My fitbit tracker can't get a consistent HR reading while i'm asleep or awake.

[DizzyD]

Hi all hope everyone is well

First of all when it comes to monitoring heart rate etc, I am aware that fitbit tracker is not everyone's cup of tea. Thing is since i bought mine a few years ago it has always been so reliable and dependable....never let me down.

I diagnosed with afib, mild mitral stenosis, enlarged heart and I had a stent fitted 16 May 2023. Medication list is clopidigrol, apixaban, statins. Due to adverse reactions in the past, I cannot be prescribed any anti arrhythmia or rate control medication to treat afib.

Since 7 February this year i have been admitted to hospital a few times with very symptomatic afib (once taken directly to ACCU). Upon discharge i was told when i attended A+E again with afib they could only monitor me...no treatment available.

As of yet, 9mths post stent i have not had any follow up. Have had symptoms (tight discomfort front of chest area, band like feeling around chest, slight chest pain) which started 2 weeks after stent was fitted which i kept reporting to cardio rehab via phone calls from them but nothing came of that. Was discharged from cardio rehab about 3 months ago if not longer.

So thats the background information out of the the way so getting on with issue that is concerning me, namely: For over past two weeks, i haven't been able to get any consistent Heart Rate reading what so ever on my fitbit tracker while I'm awake or asleep which is really unusual. Its been a long time since i had NSR reading. However, i do sometimes get AFib notifications but that's about it. Even when afib stops I cannot get NSR reading which is usually the norm once afib stops.

Normally, my device records sleep stages ie deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep or wake periods. over the past two weeks i have no sleep stages recorded because my tracker cannot get a consistent heart rate readings while i sleep. Cannot get NSR reading while i'm awake neither just inconsistent, all the time.

Not sure what i should do about this. Not sure if i should ignore these findings or what. Just know this is very unusual.

Really would appreciate some advice.

thank you

[Happyrosie]

it’s faintly possible that your Fitbit is old? I’ve had a few, and they tended to fail after a year or two .

[DizzyD in reply to Happyrosie]

Fitbit is fine....tested it on friend his heart recording were fine.

[DizzyD in reply to Happyrosie]

Just looked inconsistent heart rate up on Dr Google....just means i have constant arrhythmias which is why i cannot get NSR reading. Obviously, things are going downhill for me.

[Fanfab1]

you could try a pulse oximeter just to see what it shows regards pulse / heart beat so you can compare and confirm your heart rate can be detected and / or you Fitbit is working or not? Hopefully you know someone you can borrow one from rather than buy. Or BP monitor. might exclude fit bit not working properly.

I’d take dr google - unless it’s NHS site or BHF or an accredited/ verified medical article / research document - with a pinch of salt.

👍

[DizzyD in reply to Fanfab1]

Hi Fanfab1 sincere thanks for your reply. I never doubted for a minute that my fitbit was at fault in anyway. It,s quite frustrating when all other info i supplied in my initial post is not mentioned but fitbit devive takes centre stage. No disrespect to you, i appreciate your response, but i will never mention FITBIT in title of post ever again.Anyway, lol i found a oximeter in my bedside draw. Wont go into details, but it, like my fitbit confirmed i do have a continual inconsistant heart rate which means i have had constant arrthytmias for the past 2 weeks.

Once again thank you

Have a rewarding day

[Fanfab1 in reply to DizzyD]

Oh dear - Without getting into anything cos life is painful enough (literally) I don’t believe I criticised the fitbit (it was not my intention I have no bais towards or against - I have an Apple Watch so……).

I was just offering up an option that might act as a comparison to see what’s going on and hey presto it showed it was consistent / similar with an oximeter but unfortunately shows there may be an health issue. Hope you get the help needed.

I had myself tested my Apple Watch with my oximeter to see how reliable regards blood oxygen (1% difference) that’s why offered it up as an option. It was just a thought maybe my grammar was off. (I keep getting a range of 88% to 97% most nights whilst asleep per Apple Watch but been cleared of sleep apnea). But it was the watch that the GP took account of when he made referral for sleep test. So for me these devices can be informative give or take a margin for inaccuracy. I’m going to try sleeping with oximeter on all night as an experiment but it’ll probably end up on the floor or down the bottom of the bed. But if the alarm goes off 😳

👍

[benjijen]

Although trackers can be out on their reporting they should be consistent. I've had various ones for some years now. Mine sometimes doesn't register, it didn't Saturday night! I checked and gave the back another clean and it seems to be OK now. These contacts can look clean but may have oils or sweat on them which you're unable to see. I also leave it off for a few hours every couple of weeks. The oximeter recommended in the above reply could be worth trying.

[DizzyD]

Hi benjijen sincere thank you for your reply. Understand that trackers can go off kilter but mine is still records everything and sends afib notification.I know info they provide are not scientific medical evidence but they do indicate changes that have occured.

Over past 2 wks i have not been able to get a single NSR reading (repeatedly taken manully on screen corners when resting/relaxed) all come up inconsistent.

Recorded heart graph display show erratic reading during longish periods of rest that can be highter than activity period on heart graph.

It was only yesterday that i decided to take notice of sleep pattern records which has been showing as a continual blue line for 2wks. Device comment states: Tracker cannot get a consistent heart rate reading during your sleep time.

Conclusion i have reached: constant arrthyhmias...this explains it all.

Lol found a oximeter in bedside drawer. Oxygen flipping about all over the place highest 100 lowest 95. BPM all over the place lowest 54 highest 79. Hence these reading, like my fitbit are not consistent heart rate reading.

No disrespect to you, but i feel like i have been on a mission to justify that my firbit is not a fault.

As a point of interest sometimes when i attend a+e i am too ill to explain whats going on in great detail so i just hold up graph of heart recording to nurses, doctors and they extract info from it.

Sorry for long reply. Sincere thank you

[Simcoxh]

Hi there so sorry your having all this going on ..I know a little bit ..there was a discussion a few days,ago about fit bit trackers they stated alot are unreliable and different makes give different readings so I feel not worth it really..I suffer with AFIB and have a katdiaMobile a device which monitors your AFIB ..all you do is down load the AP ..the device is small and you Just put your fingers on from either hand and it the ecg tells you what if your in AF..you cam also monitor your blood pressure too ..hope that helps ..I take Apixaban and suffer with shortness of breath bit I take other medicines as well ..o the whole im ok ..