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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yab | @yab | Feb 21 8:17am

I had my loop recorder (Linq) inserted about a month ago. I just started with a new cardiologist EP. That was a first thing he suggested. It already caught one AFIB episode and the cardiologist office called me in the morning telling me that the doctor wanted to see me to discuss further treatment.

kelton | @kellycross | Feb 18 1:14pm

In reply to @dcummings1631 "I read your story with some interest because I found this sight because I too have..." + (show)

I had my monitor in for 3 years. I was diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia. I am lean and the monitor poked through so I had it removed. It wasn't providing any additional data and was at the 3 year mark. It was a simple procedure, in part because it was so close to the surface. A small hole and they kind of "squeezed" it out.

ruby2020 | @ruby2020 | Jan 8 9:00am

In reply to @cwitton1 "I have the loop recorder because I pass out randomly with no warning at all. I..." + (show)

cwitton1- Has your cardiologist ever mention the possibility of Cardiogenic Syncope? I have family member that has these same symptoms. It was finally determined that Cardiogenic Syncope was his diagnosis. Is there any chance you can go to a different Cardiologist? For your safety and well-being- it sounds like this may be a good option to explore.

ruby2020 | @ruby2020 | Jan 8 8:58am

My son has had one for about 7 months. It is a Linq II. This specific one was implanted because his A. Fib is asymptomatic. It records 24/7 without him pushing any buttons. At first, I was frustrated that we couldn't access the data. But, now I am more glad than not, because we would probably be checking it ALOT. Knowing every beat of his heart is recorded is great peace of mind.

cwitton1 | @cwitton1 | Jan 6 8:11am

In reply to @jigglejaws94 "Larry -- I feel for your situation. It can be so frustrating sometimes. Back in 2013,..." + (show)

@jigglejaws94

Larry -- I feel for your situation. It can be so frustrating sometimes. Back in 2013, I went to a Christmas sing and by the fifth song I was gasping for air. My heart started doing some really strong palpitations and I couldn't catch my breath. There were some EKG abnormalities and my doctor ordered a pretty thorough cardiac work-up. The Holter revealed lots of PVCs, PACs and some ventricular tachycardia which was probably the most concerning to them. I had an echocardiogram which was essentially normal. Also a stress test which had ST wave abnormalities but which was apparently a false positive (happens 50% of the time for women). I was sent onto a cardiologist who did a nuclear stress test which came out beautifully. At the cardiology follow-up, the cardiologist told me that I just have a "special" heart. Aw, ain't that sweet....several thousand dollars later. I'm a medical mystery on many accounts and so hey, just add it to the pile. It wasn't until spring of 2016 when I saw the cardiologist again that he tried an event monitor because the palpitations I was having were different, more fluttery, higher up and took my breath away. Of course, the event monitor showed basically nothing besides the usual PVCs, PACs. So he decided to have the Reveal LINQ placed. I wish it had been explained to me a little better though. I thought for around $2,000 my cost that that was a pretty good price to have 24/7 heart monitoring. But what he didn't tell me is that it doesn't really monitor all the PACs, PVCs but is programmed to catch atrial fibrillation, tachycardia or bradycardia. I guess if I hit my Patient Assistant, it will mark the read-out, if I am having symptoms -- and then would show an arrhythmia. So I just find that I'm a little disappointed in what this Reveal LINQ cannot do. I haven't had that weird rhythm return either. Not that I want it to return because it was terribly uncomfortable but I certainly hope that it does while I have this thing in so that maybe it can all be figured out.

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I have the loop recorder because I pass out randomly with no warning at all. I do feel symptoms, (fluttery pounding, racing) but every time I reported them, they seemed annoyed. Finally they straight up told me, we only want to know if you pass out. So I would patient activate when that happened, and it showed nothing. We recently decided to have it removed, and while I’m waiting for them to set that up, I’ve begun getting red alerts in my chart. I get an automated response, but they’ve stopped answering my messages. So I guess I don’t know what’s going on, if I’m still having it removed? Or if I should go back on metoprolol. Communication would be great.

cwitton1 | @cwitton1 | Jan 6 7:56am

Ive had a loop recorder since 9/21.

sa1l0r | @sa1l0r | Jan 5 6:38am

In reply to @stubeckj70 "I have not heard about some of these problems. I had eanlarged, complete heart block, no..." + (show)

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 !

ruby2020 | @ruby2020 | Jan 4 8:56am

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.

stubeckj70 | @stubeckj70 | Jan 4 7:44am

In reply to @sa1l0r "Device uncovered one episode of asymptomatic Afib and asymptomatic continual nocturnal bradycardia with pauses and restarts...." + (show)

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.

indyblonde | @indyblonde | Jan 3 5:08pm

In reply to @raehoffman "Good morning! Yes, I have the Abbott loop reader. Since insertion I have had various episodes..." + (show)

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.

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