I’ve just had my results for 72 hour Holter monitor........🥺
I’m a little concerned as it’s all medical jargon.
Can anyone tell me what this means please.......
There were 414 VE’s (0.2% burden), 2 episodes of broad complex tachycardia, maximum 5 beats.
There was marked first degree AV block at times with the P wave disappearing into the preceding T wave.
There were nocturnal pauses due to second degree AV block Mobitz type 1 Wenckebach.
What the hell!!! 😳
I had mine recently, you have the analysis there. The cardiologist requesting the test receives the analysis and writes you and yr GP a letter explaining the results and any subsequent treatment/ further tests.
However, it took a couple of months before I got my letter from my consultant, after chasing it a couple of times with his secretary 👩💼
What does it all mean though?
Do you know?
I’m thinking it can’t be that serious or he would have me admitted.
He just finished the letter saying he’s requested a MRI at Kings College Hospital.
With the usual caveat that I’m not remotely medically qualified....
VEs are ventricular ectopics, which are what we all just refer to as ectopic beats on here. The burden means that 0.2% of all your recorded beats were ectopics, so that’s relatively low from my understanding.
You had two episodes of tachycardia where for no more than 5 beats the gap on the ecg trace was longer than 3 squares (the QRS). The gap is what the broad complex bit means. This can be related to the AV node, and the report goes on to say that you have an AV (node) block known as Mobitz I. Second degree AV block Mobitz I itself is not necessarily a problem: it’s usually classed as a benign arrhythmia. Wenckeback is a specific pattern found when reading an ecg from someone with a mobitz I type AV block.
In short, what it’s saying is that you have an arrhythmia usually considered benign and where treatment is only given if patients are symptomatic, although I’m not sure whether the pauses would change anything. It also says you have ectopic beats, although not a crazily high number of them, and a lot of people have VEs generally. Whilst I don’t think it’s appropriate that they’ve sent you this report without any kind of explanation, from my own understanding, I wouldn’t consider it massively worrying. I would strongly suggest you speak to your GP, though, to check what is very much a layperson’s interpretation of something they should be explaining to you, rather than just sending results that leave you understandably worried.
Charlie thank you so much!
I needed it explained in simple terms and you have done exactly that.
I agree, the medical terms are far too confusing and very worrying, as it all sounds so serious.
I was feeling quite calm but since receiving this letter just now, I am really anxious again!
I need to be brave and get this MRI over n done with.
3rd attempt as I’m claustrophobic.
Cardiologist has agreed that I can have anti anxiety medication before the scan.
I need answers and that’s the only way.
I really appreciate your explanation and taking the time to reply x
You’re very welcome. Anything to do with the heart is understandably anxiety inducing, and depending on where you are in your medical journey, receiving something like that is only going to make it worse. My nearly teenage daughter and I both have fairly complex medical issues and I’ve learnt to be really grateful for sight of the formal reports over the years: after some bad experiences that only got sorted because of getting my hands on the full tests results (not heart related) anything less actually makes me really twitchy these days. I had a chest CT a few weeks back and have found I can’t stop wondering about it because all I got was a letter saying the results were within normal. What does that actually mean?!? 👀😂
I’ve had about 7 MRIs, my most recent being in January, and for all I’m au fait with them, it’s still not a relaxing or pleasant experience. Some have been easier to tolerate than others, with one notable scan a few years back seeing me accidentally enter some sort of extraordinary, zen-like meditative state (I was fairly decently drugged at the time, mind), but the only thing that stopped me pressing the alarm in Jan was desperation: I knew if I pressed the button, I wouldn’t get the results I needed without having to go through exactly the same thing again, and would likely have to wait weeks for the opportunity. So I closed my eyes and did some very basic breathing exercises, reminding myself over and over that everything was ok and that the results were the important thing. It was horrible, for sure, and I only managed it through sheer force of will, but it was worth it to get confirmation of something that had been dismissed for 20 years in spite of obvious symptoms. Mantras can actually be really powerful, just saying the same short phrase to yourself over and over again. My daughter is autistic and very procedurally anxious, but she uses ‘I can do this’. Literally just that on repeat as soon as she feels her anxiety start to kick in ahead of any test or medical procedure, of which she unfortunately has to have lots. It doesn’t get rid of her anxiety, but it does usually help get her through whatever it is without needing to be ‘therapeutically held’. Hopefully the meds will help you, but I’d also try and focus on how relieved I’d feel to have had it done and know what I’m dealing with. Half an hour of tolerating the anxiety could eradicate months of uncertainty and worry.
Anyway, good luck, and I’m glad I could at least help with the holter results.
That is exactly what I keep telling myself ....’You HAVE to have this MRI to get the results you need’
It is mind over matter and I keep thinking ‘What are you actually afraid of? It’s not going to hurt you, it’s for your benefit, it’s your friend not your enemy and you’re very lucky indeed to be offered one so soon’.
So with all that in mind I’ve GOT to do it.
It will stop all the anxiety I’ve been feeling for the past few weeks.
I’m so grateful for your support and advice.
It really does help x
How are you at the moment? Have you had your MRI appointment yet?
Good morning
I’m not too bad thank you.
I’m on crutches due to a knee problem. Heart wise I’ve had 10 episodes of SVT this month, a little better than the 18 last month!! Heart much calmer now I’m back on the Diltiazem. That experience with Bisoprolol scared the life outta me. I’ve gotta be one of the very few who actually had MORE palpitations while taking it.
I had a letter yesterday from Kings College Hospital saying my appointment on 29th October has been cancelled as it’s no longer needed.........😳
For one I never knew about this appointment and two why the hell has it been cancelled. So I rang them and after being told I’ll give you this other number 3 times, 3 different phone calls, I was still none the wiser.
I did some research and found the cardiologist email address. Sent him an email and within minutes he replied. He was as confused as I was. He seems to think it’s a computer glitch, as I was referred from a different hospital. Reassures me I should be seen in a few weeks time depending on the dreaded C19!
So I guess it’s just waiting now and see what happens.
The anxiety will kick in again thinking about the MRI but I have my friend Mr Diazepam to help me this time and hopefully no burns!!!
Just a bloody awful experience all round last time.
Thank you for taking the time to message me and ask.
Sorry about the essay 😁
Thanks, I try! 😁
Hi . I'm waiting for to have a holster for 10 days. I have to wait until feb. 🙄 I'm having nasty bouts of racing heartbeats every time I bend or stretch. Not sure what the hells going on. Have always had palpitations most of my life but not like these ones. I have a pacemaker too. Glad I found this site. At least you get to talk to people who get same heart problems.
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