5 day heart monitor

[happyinherts]

Anyone had a 5 day heart monitor recently, and can talk me through what it involves. I've an appointment tomorrow and have no information at all. Do I have to get undressed or is it something that straps on your arm quite simply and monitors pulse / circulation etc?

Well, it might not be the same but mum had one recently

it was sent via post so I connected it up. There's some electrodes between a sticky pad you put on your chest.

so, if you have to undress a bit, it will be opening a shirt, maybe wear a button shirt. It might be they will let you connect it yourself at home.

she didn't find it irritating on her skin at all. There were spares in the pack if needed. You can shower with it etc.

hth.

That's interesting, thank you. I have a cardiology appointment so I'm guessing it will be fitted on site.

And now I've found this which gives slightly different info, but maybe it depends on the brand?

hers was NHS, so sent via post after a cardio appointment.

www.londonheartcentre.co.uk/tests/14-day-wearable-heart-monitor/

My son had one earlier this year, it was electrodes stuck to his chest and attached to a little monitor which bleeped if they became unattached. His looked like this. Yours might be different though as an adult.

I had a holter monitor for 5 days. I was topless for the fitting. It wasn't painful but was a bit bulky and annoying. I'll try to find a photo.

Pic of my monitor.

Much bulkier than what mum had, that looks like a nuisance.

Gosh, thank goodness it's only for five days

I had one last week - just three electrodes and a thing the size of a pager I could clip onto my waist . Last two have been the same, just electrodes and the wee pager type thing .

I had one for two weeks recently and it just stuck on to my chest, no exposed wires or anything. It had a button that I needed to press every time I had symptoms and I had to note down the time, symptoms, and what I was doing in a little notebook. Itched like mad and left me with sore skin and a bit of a rash

I had a 7 day one done privately and it was like having a swatch watch vertically between your boobs. They'd only recently changed from the holster type monitors. You could shower with it on.

I analyse these monitors as part of my job, they will probably ask you to just remove your top to fit it, some staff ask for the bra to be removed. All it monitors is your heart rhythm, it can’t monitor blood pressure. Also, just a tip, it’s really helpful to fill out what time you sleep as hardly anyone does this and it’s really important information because certain things are normal when you’re asleep, but not if you’re awake.

I've had holter monitors a couple of times. Once for 5 days, and once for two weeks.

I wore a vest top each time with one of those soft crop top style bras and just lifted/moved clothing so they could attach the pads. They provided replacement pads and showed me how to disconnect and reconnect for showering.

The appointments were straightforward, and they gave a lot of info. I also had a form to record if I felt anything (palpitations) while wearing it.

I'll add an image of the type I had. Mine was higher on the chest than in the photo and quite bulky. But didn't really impact on any aspect of my daily life. I did find the pads very itchy! But overall it wasn't too bad.

I'll keep my fingers crossed you get one of the more modern looking smaller ones. You'll have to let us know how it goes.

There are different types.

They are used to try to record arrhythmias so they don't need specialist placing. Some have electrodes connected which can be a PITA in hot weather because you can't shower.

Others you hold to your skin, they have 4 sensors and all four must be touching your skin to record, you usually put these on your upper breast above your boobs but below the collar bone.

They range in size from credit card to about the size of a packet of cigarettes.

You will either phone the department and they can take the recordings down the phone but normally you just return it to the hospital / department.

Please carry it with you at all times and make a note (you will be given a diary) of any symptoms.

DO NOT record someone else's ECG or let anyone else touch it.

@winniesanderson oh I'm assuming this is an event monitor not a holtor. OP do you know which it is?

Waves to @Elsiebear90 I used to do that job. Someone tested my recently and I can still identify the rhythms.

@happyinherts how did the fitting go?

Hi @Albgo

Thanks for asking - all pretty painless and straight forward. It's got three electrode things, yellow, black and green and a monitor with a time display. Wouldn't know I'm wearing it, if I'm honest. It's until next Monday at 7am when I have to return it.