A new person

[Cookery1960]

I have a heart rate monitor from my local chemist I keep it in my handbag it's very small and light and you put it on your finger when you need to record your heart rate not expensive and works brilliantly I have AF so need it most times

[lettingoffsteam]

Yes, I have one of those too...definitely better than trying to find my pulse.

[Healthyheart1]

I can find my pulse but would like a small monitor. What make is it?

[Calliope153 in reply to Healthyheart1]

I have one too - less than £20 from Kevin the Carrot's home. They regulrly have them on their health promotion events.

[Cookery1960 in reply to Healthyheart1]

It's called a sanitas chemists should stock them Cox and Robinson I got mind from.

[bantam12]

Is it the pulsoximeter ? If yes my Cardio said they are very inaccurate, ok for rate and oxygen saturation but the heart tracing picks up to many artefacts to be of any use.

[Rocket123]

Hi , i have been looking for a monitor which will help with my AF.

Could you recommend one

Thanks

[Cookery1960 in reply to Rocket123]

I have a finger monitor from cox and robinsons this I found was ok as when I went into hospital with AF I was on the hospital monitor and also had my own finger monitor on they both read the same HR levels so suggest you try your local chemist for a HR finger monitor

[Rocket123 in reply to Cookery1960]

I will do thanks, only just been diagnosed and finding it really confusing

[tunybgur in reply to Rocket123]

Hi Rocket,

Do you just want rate monitoring or an AF indicator?

There are lots of rate monitors with chest straps out there, you can get them from any sports shops.

There are specialised AF monitors which claim to tell when you are in AF, check on the internet for these.

I bought myself a Heal Force PC-80B on Ebay for about £70. It gives an excellent sinus rhythm trace which can indicate if you are in sinus rhythm or AF, but you need a certain amount of knowledge to read the trace.

It is simple to use, just wet the contacts for a good connection, hold it firmly against the chest next to your ticker and it gives a very creditable 30s rhythm trace.

It does give a diagnoses which is normally only about rate and irregularity, but the lack of a P wave on the trace is very clear.

If you do a bit of homework on AF you will see the lack of a P wave at the beginning of the sinus trace is indicative of AF.

Having lived with on/off AF for a number of years now I can now tell if I'm in AF by simply checking my pulse, it will be slightly higher and a bit erratic, and my energy levels will be low, however this comes with living with the condition and knowing your own body well.

Good luck