Implantable Heart Recorder reading

[KiwinLondon]

I've just had an Implantable Heart Recorder inserted to measure Long QT Syndrome. I'd like to get a reading from the device so I can better understand my condition, and what activities might be related might set it off. I also need to update things like Parkrun record, Blood Donation, etc. How will this condition this condition affect life insurance?

Very many thanks in advance

[Scotsman53]

Hi, I had one of these before I got my pacemaker. Sorry but I don't believe there's any way you can get a reading from it, only the medics have that kind of access. However even if you could, interpretation of ECGs requires training, I very much doubt that it would be useful, and it might cause needless anxiety. As for things like Parkrun etc I believe how they're affected will depend on the severity of the condition. I'd advise waiting until tests are complete and treatment is decided, then go from there.

[L8Again]

My wife had an ILR fitted a year ago. Depending on what the clinicians are looking for, they will have set a number of alert parameters. For example, my wife had TLoC and I recall that one of her parameters is a heart pause greater than 4 seconds. If this happens then the device stores a short section of ECG traces prior to and after the event. To our knowledge there is no way for the patient to directly access this information. It has to be recovered and entered into a bespoke software package.

ILRs do have an impact on insurance. I cannot speak for life insurance but it is a fact that travel insurance can be difficult to get. The reason for this appears to be that underwriters treat an ILR as an indication of an unknown heart condition. Until they know what the condition is, then the risk cannot be properly assessed.

[pete109]

I'm pretty sure that these just record the heart rhythm over a long period, not a full ECG trace.