cheaper <=24 hour version, or the more expensive <=72 hour version?

And please report back on the Forum about your experience of the device as I am interested for myself. Thanks.

bob

[Efka in reply to ozziebob]

Hi Bob, and thanks. Yes I feel most reassured by Steve.

I bought the 72h (with screen) one.

The situation was I was going to pay for a 7 day private at-home “holter monitor” prior to our first EP meet in September (long random story re afib post ICD op February of this year) but was reminded of the wellue devices and when I looked at the price it made much more sense to buy one (I got if from wellue for £255). This way if anything changes/happens in the future we can always run an ecg at home.

Hopefully will “stick it on” today and I will happily do a little write up in a few days time with how I’ve found it all.

I must say just from an ordering, delivery, packaging and instruction booklet point of view I am already very impressed!

Eva

[ozziebob in reply to Efka]

Great! And for future reference, Ppiman can give you a site for buying replacement better quality "stick on" electrode patches.

[Efka in reply to ozziebob]

Ah now that is brilliant thank you!! I did sort of wonder if there were alternatives (cheaper/nearer).