Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.

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Heart, Blood & Circulation
/ Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

New Dr.

prm2770
prm2770
Well I went to my new EP last Thursday and it is night and day difference in the perceived amount of interest he has in me vs my last cardiologist. I saw a fellow who asked tons of questions and took notes for about twenty minutes before the Dr came in and spent another twenty with me. He even told me how he had done his homework on me the night before and asked why he didn't have my records from my er visit. He suggested that the symptoms\side effects that I've been complaining about may not be medicine related, but before he would do anything he wanted a 30 day heart monitor. I picked that up yesterday and have been getting used to it and trying to figure out how to do things with it attached to me, lol. Well here's to 30 days!

- Phillip
daisy0808
daisy0808
Glad your visit went well, now maybe you can get to the bottom of this and some relief. Sounds like new doc is going to do right by you!
yogacat
yogacat
Yay, the only way to tell you what has been happening is with a Monitor. No more guessing!

What kind of Monitor do you have? Seems like there are several different kinds now.
duder
duder
It feels good to know you're moving in the right direction. the long-term monitors do take a bit of getting used to, but after 2 or 3 days, you'll get the hang of it. Plus, it's a means to an end, so whatever inconvenience is worth it.
prm2770
prm2770
I'm adapting OK. I'm not sure the brand but I have a cell phone that I carry with it and log any symptoms through. Its small and inconspicuous enough. It will be worth it I'm sure.
acrossthepond
acrossthepond
Wow, 30 days is a long time to wear a monitor. Is it one where there are 3 or 4 round pads on your chest and wires hooked up to a walkman type receiver slung around your neck. Or is it the much more elegant Zio-pad which is shaped like a butterfly and is stuck to your chest?

My EP wants me to wear the first type I mentioned for 7 days not looking forward to that but maybe I wont have to because it is soooo obvious that I am still having AF episodes. But in the end duder is right; whatever inconvenience is worth it.

Your EP sounds like a thorough fellow glad you have one youre happy with, that makes all the difference in the world.

Take care,
across the pond (atp)
prm2770
prm2770
It has three electrodes and is the size of an old pager. I've gotten creative in how I manage activities and sleeping with it. 4 down, 26 more to go and no symptoms to report so far.
DeeMR11
DeeMR11
Yikes! 30 days is a long time but definitely worth while for the information.
This too, will pass.
Glad that you found a Dr. who can help.
D.
duder
duder
I remember years ago wearing a device like the one you mention. It was about the size of a pager. I had to call in to a data center and play the recordings the device got over the phone.
daisy0808
daisy0808
Hope this finds out what is going on for you! I did not have very good luck with he 30 day monitor not sure if it was just a bad unit or what but just went off whenever and never really caught anything even if I pushed the button.
I had the loop recorder put in a few weeks ago and it catches everything and then downloads nightly automatically if there is something it needs to send to doc according to the configuration. Went to EP yesterday and they pulled all the data, it was pretty cool to have the doc go thru all of the irregular readings with me, he was happy because it gave him the perfect pictures he wanted.
prm2770
prm2770
The last 2 days were miserable. HR stayed in the 50's-60's but I constantly felt short of breath and felt the flopping in my chest, some minor fatigue too. Not sure it was Afib or not but am very curious what the monitor shows. The monitor I have is a continuous upload. I carry a cell phone from the company that has an app for reporting symptoms but in and of itself does not alert me to any symptoms. I have to decide what I should report. Time will tell.

I have started to adjust my diet and lifestyle to be more heart conscious. We'll see if that helps too.
duder
duder
Are you on meds to keep your rate that low? I find that when my rate is that low, doing just about anything leaves me out of breath.
yogacat
yogacat
Kudos to you for adjusting your diet and life style.....I am sure you are going to be delighted with the results...Keep it up!!!!

Can you get a pulse by putting your index and middle fingers on your pulse point on your wrist?? Or better, on your carotid artery? It is quite easy for me to feel the erratic beats both places. It takes a moment to get the pulse, but once you do, it is easy to feel the erratic beats.....or hopefully the normal steady beats.