[COPD2]

Has anyone used either or preferable both of these 30 day event monitors?

My cardiologist ordered the e-Cardio last year and I liked it a lot.

This year, for some reason, he has ordered the CardioNet MCOT. I had assumed it would be e-Cardio again but got the phone call today that the MCOT would be arriving on the 29th (this Thursday).

So curious soul that I am I went online to check the CardioNet MCOT out. Yech! There's a kit w/lots and lots of parts. There's a base station. You activate online - if you want to sit thru loading 10 videos to watch (yeah, right! W/slow speed dial up I dont think so!) Or you can activate via telephone. I'm not impressed!!!!

The MCOT does have 3 leads instead of 2 so there may be some advantages .... but I've got a call in to my cardiologist to find out if there is any advantage and what it is 'cause I'm tempted to ask that the CardioNet be cancelled and the e-Cardio ordered.

[COPD2]

Thanks for your reply, Susie.

The CardioNet MCOT arrived about 5:15 PM on the 29th by UPS. I was really taken back by the size of the package. The eCardio ER920W arrived in a box about 5" x 11". The MCOT box is about 18" x 2'. I kid you not.

Open the kit and it is INTIMIDATING!!! It can't be too difficult since so many patients who are scripted it are in their 60s and 70s and manage to use it but it sure is overwhelming when you open the kit and see so many components!! Especially if your only other experience w/a 30 day event monitor is the eCardio ER920W.

When CardioNet called me to tell me the kit would arrive on the 29th they asked if I had a computer. We have 2 options, schedule a 1 hour long telephone appointment or use our computer for instructions on activating and using the MCOT. Of course I told them I had a 'puter. My mistake.

The instructions via computer consist of 9 videos. I have slow speed dial up. Downloading 9 videos to view is absolutely out of the question w/slow speed dial up. I am stuck w/Frontier 46.6 Kbps.

You can access the videos here if you are curious:

CardioNet MCOT: Cardiac Monitoring Services| Arrhythmia Monitor| Portable ECG For Patients

I called CardioNet and explained about slow speed dial up. The lady I talked to had NO IDEA there were people still using slow speed dial up!!! She said they could set up the 1 hour long telephone instruction and activation appointment.

I said I'd rather the videos, why didn't they provide a CD or DVD of the videos. She said that they used to a long time ago but not that many people could use them.

I reminded her a long time ago not many people had CD or DVD drives on their 'puters but most all computers now had a CD/DVD drive and heaven knows CDs and DVDs are cheap enough now. Even my cheap Chinese recording oximeter came w/the small digital camera size DVD w/instructions, etc.

So - we've scheduled the appointment for 9 PM tonight to learn how to put this stuff together and activate it. *sigh*

The reason I "think" that MAYBE the MCOT can provide a little more information is that it has 3 leads, i.e. right chest, left chest, left rib cage, vs the ER920W having only 2 leads, i.e. right chest, left rib cage. If it weren't for that "hope" I'd be sending it back today.

Tomorrow, after tonight's set up and activation, I'll bring you up to date on how things are progressing w/the MCOT.

[Katie]

Geez I thought my moniter was a pain! Good luck!

[COPD2]

Which monitor are you using, Katie??

I'm relieved to say that the MCOT is one heck of a whole lot easier than you expect when you open the kit!!!

Altho the call was scheduled for 9PM it didn't come in until 9:45 and it didn't take a full hour either.

A good share of the stuff included in the kit really isn't needed. Its just there to be available IF needed. For instance the telephone base unit. Its just for if you are in a poor cell phone reception area (which we are - but evidently there are ways around that as there was w/the eCardio which was just connect w/the company thru a landline and hold the monitor close to the phone and listen to it screech its data over the phone).

The monitor box is separate from the sensor box that you wear. If you hear your sensor chirp it means you are too far from the monitor, go get your monitor and check your message(s) on it. That is a bit of a PITA as compared to eCardio where sensor and monitor are all one lightweight unit you wear.

Basically you attach your 3 electrodes, put the sensor box either on a lanyard around your neck or in a pouch that clips onto your belt or apparel waistline or in a pocket. The effective distance between monitor and sensor varies so you just have to experiment but you should pretty much be able to move from one end of your house to the other. Never leave the house w/o the monitor AND the charger for it.

You have to change the one AA battery in the sensor every day. The eCardio used AAA batteries, I forget how many 2 or 4??? And I forget how long they lasted but longer than once a day.

I still haven't been able to find out what advantage, if any, there are to 3 leads instead of 2.

So far all is silent so I assume, as expected, nothing untoward is going on. I may, just for the fun of it, sometime during these 21 days to take a short run out in the yard w/o my 02 *wicked grin*. Or maybe several runs up and down the stairway between levels w/o my 02. Just to try to get a reaction outta the monitor 'cause I expect these meds are doing so good that is gonna be the ONLY was to get a rise out of it.

[COPD2]

Oh boy, the monitor just chirped at me. Its battery is getting low. Man, a charge sure doesn't last long on this thing. Must be good for about 10 hours maybe. Ah well, it can received and transmit whilst being charged. And any wall plug will do. This isn't too bad. Tho it really was easier and nicer to have monitor and sensor all in one "box" rather than two separate "boxes". And just carrying a couple, three, four AAA batteries in your pocket was more convenient than having to carry this charger when you leave the house. I don't carry a very large purse, the smaller the better and the charger isn't fitting in the one I've been using. I had to pull out one of my old and larger ones. No big deal but ....

Hey! We are going to see War Horse tomorrow!!!! My daughter, two granddaughters and niece and I. And then dinner afterwards. Whooo ha!!! Chen's chinese here we come!!! Or maybe First Wok.