Implant loop recorder

[Taz70]

Has anyone had a loop recorder fitted and their views on them. Currently waiting for one to be fitted in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Yes, I have one (a Reveal) and it’s been replaced once. What are you curious about? I’ll try and answer.

[Taz70 in reply to Kristin1812]

Hi, thanks for your reply, im just curious on how the procedure went on having it fitted and any problems with them. Has it been a useful but of kit with help diagnosing heart problems etc. My gp told us last week he's requesting I get a pacemaker fitted asap so the cardiologist wants me to have the loop recorder first to help diagnose whats going and get all the data first before he makes the decision. Also if im having these episodes daily will the data been seen by the cardiologist weekly or every 6 months etc?

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Taz70]

My loop recorder has been v little problem, and was simple to insert. To be honest I’m not really sure how important in my case, the data from the loop recorder was in diagnosing AF (which has now improved vastly once my drugs were juggled), as Paramedics had found AF on my ECG, when they attended to me at around the same time,

Mine records directly and continuously to the Regional specialist Heart Centre, and I understand that if anything untoward is recorded, they will contact you and take action, I can also alert the Centre directly myself, if I have had a heart ‘event’. They then take a detailed look at the recording.

[Taz70 in reply to Kristin1812]

Thanks for the information it's reassuring to hear from someone's own experiences and how it's helped them along the way. Hopefully it won't be too long before it's fitted and I can get a conclusion to it all.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Hopefully, if you are getting episodes each day it shouldn’t be too long before they have a good picture of what’s happening. I just hope they get the loop recorder done soon.

[Taz70 in reply to Kristin1812]

Bradycardia episodes from 28- 42 average and tachycardia of 120-150 while going upstairs plus the usual pvc and svt. He did say 2 wks waiting list so fingers crossed it won't be too long.Thanks again for the advice.

[Stanley18]

You might find this ICM/ILR educational event useful. I have watched others in the series. The webinar is available on demand and hopefully you can still register after the event.

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[Taz70 in reply to Stanley18]

Thanks for the link I will check it out over the wknd.

[Beejaysee]

Hi Taz70 - I had a loop recorder fitted in Feb 2022 after having had intermittent blackouts (usually many months apart) and the usual procession of ecg, Echo, dynamic ecg, Holter monitors of increasing length and angiogram- all showing no issues during the checks. The loop recorder did its job and when I blacked out in March (4 times in two days),the pacing clinic picked up sinus pauses (up to 20 seconds) twice then complete heart blocks (up to 30 seconds) twice over my monitor and contacted my cardiologist who phoned me and got me straight into hospital for a pacemaker.Without the loop recorder, I could have gone on blacking out (sudden no notice collapses) and eventually injuring myself badly - I ended up in A&E twice having knocked myself out after collapsing on hard surfaces with multi day stays.

Some people have the loop recorder for years without picking anything up but many others, like me, have very quick results.

For blackouts, I think the loop recorder should be a first step rather than a last step - unless you’re actually on an ecg or Holter when it happens then it doesn’t get picked up.

The procedure was simple and quick done under local anaesthetic and the recorder was about the size of a cigarette slipped under the skin to the side of the heart.

Good luck 👍

[Taz70 in reply to Beejaysee]

Hi Beejaysee, having all them blackouts must of been very worrying for you after having all the test done previously without it being detected. The ILR has proved to be a vital bit of kit in detecting your heart problem and getting the treatment you urgently needed. Like you I've had many test done over the past two years being ecg, echo, mri, bloods, exercise test and holter monitors etc and diagnosed with bradycardia, mvp and lvh so with any luck the loop recorder will help catching episodes as they happen. I get very tired, my hr drops to 38/42 and I feel like I'm going to blackout so I have to sit down and rest for about an hour till it passes. I have blacked out once back in 2018 while going to the bathroom in the early morning I remember the noise of hitting the floor but not the fall. Thanks again for sharing your own story and take care,

Taz70.

[Beejaysee in reply to Taz70]

Hi Taz70, a lot of familiar symptoms there - esp blacking out without recollecting the fall and hr of 38/40 and exhaustion. Hope you get the ILR soon and, if needed, the pacemaker (makes a huge difference having the reassurance that your heart won’t drop below 50 suddenly).Good luck 👍, B

[Horse6]

Hi, I have a loop recorder fitted , the procedure was fine with no problems. I have to download it every 6 months but when I thought I was having a lot of episodes I phoned the hospital and they told me to download it then so they could have a look at it. However it didn’t show anything up though I was sure I was having lots of palpitations. They give you a patient assistant thing so that you can record anything that happens when you are away from the actual monitor and it shows up for them to see more easily, not sure exactly how this works. I went on the Medtronic website and got information.Good luck !

[Taz70 in reply to Horse6]

Hi Horse6, thats my same worry if I feel episodes as they happen but it doesn't record or pick it up but good to know the team are there to help and advise you along the way.Take care

Taz30.

[Fazerboy]

I had a linq recorder fitted about 4 years ago. Its about 35mm long and about 4mm diameter (I think). Simple to put it in. Its not even noticeable and I’m very slim. Mine was brilliant in confirming that I had svt. I’ve had an ablation now so no more svt episodes. The battery is going flat so they will take it out one day. I’ll miss it. It was quite reassuring knowing that with one press of my key fob I could record, save and send 8 minutes of hr data to my cardiologist.

[Taz70 in reply to Fazerboy]

Hi Fazerboy, glad to see the ILR helped you get the treatment you needed. I've had lots of daily episodes of bradycardia, pvc, svt etc , I've also bought a kardiamobile 6l which has documented these too which I explained to my cardiologist hence why he wants me to have the ILR. Fingers crossed I will get an appointment in the next couple of weeks and some conclusion to it all soon.Best wishes

Taz70.

