Basically, it is a tiny insertable cardiac monitor that is placed subcutaneously between 3rd and 4th rib in the chest. It is about one-third the size of a AAA battery. It is called a loop recorder - which means that it records so much and then records over that. So basically, I have a 24/7 ECG inserted in my chest. I have a monitor that is at my bedside. Every night while I am asleep, the device inside me communicates with the patient monitor which is then uploaded to my physician's office. He has software that reports certain activities -- depending on how my device is programmed. It is an excellent diagnostic tool for people who experience intermittent arrhythmias, syncopal episodes or atrial fibrillation. It can be implanted for about 3 years which is the length of the battery life. If you need an MRI done, you can still get one with some special adjustments. I also have a little device which is called a Patient Assistant. If I am experiencing symptoms that I am concerned about -- I just hold the Patient Assistant over the implant and push the button. What this does is mark the reading on the device. So when the information is uploaded, it will be marked. Then I have to contact the doctor's office and let them know what I was experiencing at that time. The doctor then looks at the reading for that time period to see if the symptoms were related to an arrhythmia. The cost is about $20,000 currently but insurance does cover it. The reason it is so high is because they are most often implanted as an outpatient surgery in a hospital. My doctor is working on getting set up to do them in the office which would be a tremendous saving to the patient. The procedure to insert it is very simple -- only requiring local anesthesia. I only had to pay 10 percent so I felt like it was a cost-effective tool in my case -- to have my cardiologist monitor my heart closely for three years. The only other cost is a quarterly cost of about $120 for my physician to interpret my readings. I had a 30 day event monitor placed earlier this year -- and of course, during that 30 day period, my heart didn't have the new worrisome episodes.

Here is a link to the LINQ : http://www.medtronicdiagnostics.com/us/cardiac-monitors/reveal-linq/

For how long do you have to hold the Patient Assistant over the implant? Only when the episode starts or the full time of the episode?

Just when the episode starts. Basically it is just making a mark or notification on the recording. Then you should follow up with email or call to your doctor to let them know what you were experiencing at that time. And if you don't have your Patient Assistant with you -- just note the time and then notify your doctor to look at the tracing during that time frame.

Thank you, jj, for your useful information. I wish my cardiologist would have explained me the use of my Patient Assistant in such a simple way. I felt like I was going to faint today, but I did not dare to use the Patient Assistant because I was afraid that I shall not know how to stop the screening. Now, I finally understand how the ICM works. Thanks a lot, once more.

Lucija --- be sure to contact your doctor and give them the approximate time (and if you aren't sure -- "in the morning", "while in bed", "just before lunch", etc) that you felt faint today. They can look back to the tracing for the entire day and check for any rhythm problems. I'm so glad that you understand now. I think at first, I was a little timid to use the Patient Assistant when I was having a questionable symptom. I would question myself and end up thinking -- "oh it wasn't really that significant". What? This thing in my chest cost $20,000 (I only paid a tenth of that but still) --- and so if I even slightly suspect that something just doesn't feel right -- I mark it. That's what it is for.

Thank you so much for sharing your insights and for your support, @jigglejaws94.

Welcome to Connect, @lucija. I hope @cynaburst @crashnam will also return with some of their thoughts.

You may also wish to view this other active discussion:
– Pacemaker recipients https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pacemaker-recipients/
Feel free to go through the posts, and join in if you wish. @lucija, we look forward to getting to know you; you mentioned you are in a different country?

Yes, I live in Slovenija, EU.

The Medtronic rep, a retired RN told me that the patient assistant would mark 20 minutes prior to the event and the event itself, although I can't not find this in my manual. Will check with maker to see if this is accurate.

Go to this website: http://www.oliversegal.com/heart-conditions/reveal-linq-device/ Go to the section - What do I do if I have symptoms? and within that paragraph, it says: "When placed over the Reveal Linq device and the button pressed, it triggers the device to store the previous 7.5-15 minutes of your heart rhythm and mark the place on the heart record when your fainting or other symptoms occurred. "