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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

@danab

Hi And welcome to Connect, Also this may answer your questions also @frostbite as my wife is very slender also. She just had one inserted a few months ago and is doing great. She tells me it was a bit sore for a few days after but didn't need any pain meds except Tylenol. It was very quick procedure like 10 min and most likely (She's retired) go back to work right away .
Her phone is the device that gets the readings from the implant and so far nothing noticeable has been sent but there is a button you can push on you phone app to log something that feels unusual. She hasn't had to use it yet but either way everything the implant sees is recorded and sent via her phone. Hope that helps as for her being slender she did say at first during the implanting it brused her ribs a bit but doesn't even notice it now.
Blessings

Jump to this post

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. You have alleviated some of my concerns. My best to you and your wife.

REPLY
@danab

Hi And welcome to Connect, Also this may answer your questions also @frostbite as my wife is very slender also. She just had one inserted a few months ago and is doing great. She tells me it was a bit sore for a few days after but didn't need any pain meds except Tylenol. It was very quick procedure like 10 min and most likely (She's retired) go back to work right away .
Her phone is the device that gets the readings from the implant and so far nothing noticeable has been sent but there is a button you can push on you phone app to log something that feels unusual. She hasn't had to use it yet but either way everything the implant sees is recorded and sent via her phone. Hope that helps as for her being slender she did say at first during the implanting it brused her ribs a bit but doesn't even notice it now.
Blessings

Jump to this post

Hi Dana,

Thank you for the response. This helps very much. I guess as I am still working I was curious as to how much time would I miss recovering. I am in sales and work in a corporate environment.

Regards,

Bfalcon1

REPLY
@bfalcon1

Hello,

I found this site as I was looking for information regarding the Medtronic Linq. I may need to get one and will find out this week. My question is how long does it take to recover once it is implanted and how is living life with the device? I am very curious what everyone's experience has been.

Thank you,

Bfalcon1

Jump to this post

Device uncovered one episode of asymptomatic Afib and asymptomatic continual nocturnal bradycardia with pauses and restarts.

Recovery from implant and removal minimal (7-10 days) with usual cautions RE: wound care. Scar barely visible.

REPLY

Yes, I have one and want to change my cardiologist for one who has a patient portal. We still travel and he doesn't post diagnoses or clinical notes. Has any changed docs after a Linq Reveal insertion?

REPLY

Good morning! Yes, I have the Abbott loop reader. Since insertion I have had various episodes with no feedback from cardiologist. I have known Afib. When I ask if anything has been seen, he avoids answering. Not sure of the value of this monitor??

REPLY
@montej

I had a Boston Scientific loop recorder implanted in August 2022 to look for AFIB. I had a catheter ablation done in Feb 2019 and been AFIB free since then. The reason I elected to have the procedure is I have decided not to stay on blood thinners for the remainder of my life. My argument is if I no longer have AFIB then the risk of stroke should be the same as the general population for my age demographic. I use a Kardia mobile ECG that is very accurate which prior to the ablation was always in agreement with the ECG in the doctors office. So, the bottom line is if the implanted Boston scientific loop recorder picks up AFIB then I will reconsider my position on taking an anticoagulant. My electrophysiologist is in agreement.

Jump to this post

Your story fits mine almost exactly. In late 2019 I had one HUGE AFIB episode - with hospitalization and after a couple of weeks, I had an ablation. I started taking Xarelto and now it's January 2024, and I just don't want to take it anymore. It looks like this Linq is the only way to know for sure if I'm still having AFIB and Tachycardia.

I'm curious if you were able to stop taking the blood thinner

REPLY
@raehoffman

Good morning! Yes, I have the Abbott loop reader. Since insertion I have had various episodes with no feedback from cardiologist. I have known Afib. When I ask if anything has been seen, he avoids answering. Not sure of the value of this monitor??

Jump to this post

Perhaps you might also consider the value of your cardiologist. If he/she avoids answering your questions, then maybe it's time for a change.

REPLY
@sa1l0r

Device uncovered one episode of asymptomatic Afib and asymptomatic continual nocturnal bradycardia with pauses and restarts.

Recovery from implant and removal minimal (7-10 days) with usual cautions RE: wound care. Scar barely visible.

Jump to this post

I have not heard about some of these problems. I had eanlarged, complete heart block, no native rhythm and 6 pacemakers put in since 1992z had vtach and after a scare they put in a CRT-D. Made by Boston Scientific it is a cardiac resynchronization therapy with pacemaker and defibrillator. I use a Latitude monitoring system and this has been working quite well since 2018. I go to device clinic quarterly and they
Remotely view rhythm streets and will call me if they see anything unusual. I also take blood thinners (Eliquis), and a cocktail of drugs
Daily. Good luck to you all.

REPLY

My young adult son has a LINQ II Loop Recorder. It was inserted in an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic, in his left upper chest. It provides peace of mind. He doesn't have any symptoms. So, this is the model that they decided was best for him. It records 24/7 for the duration of the battery- 5 years. Every 3 months it get downloaded and read and signed by his EP. If I have any concerns I can call the clinic and request that someone looks at it. But, have never had to do that.
He had the Watchman Device procedure yesterday. This is designed to get off blood thinners. The schedule for this process is that he takes a baby aspirin and will continue the Eliquis for 6 weeks, then will stop Eliquis and take Plavix for 6 weeks. At that time, they will do a CT to make sure that he has grown in around the Watchmen and no blood can get by it and into the Left Upper Appendage. Stop the Plavix if it all looks good and continue the baby aspirin forever.
Good luck to you all.

REPLY
@stubeckj70

I have not heard about some of these problems. I had eanlarged, complete heart block, no native rhythm and 6 pacemakers put in since 1992z had vtach and after a scare they put in a CRT-D. Made by Boston Scientific it is a cardiac resynchronization therapy with pacemaker and defibrillator. I use a Latitude monitoring system and this has been working quite well since 2018. I go to device clinic quarterly and they
Remotely view rhythm streets and will call me if they see anything unusual. I also take blood thinners (Eliquis), and a cocktail of drugs
Daily. Good luck to you all.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your email.

too have been told I have first degree heart block; but have not heard of
the system you mention (CRT-D). Still having trouble with frequent stumbles
and falls, despite being extraordinarily careful. I don’t faint, lose
consciousness, no dizziness, just fall. Of course, three of my
medications’s labels say: “may cause dizziness or loss of balance,” and
MDs say I need them - no available substitutions. ‘Tis a puzzlement !

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.