[Nanpap]

Hi, I had an implant fitted, 2020, a simple procedure, a little sore afterwards but not unbearable.

Within 3 days of the fitting I had a call to say I needed a pacemaker within 24hrs due to complete heart block, so for me it was a life saver. I hope all goes well for you.

[Taz70 in reply to Nanpap]

Morning Nanpap, 3 days then a pacemaker fitted obviously the loop recorder done it's job in detecting your condition and getting you the treatment you so urgently needed. If you don't mind me asking what symptoms were you having beforehand to have the loop recorder fitted. I've had many days and episodes of events and I know something isn't right even being in the ambulance from work with a heart rate of 30 had the paramedics worried. My gp has requested the pacemaker but my cardiologist wants some more data first because I'm 50 he's worried im too young but has said if I need one he will fit one hence the loop recorder. Thanks for sharing your story and best wishes. Taz30.

[Nanpap in reply to Taz70]

Hi Taz, My story is quite a long one so I’ll try and keep it brief😉.

I started getting symptoms of feeling like I was going to black out, with either a sharp shrill in my ears or my hearing completely blocked. I only had these symptoms at rest, I was fine otherwise, only once did I have an episode when I was busy. I’d wake in the night feeling that my heart had stopped, a little breathless, I had a strong feeling that I needed to get up and move, or if I didn’t I wouldn’t come round from it all very scary. I had a few trips to A&E like you the paramedics were concerned, but after tests told there was nothing wrong with my heart. I knew something wasn’t right so paid for a second opinion, again after all the tests told nothing was wrong, I knew there was, so paid for a 3rd opinion at Papworth, finally someone listened, got me in for a loop, which found the problem then a pacemaker. It took me a while to come to terms with it all, but now 18 months on I don’t think about it as much and can get on with my life and enjoy life and being a Nanny to all my Grandchildren.

I was 61 years old when my loop was fitted, it was removed the same time as my pacemaker was fitted. I have a monitor by my bed, for my pacemaker that keeps track and I can ring up the Arrythmia nurses if I’m concerned at all.

My advice would be only you know your own body and go with your gut feeling, and don’t give up if you feel somethings amiss.

[Taz70]

Thankyou! that means a lot to me as I've had many episodes over the past 2 years and got to the stage thinking is it in my head. Going from being fit and active to someone who's always having daily episodes while trying to carry on a normal working /home life is difficult. You hate talking about it to family or work friends while waiting for test or results to come back and getting nowhere quickly. Like you said you know your own body best so being told last wk by my gp after looking at my holter monitor results and being asymptomatic that i urgently needed a pacemaker was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders but also shock too. And I also agree with the cardiologist about having the loop recorder first to get a clearer picture before any decisions are made like you yourself I may not have to wait too long. Back in March the cardiologist stopped my bisoprolol as my heart rate was between 34-44 and he wanted a clear picture of my resting heart rate off the meds but did say if its still low he will fit a pacemaker.....its still between 38-42 and I'm asymptomatic with it last week it was 28 then 152 walking upstairs?. Im so glad you pushed with a 3rd opinion which was a life saver for you and you got the treatment you needed.Take care and thanks again

Taz.

[CockapooHenry]

I had a linq recorder fitted 3 weeks ago after having dizzy spells and blackouts lasting a few seconds for the past couple of years. It was a very simple op and no problems afterwards. A little bruising but that has gone now.I'm not sure how long I'm going to be monitored for and I'll be asking that next week as for the first main week of monitor fitted I was not able to have cellular or Wi-Fi connection to enable the app to talk to the monitor and clinic. The battery has a life of around 4-5 years and you can elect to have the recorder removed but it is quite safe to stay in situ. The nurse did explain to me that it will need to be removed if you are to be cremated though😨

I hope everyone on this forum gets comfort from sharing their experiences.

[Taz70 in reply to CockapooHenry]

Hi CockapooHenry, like you others have said the procedure is painless with possibly some bruising afterwards and the cardiologist said they can leave it in unless they need to fit a pacemaker which means it would have to be removed prior to fitting. Hope all goes well with the recorder and keep us updated on your journey. Best wishes

Taz70.

[Glen1677]

Mine only lasted a year or so before the battery died which was bad luck more than anything. All good fun when a chest x-ray is involved, it doesn't matter how often I mention it someone always asks if I was wearing a necklace or holding something in front of my chest at the crucial moment. I usually say I was holding something and the bones in my hand are invisible on x-ray. 😀

[Taz70 in reply to Glen1677]

I believe you have to carry a card around with you for airport security checks etc? Fun and games to be had.Regards

Taz70.

[Nanpap in reply to Taz70]

Hi Taz, I really do sympathise with you, I too was put on Bisoporal and felt dreadful heart rate in the 30’s and taken of it, and like you I was fit and healthy, no medical problems before at all, also like you I was beginning to feel like it was all in my head, ( as did some of the medics I saw!!)

, I have felt really well since my pacemaker, mines set to kick in if my heart rate goes below 60 or over 140, I’ve had the occasional dizziness, but nothing at all like before, I’ve been abroad and to concerts with security gates, yes you have a card and are just shown around the gates and are manually checked no probs at all.

I wish you well, take care, listen to your body and I hope you get sorted very soon, keep us posted. 😉

[Taz70 in reply to Nanpap]

Thanks, I will keep you posted on how I get on hopefully it won't be too long now. Take care and thanks again for your advice.