1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Has anyone had an insertable Cardiac Monitor?

Posted by jigglejaws94 @jigglejaws94, Oct 12, 2016

Just curious if anyone else has a Reveal LINQ implant ?? I had one inserted in July of this year to monitor my palpitations. I have had palpitations for years but earlier this year they changed (at least for a while) and I experienced shortness of breath and pain with the palpitations.

I just think this is really cool technology.

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drshyviolet | @drshyviolet | Apr 1, 2019

I have had my Reveal Linq since November 2018. It was placed because I have history of palpitations, dizziness, and have fainted a couple of times. My cost for the procedure was about $25,000. And my monthly (yes, monthly) cost for remote monitoring is $376 (of which my insurance covers $74). I don't actually see anyone, and never hear what's going on. Does that seem unreasonable to anyone else? I haven't actually seen my doc, or a nurse, or a device tech since the week after the procedure, and I'm being treated abysmally by clinic staff. Also, does anyone else have pain? I can't even tolerate a thin scarf or cloth touching the site. I accidentally brushed it with my fingertips on Sunday and nearly threw up from pain. I wake up in the night, and all the nurse would say was "well, we implant these in 8-year olds and never have any problem." Advice is welcome!

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1 reply
ihkelson | @ihkelson | May 21, 2019

My daughter had a Linq implanted about a month ago. Since that time I have found the transmission of data very difficult. I believe that this is because we have very poor cellular service where we live. It is my understanding that the care link patient monitor does not transmit unless the linq records an event or you manually send a transmission of an event that your marked with the "clicker." Is that accurate? It feels like I am constantly checking the the care link monitor to see if it has sent anything and sometimes it does and when I check in with our physician, they say that it is nothing. But I thought it only send a report if the linq recorded a problem. Do I have a misunderstanding about when transmissions are sent? Any clarification would be appreciated! thank you!

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kelton | @kellycross | Jan 4, 2020

I had a linq monitor implemented over a year ago - with no results or data shared with me during the past14 months. I am very lean and it pokes my ribs often. I am considering having it removed. Any idea about the removal process???

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slynnb | @slynnb | Jan 16, 2020

I have had one for a year. It is amazing that the technology has advanced so much. Only a few years ago, you had to wear a monitor on your waist attached to wires sand stick on EKG pads on your chest, etc.

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marielv | @marielv | Feb 9, 2020
In reply to @drshyviolet "I have had my Reveal Linq since November 2018. It was placed because I have history..." + (show)
@drshyviolet

I have had my Reveal Linq since November 2018. It was placed because I have history of palpitations, dizziness, and have fainted a couple of times. My cost for the procedure was about $25,000. And my monthly (yes, monthly) cost for remote monitoring is $376 (of which my insurance covers $74). I don't actually see anyone, and never hear what's going on. Does that seem unreasonable to anyone else? I haven't actually seen my doc, or a nurse, or a device tech since the week after the procedure, and I'm being treated abysmally by clinic staff. Also, does anyone else have pain? I can't even tolerate a thin scarf or cloth touching the site. I accidentally brushed it with my fingertips on Sunday and nearly threw up from pain. I wake up in the night, and all the nurse would say was "well, we implant these in 8-year olds and never have any problem." Advice is welcome!

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I have had my implant since June 2017 Medtronic monitor at home, one to attach to my purse for recording episodes outside the home. I see my Heart Doctor every 3 months but I have a loop test every 60 days. My implant is only a pain when I drive as the seat belt will rub the chest area. Mine is located above the left breast, anyone else. I will faint without warning, and then I have the star burst all the time.

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chrispa | @chrispa | Sep 11, 2021
In reply to @jigglejaws94 "Basically, it is a tiny insertable cardiac monitor that is placed subcutaneously between 3rd and 4th..." + (show)
@jigglejaws94

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/

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This link is no longer available at Medtronics

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1 reply
yellowdoggirl | @yellowdoggirl | Sep 11, 2021

I have a Link Loop Recorder. After 6 months it showed paroxysmal AFib. I now wonder if the AFib is a side effect of hydroxychloroquine which I take for UCTD, which I don't even 100% believe I have. (That's another story.)
Must say that since I got it, my doctors have been less accessible, seem only interested in the machine/technology, not me, the patient.
I can't help but wonder how much money is the impetus for suggesting this and I kind of regret not having thought longer about accepting it.

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yellowdoggirl | @yellowdoggirl | Sep 12, 2021

Mine is a Medtronic Linq Loop Recorder which was implanted in March 2021. A couple of weeks ago I was called into the office when they detected AFib according to the EP, but unknown to the APRN because the doc never sent her his report.
She brought the Thing in to read the record from my chest and informed me that the one I have is old and they don't use that one any more.
That was fast!
Then I was prescribed Eliquis, no caveats.
I guess I shouldn't hit my head, I looked it up.
Yes, it is a major research medical center. Maybe that's the problem.
They do review it every month and when I push the symptom thing.
Sorry to sound so whiney.
I am just frustrated.
I may buy a Kardio device and I would need a new phone. I am a retired lab technician and I like to see numbers and know something about the actual record, beyond reassurance that all is well.
Once they asked ME if I had a Smartwatch and what did it say! What's the loop for then?
As I said, I, like many others here, am frustrated.
I hope all of us frustrated people can get sorted out and I am very grateful for a community that is so helpful!
Thank you!

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1 reply
dcummings1631 | @dcummings1631 | Jan 31, 2022
In reply to @yellowdoggirl "Mine is a Medtronic Linq Loop Recorder which was implanted in March 2021. A couple of..." + (show)
@yellowdoggirl

Mine is a Medtronic Linq Loop Recorder which was implanted in March 2021. A couple of weeks ago I was called into the office when they detected AFib according to the EP, but unknown to the APRN because the doc never sent her his report.
She brought the Thing in to read the record from my chest and informed me that the one I have is old and they don't use that one any more.
That was fast!
Then I was prescribed Eliquis, no caveats.
I guess I shouldn't hit my head, I looked it up.
Yes, it is a major research medical center. Maybe that's the problem.
They do review it every month and when I push the symptom thing.
Sorry to sound so whiney.
I am just frustrated.
I may buy a Kardio device and I would need a new phone. I am a retired lab technician and I like to see numbers and know something about the actual record, beyond reassurance that all is well.
Once they asked ME if I had a Smartwatch and what did it say! What's the loop for then?
As I said, I, like many others here, am frustrated.
I hope all of us frustrated people can get sorted out and I am very grateful for a community that is so helpful!
Thank you!

Jump to this post

I read your story with some interest because I found this sight because I too have the same implant as you have, mine put in July 2019, after I suffered a stroke in June and my cardiologist suggested I wear a halter monitor. My daughter’s friend, who is a cardiologist suggested the Linc monitor because of its effectiveness and with it being in the summer and I am more active, my family was afraid that the halter monitor wouldn’t pick up as much as this device. I actually was put under anesthesia, in a hospital setting with an overnight stay (possibly due to the prior stroke) ? No problem with my monitor in my case except for a year in, I had to send away for a replacement, since it just stopped sending transmissions!!!! I kept getting error messages! It turned out I had a hole in my heart which was repaired with more surgery. My question now is…as I am going into my 3rd year with my monitor, has anyone chosen to have theirs removed? I understand the battery life is done after that right? Do we run any risks keeping it in? And I’m assuming it’s another surgical procedure coming out!
Thanks for any information on this..

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