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.
What do event monitor do? My wife has 2 more days to wear one that has 2 leads. It will beep 4 times by itself then can be pushed 1 if she feels something. We have called it in from once a day up to 8-10 times a day. The people that monitor say the Dr. gets a strip every day and it is nothing to call the doctor about. I am sure we have missed some events because my wife works and does not call every time the monitor is full. My wife says she feels fine and can not feel what ever is happening. My wife says it is nothing to worry about but I know something is going on with her heart beat that is not normal or the monitor would not be going off. It went off 3 time this morning within a hour. She also drinks coffee and says that is not the reason it is going off. I am going to clear up the coffee issue whenever we see the EP in November.
deleted_user
I have been on event monitors at least a dozen times during my a-fib years. If the monitoring center or your wife's doctor did not call you after she called her episodes in, than she was just probably having some PVC's or PAC's. This would happen to me, and like her, I did not "feel" them. Whatever was happening, her doctor did not feel it was anything to worry about. When you see her doctor in November he will have a full report from the monitoring center and go over it with you. As far as coffee/caffeine goes, I was told by my EP to limit my daily intake. I knew my limitations, but I never stopped drinking it. Good Luck.
CLane
I recently wore a holter monitor for 24 hours on 10/2 and it reported 8,667 Supraventricular Ectopics (PACs) and 285 Ventricular Ectopics (PVCs). I didnt feel anything going on and the doctor didnt say anything or seem concerned. I have worn the 30 day event monitors a few times and they are very sensitive to even the most minor abnormality. The last event monitor I had, automatically recorded and transmitted strips. I didnt have to push a button or call anything in. I never knew when it was recording things and was glad for that. I understand how un-nerving it can be to be aware that the monitor is recording an abnormality.
weld
Thanks Clane that makes me feel better. I assume the ablation was a success for the afib but created another problem. The next monitor will be one like you had. This has lead to more arguments between us than we have had in years. I know I can hear and count to at least four and have been right every time. The problem is that the EP will have to add about a quarter more to the total count that she didn't call in because she thought it was not full. I just hope these clear up and she does not have to have another ablation.
CLane
Hi Weld- I hope she doesnt need another ablation too. I hope you and your wife hear good news from the EP. I am glad your wife is feeling good. That is progress :)
heart2222
I had an event monitor for a couple of weeks and I really liked that fact that I could push a button when I felt something and then it went backwards for a min or something to capture what I felt. It was very helpful to identify what these abnormal beats were.
weld
EP's nurse just called to give us the results of the 30 day monitor. Zero afib events. She said that the monitor's are so sensitive that they pick up everything. We have an appointment for a 4 month check up Thursday.
CLane
Weld- so glad to hear there were no afib events. That is incredible news! Congratuations to you and your wife.
weld
Thanks Clane tomorrow we will find out everything whenever we see the EP. I just hope there is not a lot of PVC's or PAC's. At least she is off the tikosyn for now. That was the reason she had the ablation she wanted off the drugs. She will probably be on blood thinners the rest of her life because she had antiphospholipid antibody syndrome with the lupus antibody when the afib started. The EP wants to switch from Pradaxa to Xarelto. She has done well on Pradaxa but Xarelto is once a day instead of two.
Join the Conversation