?? about implanable loop recorder

Hi there.. I have a question I hope someone can help or point me in the right direction.. I know a person who has an Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR) he has it in as his heart rate goes low 40 and over 200... his has a lengthy history but the main one is this... he has a complete right bundle branch block and his HR is all over.. yes he had a EP study and it was normal so they put in the ILR..  and the ILR shows that he has ahd a HR of 263 BPM 2 times and other numbers in the 200's and as low as 39.. when it is low he is so tired and when it is high he feels it pounding and it is in his throat... the ILR is saying he has fast ventricular tachy... but according to his cardiologist the  complete right bundle is in the way and giving off that wrong message.. he is normal.. now my question is, can the ILR be wrong as to how fast his HR  or how slow his HR is.. I know his HR varies many many people have seen it...and counted it... if it is possible that the blockage is interfering with this, like they are trying to say it is then how can they be reading his EKG's correctly... I don't understand and I can't find anyone who can help me.. I am desperate.and sick of the excuses.. please don't tell us to seek other cardiologist as we can't afford the traveling and insurance won't cover it. we are in to debt up and over our heads with his medical bills as is.. i don't want to loose him.. if any one can answer this question or point me to some web site that an please please let me know
Thank you in advance.. oh I don't know how to post this on the doctor's side as it doesn't say post a question it says nothing
Michelle

[bbxx]

Hey, while you wait for someone familiar with that situation to respond, you can go to the site all experts ******* to ask a cardiologist. Sometimes they reply that day.

[Bromley]

Hi. Understand that this is a very complex topic and the experts who understand this stuff are usually fairly short on time.  This can make the proposition of getting the education you want a lengthy self-motivated effort (dont forget, it takes doctors several years of study to get to their level of understanding: we do not have this much time!!). To further frustrate all of us rookies, most medical lay people who do have time, do not understand the topic very well and may either not be able to explain it in simple terms, or may tend to want to defer this subject matter to someone more qualified to answer. I certainly feel your frustration --- I have been there --- but unfortunately, this is not so much an excuse as a reality. Especially in electrophysiology.

Here are some suggestions as to what you could try:
1. Do you understand how conduction takes place on the heart? If not, Wikipedia has a reasonable article entitled "electrocardiography" that may help.

2. After digesting that, do you understand what aberrancy is? This terminology is sometimes used to describe what happens during rapid conduction in the ventricles. Try googling aberrancy and see what comes up.

3. Do you understand that the normal maximum rate a heart can beat is somewhere around 200 bpm, but is dependent on age? And do you understand the difference between VT and SVT? Google VT and google SVT. Then google "difference between VT and SVT".

I do not know what to think of the low heart rate, and have few suggestions. It is always interesting to know about sick sinus syndrome. But, after you have done some basic research, I think you will eventually have no choice but to consult your doctor about some of this anyway.  I would suggest taking your questions back to the doctor that has already seen him.  You could also try calling their office and ask to speak with the RN in charge.

[CHELLETO6DOGS]

Thank you for this help... I know the different meanings.. I have SVT and been treated myself for this, my dad, who passed away a year ago had A-fib and the person with whom I am speaking is my 7 year old son.... all his doctor's, yes we have been to 2 different cardiologsit and both say it is not normal to go above 200 no matter what the issue it.. i have been fighting this since he was 6 months of age.. we thought after his open herat surgery when he was 3 months old he was going to be okay... we do go back to his cardiologist next month but he always has an excuse as to why his HR is so far out there... it is his asthma, well he has had 3 PFT and he has been ruled out as to having asthma... who knows.. I am so scared of loosing my son as we have come close on 2 occasions

BBXX thank you also for you advise will check there too
Michelle.  

[Mom2four85]

have the dr's talked about a pacemaker/icd? this may be a beneficial treatment and something to ask about (not sure about your insurance plan, deductible etc) my hr's have always been a crazy rollercoaster and I had a PM/ICD implanted at age 42 that helps regulate the hr's alot better than meds.

if it were one of my children, I would do whatever I needed, including filing bankruptcy on medical bills just to get them treated... that's just my input, but if it meant my children would be well or helped tremendously, I would do whatever.

not sure if your state has a health plan you can get on for medically needy children, FL does and my 10 yr old son has been on it since he was 2, I still pay for it but it's like $20 mthly instead of $125 for my youngest daughter. (children's medical services)

also, call Cleveland or Mayo Clinic; they each have funding for medical situations such as your son's (sorry I can't remember the name of it, I can't think well this morning but I'm trying to find the link) that help and some even fully funds the medical care costs.

[Mom2four85]

I found CC's - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/Documents/Patients/Financial_Assistance_App_0809.pdf

this one is for Ohio, but somewhere in there is the link or info for all other states and assistance =)