Holter monitor results not back yet?: Does anyone... - Thyroid UK

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Holter monitor results not back yet?

Melaniejm92 profile image
37 Replies

Does anyone know how long it takes to get the results from a 24 holter monitor and how do you hear back? It's been just over 3 weeks. My doctor arranged the holter monitor but I went to the hospital to get it fitted. I rang the doctors today and she said there was no results yet. Do I have to ring the hospital? Or will either the doctors/hospital eventually get back to me? I had the monitor fitted as I am having missed beats.

Thanks for any help.

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Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92
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37 Replies
bantam12 profile image
bantam12

The results will go back to your GP, depending on how many cardiology have to report on it can take a while, maybe if it still isn't in next week ask your GP surgery to chase it.

Missed beats are frequently extra beats but doesn't feel like that, called ectopic beats and usually considered normal, I have had it for years.

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to bantam12

Ok, I will give them a ring next week if I haven't heard anything by then. I get the missed beats (extra beats) everyday and can have quite a few in a day sometimes up to 10 sometimes more. Did they give you anything for your it? Thanks for your help :)

bantam12 profile image
bantam12 in reply to Melaniejm92

I can get them every few minutes, my monitor recorded runs of 9 ectopics multiple times during the 24 hours.

My Cardiologist is not worried as they are normal, so I just have to live with it.

When you feel one starting try taking a deep breath, it can stop it.

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to bantam12

Did your cardiologist say that it could get worse or better as your living with it? And will it effect you anyway? E.g will it affect the way you live, is there anything you have to avoid doing.

bantam12 profile image
bantam12 in reply to Melaniejm92

It's not considered a medical problem, more a normal occurrence and often related to stress, the more you worry about it the worse it will seem.

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to bantam12

I've had my results back (had to ring the doctors who then rang the triage team) and eventually the triage team rang me to tell me my results. She said that the only thing they found from my 24hr holter monitor was that I have a fast heart rate and never mentioned anything about missed beats so they mustn't have shown up on my results. She said that I could go on medication for it or just get on with it. Not sure what to do as I've heard medication could make things worse.

bantam12 profile image
bantam12 in reply to Melaniejm92

I've taken beta blockers for both fast heartrate and ectopics but they do cause side effects so I don't take anything now, once you know everything is ok it's easier to deal with.

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to bantam12

Yeah I've read that a lot of people found that they got side effects which made them worse. So I think I'm just going to get on with it and see how I go, if it gets any worse then I may consider going on medication. Have your fast heart rate/ectopics got any worse since being told about them?

bantam12 profile image
bantam12 in reply to Melaniejm92

I get spells when they are worse but on the whole I can manage. There are different beta blockers so you may find one you are ok with, I took the lowest dose but they still made me very tired.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

I think from the replies you had last week you'll know that there's no set procedure. I told you I didn't hear anything at all, my surgery didn't bother to contact me despite the results showing 2 episodes of tachycardia and multiple ectopic heartbeats. I only found out when I went to see the nurse practioner about something else and said I hadn't heard anything.

As your GP arranged it the results will go back to your surgery and I expect they will contact you if they think you need further investigation. If you don't hear, ring them again every week.

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to SeasideSusie

That's ridiculous not hearing back about it, could've been really serious not knowing about it. I will defo keep contacting them about it. I'm going on holiday in a couple of weeks so would like to know before then in case I need medication etc.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Melaniejm92

It's annoying really as they knew it was a trip to A&E with a HR of 178 that prompted this. It was only because I had to call an ambulance a second time for tachycardia plus 3 more episodes that I am now referred to Cardiology but all I am getting is 3 week monitor and I have a 2 month wait for that to be fitted.

I hope you have better service than my experience.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to SeasideSusie

Poor you SS it truly is disgusting service-just found out after 7 weeks wait that my holter monitor results were lost in the system on surgeries computer for 3 weeks so no gp had viewed them!!😨😨

Hey you are now a Adminstrator.😊😊😊

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to SeasideSusie

I have eventually heard back for my results. I had to ring the doctors for it and then wait for the triage team to get back to me. The only thing she said was that my 24hr holter monitor showed that I had a fast heart rhythm, she never mentioned any missed beats etc. She just said that I could go on medication for it or just get on with it. Not sure what to do as I've heard medication can make it worse or do nothing at all for it.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Melaniejm92

Melaniejm92

Did she say how fast? Is it fast all the time or sporadic?

I think you should check out the medication and see what side effects there can be then make a decision.

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to SeasideSusie

No she never said, I'm assuming it's not that fast if she's happy for me not to go on medication. I have taken my pulse at rest before and it has been around 100-102 area

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Melaniejm92

Melanie

60-100 is classed as normal resting pulse rate.

I have a pulseoximeter as I have a lung disease and I occasionally check my oxygen saturation, so I can always check my heart rate when I feel something isn't right.

You could just keep your eye on things, keep a diary, if you get palpitations or tachycardia then go back for further checks.

