Update on my previous post

[Yumz199725]

I spoke with consultant and he recommends I have an ecg at my local gp and because its very hard to detect my palpitations on a holter monitor he suggested trying to monitor it on a reliable heart rate app I found the most reliable one called (Fibricheck) has anyone else used this? And was it able to actually detect an abnormal rhythm? its very good did my heart rate didn't detect anything abnormal yet I'm supposed to do it first thing in the morning and last thing at night but I was just testing it to see if its legit, and it is.

[Chinkoflight]

Hi Yumz199725Looking at your biog it seems like your Consultant is suggesting you go back to your GP to start a new referral if the GP finds evidence. Someone else asked about devices that might monitor/detect Atrial Fibrillation.

Here is a copy of my reply to that query. It may help but I may be wide of the mark.

Kardia came recommended by my GP as a means of monitoring HR prior to further investigations. However, I am not aware of AF occuring (if it does) so the Kardia is hit and miss. For me it has shown sinus rhythm, bradycardia and ectopic beats. Occasionally it cannot determine an event, and this is associated with when it picks up several ectopics. My smart watch (OSWear) shows very occasional short lived peaks, 200+, but cannot offer diagnostic advice in the UK. Again, I see these post hoc (I don't have the alarm set).Have you had a diagnosis of AF, via ECG etc? If not, then you probably should have a health check with your GP.

I have had a couple of ECG's Holters, and recently a 7day Holter ECG but always inconclusive. I think there can be quite a likelihood of poor data from them.

Some Health Area's , certainly Birmingham/W Midlands have been trialling a small implantable LINQ ECG which uses AI with a claimed very high reliability to spot an episode. This links up with your smartphone and sends an alert out to the Cardio team with the data.

The trial has been conclusive, finding occasional but very significant AF in patients with no explanation for a previous health event. My circumstance is an unexplained severe stroke.

Now my local area is following this lead and I am now on the list for an implant. The device can work for 3-5 years on the one battery. It's around 5x1x1 cms and sits just under the clavicle bone , upper chest.

Hope this helps.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Chinkoflight]

Thanks this did help yeah I forgot to mention they would arrange the ecg with my GP and my palpitations never show up on a holter monitor or ecg so it's always inconclusive aswell so are you getting an implanted loop recorder sorry to hear about the stroke that's awful my mum has had two mini strokes and she is partially blind in one eye because of it ❤️

[Chinkoflight in reply to Yumz199725]

Yes, I am on the list, no date yet. Strokes do cause anxiety, mine was severe, total loss of right side movement, speech and some sight, blue lighted, specialist stroke nurses in A&E, thrombolysed, life came back! The cause would be a clot from the heart or carotids but no evidence for source so cryptogenic. Most likely AF or possibly a sort of hole in the heart malfunction. But ECG Holters are not actually very good unless something is glaringly obvious. I asked my GP about the LINQ device but that is a specialist recommendation. Out of the blue the stroke consultant phoned and said she was going to ask the Cardio lot to consider it, so whether she has now been looking at the Birmingham research who knows.I asked a question about LINQ and a couple of people like me replied and said it picked up a random event in the first month for which they subsequently had new treatment. Everyone said 'go for it'.

I'm sorry about your mum. When I went in, I was the worst affected by a mile with a very poor prognosis. Sadly the people with mild strokes , (no such thing in my book) all stayed in hospital because slow treatment had left them with a disability.

I have some memory and language issues but physically I'm OK.

You have had a lifetime of health intervention . You must be very stoical. I hope you continue to get only the best from the health service.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Chinkoflight]

I'm so glad you are on the list hope you get one soon. Yeah I agree no such thing as a mild stroke worse part about it for my mum she had no idea she was having them accept we noticed she kept having massive blood clots in her eye and then she got it confirmed by speecsavers. Aw sounds like it affected you quite a bit but sounds like they got to you straight away saved your life! ❤️. Yeah I've had alot of hospital appointments and few medical interventions. I just wanted to ask you something do you know anything about POTS cause I'm not sure it's a heart rhythm problem I'm having because of the way I've been feeling, breathless, sick, not sleeping great, lightheaded and my heart rate goes up alot from standing up I only know this cause I used that fibricheck app sitting down was 63 and then standing up went to 103 so I'm gona see at doctors about it can't hurt to check can it cause I just feel lousy 24/7.

Take care ❤️

[Chinkoflight in reply to Yumz199725]

Hi, I can't help on the POTS, just looked it up and I do get occasional dizziness, yes getting up out of a chair! But again random, and infrequent but I do think a symptom and GP accepts it as a symptom but my BP is always good. A tip is if you have a BP monitor, cuff type, take some daily readings before your GP appointment. They much prefer the reliability of home readings. I think it's sensible to get to the GP asap and do share your research with them, I don't think they are as concerned about googling these days especially if you use reliable sources. The BHF have just released on Health Unlocked a 'programme' on AF which is quite good in general terms. Good luck.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Chinkoflight]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah I think I'm definitely gona go to the GP because something isn't right I'm not sure what it is though. I emailed my consultant and a nurse called me I spoke with her for about 10 minutes and she said she will talk to my team and then get back to me but definitely going gp on Monday or if not then Tuesday. ❤️

[Hidden]

Hi

I have been diagnosed with AF and have just tried the app, it flagged up that I have AF. Hope that helps.

Take care

[Yumz199725 in reply to Hidden]

Wow that's really good sorry to hear about the AF though was it purely because of this app or before the app and the app just confirmed it. I can't seem to get my palpitations to happen when I'm doing the Fibricheck measurement they happen so randomly and then suddenly stop for no reason how did you catch yours on there do they happen all the time? ❤️

[Hidden in reply to Yumz199725]

I just tried the app for you so that you'd know if it's accurate.

Yes, I've had 24/7 AF for 2 years, but only had tests recently and got my diagnosis a month ago. I had a holter ECG when it first started that was inconclusive and was given a low dose of beta blocker, it didn't make any difference, so I went back to GP in November, now the AF has been confirmed along with 2 leaky valves and enlarged upper chambers. Trying out different combinations of meds now to slow my heart rate down, its ongoing.

I hope you manage to capture the evidence you need with the app, I would take readings several times a day, not just twice.

Take care

[Yumz199725 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks this is very helpful. How many times would you suggest??, glad you finally got a diagnosis sounds like it took alot of keep going back to your GP. Yeah holter monitors are always inconclusive they don't pick up anything I've had sooo many I've lost count how many I've had. Sorry to hear you have 2 leaky valves I have one thats bad enough 😞😕. Thanks again and I hope i can capture a ectopic beat on my app its hopeless had random ectopic beats for 3 days straight was a nightmare but this was before I had the app. ❤️

[Hidden]

I would say the more the better really, more chance of catching yourself in AF.

Take care and Happy New Year

[Yumz199725 in reply to Hidden]

I think I got something but I'm not sure I sent it off to be looked by an expert and they sent back saying isolated ectopic beats but no action required I don't know whether to send to my consultant or wait till I actually pick one up on my app 😳😕

[Yumz199725]

Oh and thank you Dancer1957 can't believe how fast this year has flown by in it. 😱