24 Hour ECG

[Janbo25]

Hi, I have had one fitted today, anyone ever had one??

[Littlefish]

Yes, I had one too. I had been having palpatations since I was 14 years old and was always told they were panic attacks. Finally when I was 28, the doctors listened to me when I said that they were definitely NOT panic attacks as they were happening in my sleep too! It turned out that I had super ventricular tachicardia, which was caused by an extra nerve thingy in my heart. I had it burned away using radio waves, under local anaesthetic, about 7 years ago. I've had no problems at all since!

Why are you having one (nosey me!!)

[Janbo25]

blimey it's surprising how many people have similar symptoms when you get chatting, i too have been having palpitations since having my ds 7 months ago and also a very rapid heartbeat.

[gingernut]

Same as sallystrawberry, I had one when pg due to strange stuff going on with my heart (palpitations, rapid heartbeat), but it turned out there were no abnormalities. Just couldn't take a shower or bath for 24 hours but otherwise no probs with it.

[misdee]

dh had one quite a few times. do u have to note down any iucidents whilst u are on? dh 1st 4 were fine, the last one pick up an irregularity.

[Janbo25]

thats the problem i suppose it's not guaranteed it will pick up anything if there is a problem, I had a normal ecg carried out also at the hospital this morning

[Littlefish]

Is there anything that triggers it off? I spent the day doing everything I could to make a palpatiation happen. For me, triggers were sudden temperature changes, fizzy drinks, overheating. They must have thought I was much more ill than I really was - I had about 10 attacks in one day!!!!

[Hulababy]

I have a couple fo these, and a 48 hours one too. I used to get (and still do at time) palpatations and I have a fast hear rate. Sadly, the ECGs and the other investigatiosn found no triggers, so could do nothing about it. Fortunately, however, it was nothing serious either.

[Posey]

Dh has had several of them. Do nothing out of the ordinary, just your usual daily routine. He did make a note of any strange beats etc and handed that in when he took the box back.

[Tabs]

I had a couple of these a couple of years ago, and an ultrasound on my heart, but they found no problems at all. Had it because I'd had what they think was an attack of SVT - heart was beating at 250bpm for about 1.5hrs, and had to be rushed into A&E. Had happened once before then too, after abandoning car in snow and walking last mile home up to knees in snow and ice, but it stopped by iteself that time. Has happened once since, but more mildly, when I was diving in British Virgin Islands.

Monitor showed not even one funny beat, which they said was actually quite unusual, as most people will have the odd odd one in 24 hours.

[Chocol8]

This is interesting, I had one fitted a few years ago and was told to drink caffeine - as this is one of the triggers. It happened once when I was having sex and quite a few times when I was on the loo! I can imagine the docs peeing themselves reading my form!

I've had palpitations since I was 5 and used to think my heart was stopping. To a five year old, I guess I thought it was a good idea to "start" my heart again by thrashing around in bed as I felt it was like a clock - give it a whack and it'd be ok again!

Still don't know what it is as was discovered only after severe salmonella, but know it only as a floppy heart valve. I didn't want to take betablockers so have nothing and avoid caffeine at all costs.

My ds had a normal ecg recently as he was having palpitations (7yo) and with my family's history they wanted to check it out - of course nothing was picked up.

Good luck Janbo - it's nearly over with now and then you can have a lovely bath. Let us know what they say?

[Janbo25]

my symptoms sound very much like yours hulababy, been to trafford centre tonight and a couple of episodes so at least it will be recorded hopefully

[misdee]

you wree on the cardimyopathy a while ago? have other tests been done?

[Janbo25]

no this is the start of them i am also awaiting a stress test to

[macwoozy]

Hi Janbo, good luck with all the tests. I've had several of these as well, and they decided to implant an ICD to stop my palpitations, (V.T's - rapid heart rate) I've felt a huge relief ever since. I don't know why it is but these monitors seem to have the ability to stop all palpitations as soon as you put one on, I'm sure. Mnay times as soon as I've taken the holter off, within a few hours, I get an influx of palpitations. It is so annoying as its very important for the doctors to see what type pf palpitations you are experiencing, and whether treatment is necessary.
There is also nothing to worry about with regards to the stress test, they are just trying to find out whether exercise triggers your palpitations. Good luck, and I hope they will find out what is causing your symptoms.

[Janbo25]

well had the monitor removed this morning, just a matter of waiting a couple of weeks now to see my consultant who will have the report - fingers crossed!

[Hulababy]

Good luck janbo

I found the ECG monitors found very little. And I didn't tend to have any episodes wearing it.

Still get the palpatations, and fast heart rate, nowadays. When the palpatations is a long episode it makes me very tired for a while after - and I still can't manage to control it by myself - have to just wait it out. But sometimes it feels more like just one of too beats and stops again - almost like a big bubble gets stuck in my chest, and then pops - and back to normal - if that makes sense. Very odd.

[Janbo25]

it sounds very similar to me hulababy, although i did have an episode whilst the monitor was on so hoprfully they can see what happens for themselves

[macwoozy]

Janbo, glad to hear you had an episode whilst wearing the holter, at least you'll get some answers now. You mentioned having to wait for a couple of weeks before waiting to see the report. Can I just reassure you and say that generally if you've not heard from the cardiologist within a few days after he's recieved back your holter, you can be rest assured that the palpitations aren't the type that are life threatening that needs urgent treatment.(You were concerned about cardiomyopathy weren't you?) I know whats its like to be waiting for results, and two weeks is a long time when you're very anxious about it. Good luck

[Janbo25]

I am going on holiday on Monday do you think I should ring prior to then to see whats happening?

[macwoozy]

Well if you're anything like me, you're only going to be worrying the whole time you're on holiday. I don't think it'll hurt to give them a ring, especially if it'll put your mind at rest. In my experience they've only got back to me when my palpitations are on the sinister side, otherwise they just leave it until I go along to a routine check up.

[Janbo25]

am i best to ring the consultants secretaries??

[macwoozy]

I have done that before, and someone got back to me. What hospital are you with? (Just being nosey)

[Janbo25]

I am with Oldham Royal