24 Hour ECG Tape.. I hope it's comfortable enough to sleep!

[Lauralulu]

Hello, so I mentioned in my previous post about being referred to a cardiologist. They have been really quick on getting through to me and today I have received my letter to go along to an appointment next Thursday to have my ECG monitor fitted then removed on the Friday. I'm just interested if any of you here have had it done and what to experience etc? Also if you had a diagnosis made from it at all? I experience palpitations and occasional chest pain, but have also been picked up to having a extremely high heart rate of 125 bpm. The only problem is that some days I go completely fine without palpitations/ chest pain (I don't know if on them days my heart rate is normal or not as I don't measure it.) I'm just wondering If i typically have a 'good' day then how will they respond hope they still investigate. Thank you xxx

[PMRpro]

If you have a really good day - tell them! Not a lot of point if whatever it is didn't happen - though honestly, you would be surprised what they find. OH had one done and they found he has almost permanent mild atrial fibrillation - totally unaware!

I've had a couple of 24 hour Holter ECGs and it really isn't as bad you'd think. They do an ECG first then stick the electrodes on after roughing up the skin a bit so they make good contact. That's it - you go away with a bit of paper to make notes on of what you are doing - stairs, exercise, eating etc with the times or whether you feel anything. Finding a comfortable position to sleep depends on how you usually sleep - it didn't bother me as much as I thought. When I had a BP one done I slept with a pillow to make it more comfortable. The worst thing for me was itching under the electrodes - the sticky stuff! But they gave me some cream that calmed it down very quickly.

Don't use your mobile phone - it messes up the trace and you'll just have to do it again. I have a stick for internet on my computer which is effectively a phone - I didn't think and the entire tracing was unusable so I had to do it again! Which isn't fun...

[Ianrussell69]

Hi it's no prob 4 stickers on your chest and a little box the size of an old iPod I Wes the same palpatetions had thr recorder hart was perfect went on tread mill week later and it showed up ventricular tachycardia they just left it no Meds and a cheque up every 3 months for a yr

[cowhide]

I'm having a 24 hour tape fitted next Monday too - like you I have some palpitations but not every day so they might not pick anything up. Reading the replies you have already had, I note the comment about the itching - I get an allergic reaction to Elastoplast and the glue in many dressings so will make sure that I mention that as it might use the same resin. Hope it's going to stay on OK as I am supposed to be chasing cows around on Monday afternoon!

[Hidden]

I had one a few years ago for a week. It did become so itchy that I had to stop after five days but all that showed was ectopic beats . I had skin biopsies from my chest a few weeks before so the timing wasn't great re itching as the sticky tabs were attached to skin including fresh scar tissue! Sure 24 hour one won't cause any annoyance though. I've had lots of ECG tests and they have to be the least invasive tests possible, holtor monitor included. Hopefully the results will put your mind at rest but it is good to have it properly checked.

[Shann07]

Im waiting to get this too. I had awful palpatations this past few months so my dr referred me for this & Ive been referrred to cardiologist. Ive had palpatations & chest pain in the past and did see a cardiologist and all was good. I recently found out Im deficient in folate so my dr started me on folic acid and iron daily. Since starting the folic acid my palpatations have more or less stopped, so Im hoping they were related to my deficiency. I also have a chronic pulmonary embolism so Im bit worried that this is causing some heart symptoms now, fingers crossed its just the iron though! Hope your results are all good too.

[Buffy14]

Hi , I have to have one for 28 days because I keep going light headed and I fainted in march due to a vasovagal attack , don't know why they think it could be my heart .

[PMRpro in reply to Buffy14]

A common cause of fainting attacks can be your heart having a long gap between contractions. It is quite common in some arrythmias. But you could sit with your finger on someone's pulse for hours and not catch it...

[Buffy14 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank-you , she said because I don't have the dizziness every day she wanted the long 28 day check and if nothing shows she will do another month , seemed concerned the attacks start while I am sitting sometimes .

[PMRpro in reply to Buffy14]

Yes, "just a faint" rarely happens when you are seated - they can do but it is really unusual. The fact it happens when you are sitting as well suggests a heart-related cause. I'm pleased she is taking it seriously and investigating properly and not just giving the usual guff of "your age", "the lupus", "your medications".

[Buffy14 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes she was very good , I was very surprised though that they think it's a heart problem , I have been thinking my head again , had an acoustic neuroma 2008 followed by many complications , seizure , blood clot on brain, leaks of CSF fluid , meningitis etc and so associated the light headed feeling as yet another problem connected to all that , they did CT scan and MRI scan though and nothing new showed on those . Thanks for your help .