Doc's and Those With Heart Isuues
 

Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing well. Just wondering if anybody has any experience with portable EKG's? I have atrial fibrillation and have now just started to get what they think are ectopic beats on top of that. Only problem is I am having runs of the beats but by the time I get to ER they have abated. My cardiologist thinks it my be VT (ventricular tachycardia) and not PVC's (ectopic beats).
So anybody have any experience with these and for the Dr's do you think they are a worthwhile heart mapping tool?

Alive Technologies

I bought one anyway as the price was AU$159.00 delivered and I figure if I can at least get something they'll know where to start looking.

Does it happen more when you lie down? How about after certain meals?

Hi Doug,

I am on beta blockers for the AF so my normal heart rate sits around 45-55bpm. It tends to feel worse if I'm relaxing. If I get my heart rate up the PVC's or whatever they may be tend to not be felt so much. I have been told that that does not mean they are not still present you just feel a lesser sensation as the heart is beating faster. Very uncomfortable and very annoying!

There's something called s Holter monitor. It's an EKG that you wear for 24 hrs. The info then gets downloaded and analyzed, hopefully catching these fleeting arrhythmias. Talk to your internist or cardiologist. Good luck.

Hi Noah,

Yes mate getting a seven day one fitted next week and if that doesn't work they will fit a one month loop recorder.

For several months after my quad bypass surgery I wore a portable EGK machine that had cellular connectivity. I checked in with the UCSD heart center several times a day OR when there were parameters that got exceeded and if some were bad enough it would actually call 911 and give the EMT's my location! We tested it (with a test button) at the hospital and it really worked so that made me feel pretty safe. I gave it back as I did not want to have to absorb the $12,000 plus cost of the unit! The surgeon said they save two or three patients a year so any sort of monitor is good to have!

I added some info here after going through the website you referenced and my biggest concern is that the readings are usually taken from the finger tips although it mentions you can rest it on your chest? In my many visits to the hospital, EKG or any sort of heart monitor is attached near the heart and chest area. The only time any readings were taken from other places was to monitor the circulation in the leg that had the vein pulled for the bypass. There is a clamp on reader that goes on my finger but it reads oxygen levels in the blood or some such thing?

If I were you I'd ask the doctor if I can do a comparison in the office to see how close this device is to their real EKG machine and then you'll have a great base.

The link seems to describe a smart phone app that mimics a Holter monitor.

Are you on a blood thinner? If not, call your doctor right now and ask about taking a baby aspirin every day at least.

Dewolf,
My doc told me that acid reflux can trigger an afib. I believe this happened to me when I was carrying too much weight and being slightly insensible at meal time. I had experienced this more intensely after certain foods and laying down.

Several years ago it was so bad I couldn't sleep at night. But I never felt heartburn at the time.

Hi Tobra,

On 50mg Noten, 4mg Perindropril, and 100mg aspirin a day. Seems to control my Afib well as has done for years but these new 'beats' are felt very strongly and are very uncomfortable.

Hi Doug,

Yes mate, I need to shed a about 15kg's I think. Lost 4kg in the last week and a bit so it's a start. No reflux for me thank goodness.

Thanks guys
Scott

Hi
The Alive Cor is a pretty amazing new device for checking an EKG from home. Good luck

I think so too. I rang the manufacturers and spoke to one of their Dr's. Very nice guy. He said if you are concerned in the middle of night you can upload a reading to them and they will get one of their cardiologists to read it and tell you whether it's ER time, or time to sit down and relax. The cost for the reading is US$12.00 by a cardiologist or US$5.00 for a cardiac nurse to have a look. Cheap insurance and peace of mind.

The blood thinners(aspirin etc) is to guard against clotting secondary to turbulent flow. When you have a fib, it adversely affects your ability to maintain laminar blood flow, which increases the likelihood of clots.