New to this

[MDSN]

Hi I just discovered this site. I am a scared 62 year old with a confirmed mild coronary artery disease (35% block in 1 artery diagnosed through CT). I started wearing a Polar H10 HRM in December and noticed that even with slow jogging of 5 minutes my HR was shooting up to 180 and I wasn't feeling too well. I then got and started wearing a GW3 which shows ECG and it started showing AFibs every day. I took my concerns to a GP who asked me to stop wearing the watch as it was causing me unnecessary anxiety. I then went to another GP who referred me to a cardiologist for a 24 hour Holter monitor. During the time I had the Holter monitor I didn't perform any cardio but the report showed I had several episodes of supraventricular ectopics and ventricular ectopics and a max HR of 179. The cardiologist report showed longest tachycardia 1:25:35 141bpm longest r-r interval of 1.16secs. I am unable to make sense from these readings, but the cardiologist report to my GP seems to suggest it is all ok but I am not feeling ok with a constant heavy sensation in my chest.

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Hi MDSN,I don't have the same condition as yours but I am relatively recently diagnosed with Afib which has taken just over four years! So much of this time delay was because of the medical profession's disdain for the electronic devices we all have access to now which can show when all's not well. And I actually already knew all was not well, as I was feeling it, and that's why I tried the devices to start with!

I do understand that devices aren't considered to be scientific evidence of a problem, and can't provide a diagnosis, but surely they could be considered as part of the pattern of evidence that an elusive problem has been going on, and it would be really nice if doctors could understand that its not necessarily anxiety or over-enthusiasm in using a device which is disturbing us, but having a health issue which is not being properly addressed, just because it's not there at the time a health professional checks us.

The bottom line for you is that you still don't feel OK. I think that, since your Holter monitor did show evidence of a problem, you can be reassured that whatever your problem is, it's not of a critical nature, but I don't think that means that you should give up on finding out exactly what's making you feel unwell. I do regret allowing myself to be put off for two of the four years in which I sought a diagnosis, because nothing could be found on investigation, during which the Afib became much more frequent and inconvenient.

So I'm all for perseverance with the medical profession until you feel happy that there's nothing serious wrong, whether that's with the use of a personal device, or not.

[HamishBoxer]

I would want a second opinion.

[MDSN in reply to HamishBoxer]

Thanks. I have now sought a second referral. An appointment is some weeks off. I'll see how it goes. BTW I am fit for my age and of normal weight maintaining a good lifestyle. Therefore the issues that have manifested are to me quite alarming. Till a year ago I could do a 5 km run no problem. Now a 5 minute slow jog causes me grief. My body at least one night a week twitches with a sudden shocking spasm from my chest, the episodes are very infrequent but concerning.