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Original poster

Anyone had a holter monitor (ecg)

31 replies

onelastgoatthis · 23/10/2021 10:19

I've been waiting for a 48 hour holter monitor and got a call to say they can do next weekend. The thing is, I'm at a wedding that weekend, and I've got a nice dress to wear. I've never had one of these so no idea what it will be like but will it be really noticeable?

OP posts:

thereisonlyoneofme · 23/10/2021 11:11

I had one about 5 years ago, which was a bulky box that you wore on a shoulder strap. Two years ago I had another which was a tiny box that clipped to my bra strap! I suppose you could clip it anywhere on yourself. Did have the wires that stick to your body, so perhaps not a low cut dress !

Original poster

onelastgoatthis · 23/10/2021 13:14

Thanks @thereisonlyoneofme. I would be okay with the wires attached to me as dress isn't low and doesn't show much, I was just worried about having a big box to carry around

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Original poster

onelastgoatthis · 23/10/2021 17:21

Bumping

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Eilatan2018 · 24/10/2021 19:23

I had one the other day and it’s tiny! You have three suckers on you with leads attached to a tiny little box about the size of a little match box. Assuming you get one of these ones I guess!

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 24/10/2021 19:28

I had a 24-hour ECG test done once and while it's a small device that didn't bother me I'd decline wearing one during a wedding for 2 reasons:

I know I'd be uncomfortable because it was there
they want to monitor usual heart activity so going to a wedding is hardly going to provide a good base for that. but if your consultant says that's not a problem then ignore me.

ItsSnowJokes · 24/10/2021 19:29

Mine was noticeable but not hugely so. It was the pads and the leads that were hard to hide. You would need a higher necked dress that's for sure if you didn't want people to see it at all. I didn't mind who saw it, no one asked me about it except for one person at work (who's a nosey bugger anyway)

Original poster

onelastgoatthis · 25/10/2021 14:14

Thanks for replying.

I've got a high neck dress to wear so should cover but just worried about the box. This is such a nightmare, I can't miss the wedding and can't cancel this appointment t.

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ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 25/10/2021 14:45

poor you, it is a nightmare

do you have shawl you could wear and place strategically to hide it?
I guess you don't want any conversations about it anyway, but especially not at a wedding.

MMM2 · 25/10/2021 14:49

The leads can be a pain , could you not ask to delay it for a day or so?, currently using Kardia pad, it runs through your mobile phone its much easier, no box or wires.

Upsky · 25/10/2021 14:56

I've had several.
They are hard to hide, some hospitals use very old bulkier ones. If it's a private or top hospital you might get a Kardia pad but unlikely.

The wires are hard to hide, I ended up wearing trousers with a pocket that would hold the monitor plus a loose top to cover.
It hangs on a ribbone round your neck which would be visible even with a high neck but not with a collar.
My best tip would be to wear a tight strappy vest and big knickers under the dress to hold the monitor and wires in place.

Willthewashingeverend · 25/10/2021 16:50

Mine was pretty noticeable... the leads and tape, not the box. I wouldn't have one at a wedding.

Tatum1234 · 25/10/2021 16:54

Mine was quite a bulky box and thick wires.

AosSi · 25/10/2021 16:56

Mine wasn't all that bulky. It was on a neck strap so could be easily concealed behind a jumper...not sure about a wedding guest dress! The leads and tape however were noticeable. I'd get something long sleeved to cover those.

Original poster

onelastgoatthis · 25/10/2021 17:10

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied.

After a difficult decision, I've cancelled going to the wedding. I am absolutely gutted about it and feeling down but I know I need this test so cancelling the monitor wasn't really an option. Only good think is that the bride is lovely and so understanding

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ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 25/10/2021 18:29

oh darling, that was a tough decision for you. really sorry you will miss the wedding, I'd be gutted too.
sending you much love & hope test result will come back ok. x

Eilatan2018 · 25/10/2021 21:22

Your health is important but moving it ahead a few days surely wouldn’t have been a big deal? Seems dramatic to cancel going to a wedding you really wanted to go to. If it’s on the NHS and your trust is anything like ours (I work there), the results are taking MONTHS so a few days wouldn’t make much difference!

einekleinenachtarbeit · 25/10/2021 21:40

You did the right thing. Such are the numbers waiting for these tests who knows whether admin would be prepared to move things around for you. They aren't known for their flexibility. You do need a pretty normal daily routine too so I tried to do the things that had prompted my symptoms so lots of physical activity.
My results took just under a month so not that long.

Original poster

onelastgoatthis · 25/10/2021 21:42

Thank you @ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba x

@Eilatan2018 it wasn't a few days. I called and asked if I could rearrange and was told it would be after Christmas if I cancelled or rearranged.

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Original poster

onelastgoatthis · 25/10/2021 21:44

Thank you @einekleinenachtarbeit
The more I thought about the more I knew it wouldn't be right to go with it on, like you said, I need to be doing my normal routine

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TDogsInHats · 26/10/2021 19:47

I've had to wear a holter monitor on a couple of occasions.
I tucked the box inside a soft bra for overnight wear.
The main difficulty I had was the pads which were exceptionally itchy. Oh the relief when I could rip them off after 48hrs.

DressedUpAtAnIvy · 26/10/2021 19:51

It’s been a while but you can’t shower, right? That’s not great for a wedding, depending on the timings. I know you’ve already cancelled, just thought this might be consolation.

ItsSnowJokes · 26/10/2021 20:47

@DressedUpAtAnIvy

It’s been a while but you can’t shower, right? That’s not great for a wedding, depending on the timings. I know you’ve already cancelled, just thought this might be consolation.

With the more modern ones you can. Mine was a box that attached to a pad on my breast bone and you just removed it for showering, dried the pads afterwards and then reattached the box.

dizzydizzydizzy · 27/10/2021 13:28

I had one yesterday. I would go
To a wedding with it. It was very inconspicuous. You can't have a shower while wearing it but you can have a strip wash.

Original poster

onelastgoatthis · 27/10/2021 16:32

@dizzydizzydizzy can you tell me a bit more about how it was please, how many leads were placed on the chest, it is like when you have an ecg? I've been told I can't have a shower with it on

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AlternativePerspective · 27/10/2021 16:44

can you tell me a bit more about how it was please, how many leads were placed on the chest, it is like when you have an ecg? I've been told I can't have a shower with it on there are obviously lots of different ones, but for the ones I’ve had there were 3 pads, one on the right hand side of your chest, and one under each breast. If you’ve had a basic ECG i.e. a 3-lead one then the pads go in the same places - or if you’ve ever been on a heart monitor in hospital.

You do get used to them being there but if it’s a first then you are aware that it’s there because it’s out of the ordinary iyswim.

I’m going to be honest though, I’ve had several and never had a satisfactory result from any of them, and other people I know who have had them say the same.

In my case I have an already diagnosed life-limiting heart condition so you would think that the monitor would show up something. I’ll admit that on two of the occasions my heart behaved beautifully and never put a beat out of place for the entire time, but in one case my heart actually played up for the duration of the monitor, to the extent that I went in to give it back and then went straight to a&e where I was admitted for 2 days, and the monitor never showed up anything.

Fingers crossed that you get a satisfactory outcome here, but don’t be afraid to question it if you don’t.

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