loop recorder

Does anyone have any experience with a loop recorder or an EP study?? Anything you know would be appreciated.

[ireneo]

Most everyone here has probably worn a monitor of some kind and several have had EP studies with and without ablations. I have to wear a monitor every 2 years and I've had 3 EP studies, each with ablations. Do you have specific questions on your mind or want a general description of each?

[underinformed35]

Thank you for your reply.
I have worn both the 24 hr monitor and the month event monitor, but the loop recorder has to be implanted under the skin. That just seems a little extreme to me and just wanted to know if anyone had experience with that.  On the EP study, I was wondering how common is it to find what they are looking for and correct it while they are there or do they typically go back and do an ablation later? I am not sure I understand the difference in the two procedures.

[sueinns]

I believe the success of the EP study depends on the type of arrhythmia you have.  Some are easier to bring on than others.  I was symptom free the day of my ablation yet they had no trouble creating the SVT during the EP study.  It's a little harder to bring on PVC's.

I believe they just change catheters when they go from the EP study to the ablation.  Once they find the arrhythmia location(s) during the study, they go back in the insertion site with the ablation catherter and zap the area causing the arrhythmia.  

They try and do both procedures at the same time if it's possible.  They wouldn't if they could not produce symptoms or the arrhythmia was in an area they could not ablade.

[dancinheart03]

Hi,

I just had a loop monitor implanted on Friday. I also have had the 24 hr and the event monitor for 1 month. They can leave this one in for 3 yrs.. It continously records, I have an activator I use for when I have symptoms, it is read like they do for pacemakers.

[underinformed35]

sueinns-I also have svt but also have pvc's, brachycardia, and tachycardia and possibly af. So I guess I just don't see how that one thing could fix everything from what I've read about it.
dancinheart-will you have a scar and is it in your shoulder? Why did they decide to do that? Could they not get the other monitors to pick up anything while you were wearing them?
Thanks so much everyone...

[sueinns]

I did not have an ablation for my PVC's, even though I get them pretty much every day.  SVT can cause light headedness, intolerance to exercise, breathlessness, etc.  I no longer have those awful symptoms.  The ablation may not fix everything but it could give you a greater quality of life - it depends on what is troubling you the most.  The success rate for PVC's and AF is not as great as for SVT.

The best person to speak with would be an experienced electrophysiologist.

Good luck.

[dancinheart03]

Yes, I will have a small scar. The incision is about an inch.  They put it in my left chest area. I am highly allergic to the sticky patches, plus they want to record my rthym longer than a month. I have had 2 ablations for RVOT VT, one in 03 and again in 06. This last one was successfull. I do get alot of Pvc's and im also symptomatic with them so my Ep wants to see what is going on with them. If it shows anything concerning, he will do another Ep/ablation.

Are you getting a loop put in?

[dancinheart03]

Yes, I will have a small scar. The incision is about an inch.  They put it in my left chest area. I am highly allergic to the sticky patches, plus they want to record my rthym longer than a month. I have had 2 ablations for RVOT VT, one in 03 and again in 06. This last one was successfull. I do get alot of Pvc's and im also symptomatic with them so my Ep wants to see what is going on with them. If it shows anything concerning, he will do another Ep/ablation.

Are you getting a loop put in?

[dancinheart03]

Sorry, I posted twice...:(

[underinformed35]

My cardiologist feels like I need a loop recorder put in, but I am just not sure. What is RVOT VT?
I really feel like I was sick with something else when this all started. My heart has always been very sensitive to illness. I just can't imagine my heart making me feel this bad. I do feel better now which still makes me believe that maybe I had an infection or something. For about four weeks my heart just went haywire, but now I can tell it is getting better slowly. Would your heart just get suddenly much worse?

[dancinheart03]

Hello,

Right ventricular outflowtrack v-tach. I had the ablation, and that took care of it, I hope it doesnt recur. Now, i am plagued with pvc's sometimes all day long. They make real uptight :(  so that is why they implanted a monitor, for a longer term plus I am very allergic to the other monitors.

If your doc feels the need for you to go that route, I would. It is not  that bad. It will tell them what they need to know. Are you bothered with alot of skipped beats?

Take care & talk soon

[underinformed35]

I had 11,000.00 pvc's on my 24 monitor, tach, brach and one run of svt. I am not sure if that is a lot or not, but it seems like they would already have what they need from that. You are right though, I should listen to them. I just don't have much faith in doctors right now. My symptoms are chest pain, headaches, vision problems, and more. I am not sure it is all related to my heart.

[dancinheart03]

Do you trust your cardio? If you are doubtful maybe a second opinion would help... Sometimes a monitor for a longer period of time is needed. I know i've had both the 24hr and a month event monitor and they didnt catch what needed to be, but everyone is different.

If you dont mind me asking, why dont you have faith in doctors? Did you have a bad experience with them? I know when my heart is being wacky, I get headaches,shortness of breath and I just feel ill. But serious, If your doc thinks that best, I would do it..

Talk soon

[underinformed35]

To be honest, these last few weeks have been awful. I have been from doctor to doctor and test to test and no one still knows for sure what is going on and now my cardiologist is referring me to an Ep Specialist. I just feel like another doctor, still no answers. I have an appt on Thursday so I am just going to hear him out and see what he thinks. How did they diagnose the RVOT? I have had every cardio test and structure wise my heart seems fine. they say.

