[homemaker]

Well I am on Day 9 of my event monitor and I just might have picked up something...(of course only my MD knows for sure...it all sounds like a garbled fax!)
I was climbing the stairs and got short of breath so I pressed the "button"
When I sent the information in the rhythm that usually had sounded even previously was skippy and all over the place... and their were 3 distinct beats in a row with a skip...I know I was not moving around after I pressed the button...
So I can see the benefit now of when in doubt
Press the Button For Every Little Thing!

[jkfrench]

Did you hear back from the doctor yet about that event? Jodie

[homemaker]

I did not hear back from MD so I am sure it is nothing serious...but I wonder sometimes...Is it true that they only get back to you for serious life threatening events? Which I surmise I did not have ....I think I remember the cardiac tech in our cardiac clinic saying that it was only emergency events that they get back to you right away. The cardiac tech that I send the information to can't say much at all...they just say that the information transmitted just fine.
I am guessing that it was a run of PVC's triggered by exercise...I am just glad I might have caught something..
For me it would be comforting just to know the MD saw something and to comment on it...
What experiences did any of you have in regard to sending in event monitor information...just how much did the techs tell you?

[poohbear2026]

When I had my event monitors and would send them in the tech would only tell me that it came through okay, but I did have a few episodes of NSVT where they would have me do a repeat recording and then they would tell me they were contacting my dr. That of course scared me to death.

[Jeff]

Eep. That would scare me, too. I had the nurse tell me once "Oh, yup. I see some v-tach there." And she said it like she was reading a recipe. And I was "WHAT?!?! v-tach?!?!?" I was a basket case. Turned out the nurse was wrong.

[homemaker]

Geeezzz How scared you must have been Jeff! It is weird wearing this thing...On the one hand it is somewhat comforting, and on the other it is nerve wracking. I am almost pissed at my own heart for not acting up more, I am trying to do things to almost provoke an event...i.e. coffee...LOL
I did read on the cardiac medical's lab website that each Dr. and or hospital gets to decide how and what type of information gets a red flag.
Interesting...but I suppose there are many cases where there is a notable problem, but it just does not have to be life threatening, that you won't find out about till our time with our monitors is over.
My M.D.'s gut feeling about this is that in the end I will end up with new BP med's and a drug to slow whatever is a causing the skips and racing heart. I was put on Verapamil 240mg about 5 years ago for hypertension and rapid pulse but no testing was really done, no monitor, no cardiologist, no echo, he just sort of guessed at what the problem was....My recent echo results said Hyperdynamic Left Ventricular Systolic ejection fraction and just a trace mitral valve regurgitation...The regurge I know is a common thing I am not worried about that but I would like to know the real numbers of the ejection fraction it only said over 70% It just might be a computer calculation...I will wait on that one. But the good thing is that the practice I go to currently is wonderful...My new MD e-mail's me and asks me how I feel and I can e-mail back... I can also access my medical records online...that is a comfort. In that way a patient is not hit with the mystery of what is really in my chart. All information that is sent to her I can open it as a document...Isn't that amazing? Sometimes switching MD's is a good thing...
So I am starting Day 10...Maybe it is time for me to start my own journal?

[Jeff]

Definitely start a journal. You can do it here if you want - just let me know if you need help.

And yes, ejection fraction is an estimation and calculation. The best a tech can do is take two snapshots during an echo - once when the ventricles are open, full and at rest, and once when they are at the peak of contraction. Then they have computer programs to map out the cross-sectional area of the ventricle when at rest and contracted, which after a bit of number crunching, they have their ejection fraction. But part of the problem is, it's only in two dimensions. And the accuracy of the computer (or the tech) isn't perfect.

And I think that's why doctors don't get all that excited over ejection fractions that are just outside of established "normal" parameters, because there can be measuring flaws for a couple different reasons.

Let us know how things keep going.

[Casper664]

hey all...so I must have had a different type of 48 hr holter...mine I woudl push the button if I felt something, but that was it...they didn't tell me they'd call or anything...they just told me to push it when I felt on. then they read the findings after and I got results like a week after...why was mine diff?

[homemaker]

Casper...The one I have I wear for 30 days..and I also press the button when I feel something..It is called the King of Hearts Express Event Monitor, it has two leads and it about the size of a deck of cards. The monitor only holds 3 events, so after I press the button for 3 events I call a toll free number and place the telephone receiver over the monitor and press send. I sounds like a fax that is beeping in rhythm of your heart...It freaks my dog and cat everytime! LOL The tech asks you what were you feeling during the time, although sometimes the button is so touchy I press it by accident. They are trained cardiac techs so they can read it, but they can't say anything to you, but of course if it was life threatening, your doctor would be notified or 911 would be called.
So far all that they will tell me is that the transmission went through ok...doesn't mean that there is nothing of significance on there, but at least it is nothing horrible....

[jkfrench]

Hi Casper~
I had the same as you. Just a 48 hour monitor and I was to push a button if I felt something so it would mark the spot on the recording. The others are talking about a king of hearts monitor that you wear up to 30 days. You can send in reports when you feel your symptoms so you can get a response quicker if it is serious. If it isn't serious then sometimes you don't even hear from them after every transmission. I also was a basket case when I wore my 48 hour monitor. I was afraid they would find something wrong....catch 22...you want them to find out what you are feeling yet you don't want them to find out because you are afraid it could be serious. Jodie