As I experience episodes of tachycardia I was told that if heart rate goes above 120 I should call an ambulance, but I've also been told that the number doesn't matter, it's the symptoms that matter so to call an ambulance when feeling symptoms. Right hand/left hand jumps to mind here!!!

I'm still waiting for my 3 week heart monitor, should be fitted 24th May.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

I had .y holter done on march 7th and i rang the hospital 3 days ago and they said they have only just been sent to the gp then!! She said it can take upto 7 weeks.☺

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to Rmichelle

They never told me anything haha they just stuck the monitor on and sent me away lol ah god 7 weeks! I hope they let me know before I go on holiday in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help :)

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

Yes they done the same to me-i rang cardio and they said they can not tell you results over the phone but they have been sent to gp by internal post that will take another week to reach them from hospital!!😨 well its now been 7 weeks so cant be anything drastically wrong.😊 hope yiurs come back soon. Happy hols.x

dang profile image
dang

The results are recorded constantly and immediately in the monitor itself. All they need to do is download the results which generally happens the day you return the monitor to them, then the doc looks over them (since there is a shortage of monitors and you probably had to wait weeks to borrow yours, they download the results in the morning and the monitor is already out being used by the next patient by the afternoon). A computer would even indicate how many skipped beats you had, any extra systole, general bpm (waking and sleeping) and whatever else, all he/she has to do is read the report. I suspect your results have been ready and there must be some mix-up as to why your doctor hasn’t called you yet.

When I did my holter Monitor I had a meeting with the doc the same week to go over the results.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to dang

I agree😊 as ive just mentioned below mine were lost in the system, so no gp have seen them!! At least they have them now.😊

dang profile image
dang in reply to Rmichelle

That’s good to hear!

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

Just to update you on my situation-ive called gps again just and my results have been sitting there for 3 weeks, no gp has even seen them yet as they were sitting in some obsecure file on the computer, it took receptionist 20 mins to find them and she apologised that they had not been seen by gp-i have appointment on tuesday with doctor so he can view and let me know good or bad.😊😊 keep chasing they could be lost?

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to Rmichelle

I rang the doctors yesterday and she said there was nothing back yet, so I'm hoping they are still viewing them and they haven't been lost. Hope all goes well for you on your appointment 😊

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to Rmichelle

Just rang the cardiology department and they say the monitor results are on back log. So I'm guessing it hasn't even been seen yet and is waiting in a queue somewhere 🙄 god knows how long this will take.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to Melaniejm92

You beat me to my reply 2 mins ago-yes a consultant will have to view them before they get sent!! When i intitally rang cardio 1st it had been 5 weeks and only just internal posted out which can take upto 5 days after. If i was you leave it a week now as them results are not going anywhere!!

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

Just keep a eye on them-you could ring cardio reception and they will tell you if they have been forwarded to gp but cant tell you the results.x

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to Rmichelle

I don't think they have been seen yet, as I just rang and they said they have lots of them to go through (back log). But they did tell me once they do get sent it will be the GP contacting me about the results

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to Melaniejm92

Yes-just sent you a message😊 i would not wat for gp to contact you as that is what i was told and if it wasnt for me ringing surgery this morning they still would be sitting lost on the system and no gp seeing them-disgusting really.xx

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to Rmichelle

I'll be ringing every week just in case haha I don't trust my doctor surgery start with so will keep at them 😊 thanks for your help x

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to Melaniejm92

Good luck🌟🌟😎

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to Rmichelle

I have eventually heard back about my results from the 24hr monitor. I rang the doctors and they got in contact with the triage team who had the results (god knows how long they've had the results for) the triage team rang me back and said the only thing that showed up on the monitor was a that I have a fast heart rhythm/rate. She said I could go on medication for this or just to get on with it but I've heard that medication can make it worse or not even work at all. How did you get on with your results? :)

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

Hi there-yes i had my results back 3 weeks ago as the bloody surgery lost them😨 but yes i have ectopic beats which is extra beats and a slight sinus rythmn but cardio said not worried - i did expect it what with thyroid disease as it goes hand in hand-ive got a appt with gp tomorrow as i want further testing-i have a lady on here who i speak to has just had a monitor for 1 week and she has had a heart scan and due to see cardio. Im not worried but they are a pain in the neck-just going to see if anything is lurking further. How are you with it? If you are concerned and they are bothersome go back to gp.😊😊

Melaniejm92 profile image
Melaniejm92 in reply to Rmichelle

Aw good glad you got the results eventually :) mine were in a different file so the receptionist couldn't tell me them so that's why the triage team had to ring me. I feel missed beats but nothing had shown up on my holter monitor just the fast heart rate did. I feel like I can cope with not being on medication as I think now I know it's nothing to be concerned about then hopefully my heart rate will calm down abit. The more I think about it the worse it is so I need to try and ignore it.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to Melaniejm92

Yes i think the more you stress the worse they get but i am difinitley going for further testing-mine dont worry me they are just a pain in the ass. Glad you are not worried about it😊😊 just remember there is further treatment out there and testing.xx

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

Ooh yes you can get meds but not sure what they are, beta blockers possibly, i took these when really hyper but only took them for a couple of weeks.xx

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