[dancinheart03]

An Ep Specialist is a good thing, they deal with the electrical part of your heart.They will know what exactly is going on in there...I have been in the same shoes. All the tests and everything and my heart is structually fine also. So, I would go meet with this Ep and listen to what he has to say, if he feels a loop would be a good idea, I would certainly do it.

My was diagnosed after I ran from doctor to doctor (GP) trying to get them to listen to me when I told them I was having palpitations and dizzy spells. All they kept saying was its just anxiety, which I knew differently.... It wasnt until I ended up in the ER with a heart rate of 250 bpm then they believed me. i was then transfered to the hospital where I had my ablations done.

So please keep your appt. on Thurs. with the Ep.

Talk soon

[underinformed35]

Well, I went to the doctor today and really did not learn a whole lot more. The EP wants to do a tilt test, an EP study, and implant a loop recorder all in the same day next week! He feels like that I could be having a deadly arrythmia and he thinks that the EP study is really needed. He said that the chances of actually bringing it on while up there are slim and that is why he will implant the loop recorder as well. I am not sure if I should do it or not since the odds are so low. He wants to schedule it for Monday or Tuesday. My feelings are- what if we do the test and like he fears, he can't find it. I am still at the same risk of dying than I was before the test. He said even though the chances are slim there is still a chance he could fix it but there are also risks. I don't know what to do. I really don't know what to do. What do you think?

[Brooke_38]

Are you sure that he said, "deadly arrhythmia?" I would suspect that if it were something deadly you would be hospitalized. The arrhythmia's you listed above, unless you have heart or valve disease, would not be considered life threatening.

It is worrisome, that if indeed the EP you saw actually said that he suspected you could experience a deadly rhythm and you were sent on your way to wait until Mon or Tues. I personally, would be seeking another opinion.

I wish you luck!

[dancinheart03]

Hello,

I have to agree with Brooke, If it was life threatning, you should of been hospitalized.. I would be making a phone call to yor Ep and asking him to explain what he meant by "deadly arrhythmia", if he says the same thing again, I would be getting a second opinion. Otherwise, I would go ahead with the tests, Ep study and the monitor. I have had  both the Ep study/ablation and monitor. They arent bad at all. The risks are very slim.

The Ep study and monitor will give them the answers they need concerning your heart.

Good Luck!!!
Talk Soon

[underinformed35]

Yes, he did say deadly and my husband and I both just looked at each other. He said that he knew from the monitor that I was having PVC's and SVT and the tach and brach but he felt like that they could be leading up to something fatal. He said that his gut was telling him to do this as soon as possible. He said he could not say for sure but that he sees a  lot of red flags and wanted to do it today but couldn't. He said that if I start feeling like I did when I got so sick to call 911 between now and Monday. My cardiologist agreed with him. He also said that since my heart was structurally sound it would be hard to bring on the arrhythmia during the study so I guess I am not much better off doing it or not doing it. I am so confused. So my heart is healthy but might just stop?? It doesn't make much sense to me or my husband.

[underinformed35]

Well... The doctor's office called today to confirm EP study for tomorrow and the nurse asked if I quit taking my medication. I said no and she said well I forgot to tell you Friday that he wants you to stop taking your medicine four days before the EP study. We will have to reschedule, she said.  So now she called me back and rescheduled for next Wednesday. I guess it is not too serious then. I don't know what to think anymore. This is so frustrating and confusing.
Also, if he is not able to induce the arrhythmia that is causing the problem then he can not do anything about it , right?

[Brooke_38]

Sorry to hear that you've been postponed...I certainly feel your frustration! The nurse sounds like a real moron! OOP's, I forgot to tell you to stop taking your medication prior to the EP study? If you don't mind me asking, where is this EP? Like I mentioned a few posts ago...if your problems were truly life threatening, I really think you would be hospitalized.

You are right, if they cannot induce the arrhythmia in the lab, it cannot be ablated. You mentioned tach and brach. What do you mean by brach? Did you mean a tachy brady issue?

[underinformed35]

I know what you mean about the nurse and I am in Texas. I meant brachycardia or bradycardia (I think it is spelled either way). My heart rate has been going in the 40's for hours and then will shoot up over 130's for hours. They do not know what could be causing that. When they did the 24 hour monitor I had over 10,000.00 pvc's and half were in begimy. I have had a couple of episodes where my heart started quivering, was not really beating, it did not seem and my husband said I turned blue. We called 911 during one but they took 20-25 minutes to get here and by then I was back in normal rhythm. So I guess he feels like everything combined could be leading up to something dangerous is how I understand it all. I am really just ready to take my chances as no one really seems to know what they are doing anyway. I keep saying I don't know how much more I can handle but then I do keep handling it one day at a time. I am just very weary at this point.

[Brooke_38]

Believe me when I say, "you are not alone!" I have been to hell and back more times than I'd like to count. Being an RN, I have very high expectations when it comes to my health. My EP and cardiologist currently have no clue what to do with me. My case is very complicated. So I completely understand the frustration you must be feeling.

That's all you can do is take one day at a time. Hang in there! :)

[underinformed35]

I think I have decided to wait on the EP study/ablation until I get some other things checked out. I just want to make sure that this is not coming from somewhere else in my body. I have a hypothyroid and have been on medicine for that about 7 or 8 years. Of course they checked my thyroid when all this started and said it was fine but I think I may go see an Endo and run a few more tests just to make sure. Also I think that I should get my adrenal glands checked which I think the Endo could also do. So for now I am going to postpone the EP study. I hope I am doing the right thing. It is hard to have faith in the doctors when they can not give you a diagnosis.