Allergic to Adhesive on Lead Pads

[Dancingheart2]

I just completed a 48 hour holter monitor stint. I’ve worn the monitor several times in the last fifteen years and I always come away from that with angry red welts where the lead pads attach to my skin (five leads). This time, however, my skin actually broken down and fluid began to accumulate where the leads were attached. I had to see my family doctor in order to get a prescription for an antibiotic cream. Needless to say, the leads kept falling off due to the fluid build-up and I’m not entirely certain that my cardiologist will have enough data on the monitor. Is there anyone out there who is allergic to the adhesive on the pads? I’d love to know if anyone else has encountered this difficulty. Thanks.

[bantam12]

Did they use the hypoallergenic patches ? I’m very sensitive to both and always end up with severe rashes but the hypo ones are not so bad.

[Dancingheart2 in reply to bantam12]

Actually I always tell the person who is attaching the monitor to me that I’m sensitive to whatever is in the pad or even the lead itself and they simply reply that a lot of people are like that. No offer of any other type of patch is ever given. On the advice of my pharmacist, I took photos of the ulcerated areas on my skin and I’ll show them to my cardiologist when I next see him. I did read that you can get hypoallergenic patches from Amazon. When I showed my family doctor the sores, he actually winced.

[meadfoot]

I was given different stickers for sensitive skin recently. They worked really well. Hope you havent gone through all this and not got an outcome.

[Dancingheart2 in reply to meadfoot]

I hope so too! Thanks for the reply. Jo

[AFnotworked1981234]

I would give them a ring to let them know what happened with the pads but they should have enough data to analyse

[4chickens]

I react to the pads badly both hypoallergenic and normal, to the point that they bleed. The technician said it’s often the metal conductors not the pad that causes the reaction.

Last time they fitted pads for a 7 day test that could be removed for a shower and new ones put on in a slightly different place, this helped significantly as skin got time to heal

[Bluetonic]

Yeah, I'm allergic too, have tried the hypoallergenic ones and they are just as bad. It's the gel that I'm allergic to, not much to be done about that.It feels like my skin is on fire and I'm left with red raw circles on my skin where they have been placed

[DevonHubby1]

My wife suffers from it, and was monitored for a week in hospital. Their solution was to move and change the patches each day to avoid breakdown of the skin.

[dogsneedwalking]

I had a halter monitor for a week and like you, red raw circles where the pads had been, but on the funny side I knew where to place them where the hospital initially put them on after a shower, but was very uncomfortable for over a week after they were removed. Spent 10 days in hospital with these stuck to my chest and unfortunately they only had hypoallergenic ones for 2 of the 10 days - I ended up a sore crusty mess and also needed cream to heal all of the sores.

[Blearyeyed]

It is really common for people to suffer contact dermatitis with the pads , even the hypoallergenic ones.But , your last reaction was very severe so it's worth letting them know next time and asking them to make sure they use hypoallergenic ones.

You could ring the unit to let them know what happened in a few days too and ask them to double check if it had affected how much data they'd got, if it would have made the results inaccurate and if you should do the test again.

It might also be worth considering taking a daily antihistamine as long as you can take them alongside your other medications whilst you use the pads or have similar dressings or contact lubricants during tests as this should hopefully help to reduce your reaction to anything you might be sensitive to.

[Qualipop]

I'm exactly the same. I always ask for the hy po allergenic pads but even they cause problems. The last one completely fell off after about 6 hours but they had enough information. I just popped a note in with the machine when it went back . I wasn't sure whether to put them back on or not. Like you I come up with big water filled blisters.

[Dancingheart2 in reply to Qualipop]

Talk about our bad luck! It’s awful enough to have this weird condition, never mind turning into a lumpy oozing crustacean after wearing the monitor.

[Qualipop in reply to Dancingheart2]

I dread the monitors. There's no way I could c ope with a full week. It seems to be more the gel that affects me than the adhesive. I can't even use normal plasters except on my hands and legs which are tougher. They also need to find a better way to wear the monitor. I always end up with a ribbon round my neck and almost strangle myself at night.

[Dancingheart2 in reply to Qualipop]

The whole condition is dreadful and I agree with you about nighttime strangulation. So uncomfy. I also find that friends and family members tend to believe that Afib is mostly an anxiety related condition. Due to the fact that they can’t see what’s going on in my body, they discount just how scary this thing is.

[Qualipop in reply to Dancingheart2]

HAhaha my husband has not believed that I've lived with severe chronic spinal nerve pain for 30 years, starting at 5ml of oxycodone now increased t o 16ml every 3 hours- a massive dose, using a wheelchair and mobility scooter; unable to stand for more than 3 minutes. You can't see it so it doesn't exist. Neither did my heart attack 6 years ago.

[Kendalghost]

I end up with a rash whether they use the hypoallergenic ones or not. The itching always takes a time to away afterwards.

[Karenjaninaz]

Yes but not as bad as yours. I am allergic to propylene glycol which is in many gels. It just itches and I clean off the gel after a basic EKG. The ZiO monitor used in the US doesn’t affect me. Plus it’s not on one place on the upper left chest.