[Jeff]

I had a picture of the Holter monitor like Jodie and Casper had, but I couldn't find it. The Holter used to literally be a tape recorder. Fun hiding that in your clothes. But the newer models that have been out for at least a few years are about the same size as the King of Hearts. Like the King of Hearts, when you press the button, you're putting a mark in the recording to indicate when you felt something. Unlike the King of Hearts, the Holter records EVERYTHING for 24 or 48 hours. The King of Hearts records on a 60 second loop (or can be programmed for other lengths of time), and it only has 5 minutes of total recording time. So when the monitor is full, the data has to be transmitted to clear out the memory and make new recordings.

The good thing about the Holter is that they really don't count on your button pressing - every single heartbeat is analyzed, including during sleep. But the King of Hearts, since you have to be awake to press the button, will never catch arrhythmia while you're sleeping. It can, as in my case, catch when you roll over onto it in the night, or you pull a lead of your chest while you're uh, well, yaknow. "Testing your heart?"

But those are the main differences between to two. Oh - also, the Holter has 5 leads, if memory serves correctly. So more readings, more "angles" of view of the heart.

[Casper664]

ahh I see!! well Im glad they did the 48 hr then!! What a pain it must be to have to call in after every 3 that you push!! I know they caught the most during the 'falling asleep' stage..not once I was in a deep sleep, but just before they said thats when I had the most... its too bad they can't have a 30 day one that just records non stop...but wowza, that'd be a LOT to read!!

[tachygirl]

I wore both the 24 hour monitor ( showed nothing) and the King of Hearts monitor for 30 days. The 30 day monitoring showed runs of SVT abnormal Q waves ( something like that). Dr. did not let me know results til my followup appt since it was considered non life threatening.
I then was scheduled for EP study/ablation ( which was unsucessful - found no area to burn/ablate).Then it was determined I have PSVT ( reasons unknown why I have these abnormal waves/runs... just happens) but considered non life threatening but still very frightening when it happens!!
Good luck all!

[Jeff]

tachy - refresh my memory - how long does it last when you have it, and what meds have they given you for it?

[tachygirl]

Hey Jeff,
My run of PSVT can last a few seconds or several minutes ( seems like eternity when it happens).
It is SO much better now that I am on atenolol. I went thru most the calcium channel blockers meds to NO avail, toprol XL ( HATED it) and flecanide (worked well by my family dr freaked).
I only get the attacks now when I am really stressed, or I am very dehydrated/exhausted.
I also take tri salts- it is a magnesium, calcium, potassium powder you mix with liquid 2 or 3 times a day. It has helped immensely, especially in hot weather which is most of the year here in south Texas.
Also remembering what my cardiologist said helps me thru it... "You aren't going to die, you just feel that way!!".. comforting isn't it??

[Strat_Attack]

hey tachy g! interesting about the tri salts. haven't heard about that. why did your family doc freak about toprol and flec? curious cuz that's what i've been taking for 10 years now. it was a magic bullet until the last few months but is still, compared to no meds, about 90% successful.

[tachygirl]

Hi Strat,
I personally hated the toprol XL, not my dr. I had a BAD headache which started 3 days after starting med and never left up. Also I felt very, very depressed on it... just wanted to cry. NOt at all like me, so I was switched to atenolol.
My family dr freaked at the flecanide. He said it is a powerful drug which I must be very closely monitored , not suitable for my benign condition. But it did work for me very well at very low dose.
I am doing well with atenolol, less side effects and I am now on very low dose. The only thing better would be no meds....
maybe someday soon!!

[mairegra]

I thought the King of Hearts type monitors were obsolete at least that's what my last 2 EPs told me. The last 30 day monitor I had last month was like a cell phone. If it picked up any irregular beats it transmitted them automatically wirelessly. If I had any symptoms I pressed a button and it transmitted automatically no beeping or buzzing. If it was during the day they would call me back within 20 mins and ask what I was feeling. If it was during the night they called in the morning. The previous one last year was even smaller about 1/3 size of a cell phone and transmitted wirelessly.

[dld]

That is so nice to know. I had a King of Hearts last year. One thing I didn't like was the noise. If I was at work, I hesitated to push the button because it was too disruptive. Good to know for the future. Thanks

[COPD2]

The 30 day event monitor I had just a couple of months ago was from eCardio in TX. (My cardiologist and I are in MI). It worked like Mairegra's - transmitted wirelessly, detected events whether I did or not.

I had a "critical" event and a "serious" event that eCardio called my cardio and he called me. Both events were so short that I didn't bother going to ER altho my cardio suggested it. They were both just about over when he called and both times had stopped as we talked. (I have an oximeter which indicates pulse rate as well as 02 saturation). I also had other events that weren't worth their contacting me that I found out about when I got the report.

Prior to the event monitor ER had started me on coumadin and diltiazem (calcium channel blocker). My cardiologist added Rythmol. I had some problems w/the diltiazem (constipation, edema and messed up my sleep bad) so I'm being switched over to Toprol and tapering off the diltiazem. I haven't had any events since my third day of Rythmol. Or at last none that I am aware of. knock, Knock, KNOCK.

I'm sure glad I had the eCardio event monitor after reading about some of the others.