I'm confused about what my loop recorder is actually doing!

You should have a device that is plugged in next to your bed. Every night - sometime in the middle of the night- it should transmit the daily capture to your doctors office. The smaller device you use to capture the irregular beat only marks the data capture so they can more easily read any things you notice specifically. I might suggest you contact your doctors office to verify they are receiving the transmissions and if they’ve seen anything concerning on them. When you go to the doctor they should also be able to download directly from your device to see what’s been happening. Good luck!

@mjj, Do you have the Implantable loop recorder? @stephdoug123 is correct, you just need to keep the transmission monitor device beside your bed and it transmits the data while you sleep. Here's some information that explains it -

Implantable loop recorder - Type - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/implantable-loop-recorder/pyc-20384986

Thanks to both of you for responding. I'm still confused, however, as I don't have a "transmission monitor device." I have been told to use my cell phone, which has an app I've downloaded. It allows me to "record symptoms" such as fast heart beat, light-headed, etc. It says the app checks my monitor for new information each day at 2 a.m. I suppose, after reading all about it on the app's "information" area, it's continually monitoring my heart. Thanks again.

I was also slightly confused on exactly what the loop recorder is doing. Mine was implanted Aug 2022 to monitor for AFIB/Flutter. I highly recommend that those getting these loop recorder implants cover in detail with their EP how they work, why they are being implanted, and protocols for when they find problem rhythms. I was very surprised when I detected AFIB a couple weeks back and heard nothing from my cardiologist. I picked it up on my Kardia mobile ECG and thought it would be flagged by the doctor and I'd be contacted. Never happened. I engaged with them by sending Kardia mobile EDG strips and they confirmed by checking the server. You need to cover this important point with your doctor. Ask him/her if they will contact you if you are in AFIB (and are not symptomatic). Boston Scientific does a great job with their ILR customer care group. They said the doctor can request certain programming parameters for the device and these parameters need to be discussed with your doctor.

I have had a irregular heartbeat for 25 years. My doctor's has had me on Metaprolol but I still have daily arrythmias.
My cardio doctor fours years ago put in a LOOP recorder in my chest so he could capture these irregular heartbeats I have.

What made no sense and still doesn't is every time Id get these heart palpitations or flutterings on a daily basis maybe I would immediately record the palpation event and those recordings were sent to my doctor. YET over four years worth of daily palpations and yet this LOOP recorder never red flagged those events I recorded and the doctors who read those recordings I sent in all said ''normal heart rhythm''.

HOW can that be?? If my heart is fluttering and jumping in my chest with a irregular rhythm HOW can this LOOP say nothing about those irregular heartbeats but only keep saying "normal heart rhythm"???

This makes no sense. I spent a lot of money getting this LOOP implanted in my chest yet for four years I got no answers as to what is actually happening to cause these arrythmias. Only thing the loop ruled out was AFIB. My cardio doctors seem to ignore my requests to find out what's wrong because they keep saying "LOOP recorder shows normal heart rhythm".

I just posted the same question just now. Had a loop recorder in for 4 years because I've suffered from heart arrhythmias for a long time and it seems her getting worse the older I get. I have irregular heartbeat everyday off and on and I would transmit these recordings every time I would feel my heart jumping out of beat and fluttering etc and the doctors would report back that the loop recorder always said "normal heart rhythm". HOW can my heart be in normal rhythm when my heart is skipping beats. Fluttering and not beating normal. I feel this LOOP recorder was a huge waste of my money and four years of sending in hundreds of recordings of me definitely having heart arrhythmias yet LOOP detected NOTHING.

Maybe you are having early heartbeats. I get them occasionally. They are considered normal. Most AFIB's are not felt.

I feel the same way. I have had a loop recorder for 5 yrs and not once did it record an event after me passing out 4 times. On vacation in Florida now and last week was taken by ambulance to emergency and spent the night in the hospital. When cardiologist came the next morning first thing he said was don’t bother replacing loop (battery’s just died). He said the loop is nothing but a money grabber !! My sentiments exactly !!

Exactly. My LOOP recorder was the biggest waste of my money and my medical insurance companies money.
I took over a three year period was transported by ambulance to the hospital where even Paramedics said my heart beat was way out of whack and not normal at all YET hundreds of times I sent in recordings even during a irregular heartbeat episode and the LOOP always said NORMAL HEART RHYTHM.
I asked all my cardiologist over these past four years now HOW can that be that my heart is way out of rhythm yet LOOP said ALL NORMAL?? All these darn cardiologist say is "Well, LOOP said ALL normal'. What a terrible joke this LOOP is. Total ripoff in my opinion and I still have no answers or real help.

Same thing here,had loop recorder put in over 3 years ago, was told I didn't have to do anything because it does a download every night. I know I've had numerous palpitations on a daily ,possibly afib off and on as well, yet nothing has been detected on their end?? I'm seeing my doctor in 2 weeks ,and I'm telling her I want it removed as it seems to be a waste having it in my chest any further .