DO IT YOURSELF EKG

Are you tired of trying to get information about your heart condition from your cardiologist? Well take a look at what's available on EBay.

PORTABLE HANDHELD ECG EKG HEART MONITOR, NEW - Item number: 130220551045

Get the optional USB cable for only $7 extra and it will download the data to your PC and the software which will diagnose the data and give you your condition. The optional software ($35) will include 13 extra different types of arrhythmias. Looks pretty darn interesting.

This has to be a cardiologist's worst nightmare. A patient with the ability to have "do it your self EKG" and the software to give them a diagnosis.

Wonder when we will be able to get a do it yourself pacemaker kit?

9 Comments

DIY EKG....

by harley63 - 2008-05-06 06:05:11

Smitty~
I saw that on Ebay.. LOL.. my cardiologist already thinks that I'm bossy! Just wait until he hears that I got the DIY EKG machine! I might get my walking papers!

Thanks for the humor! Much needed today!
Harley63

This is great!

by Swedeheart - 2008-05-06 07:05:33

I want one! This is great... my doctors will have a great time comparing information! :) Hey, if it would ultimately save me $$$ might not be a bad idea!

harley63, I love the DIY label.... :)

Swedeheart

DIY EKG

by SMITTY - 2008-05-06 09:05:12

I just realized I failed to show the price. You can have it for the "buy it now price" of $269.01.

Strewth!

by Blueaustralia - 2008-05-06 09:05:37


What next? They say you can purchase anything on EBay. Howabout a DIY Pacemaker or even a new heart.!!!! Keep you comments coming Smitty. You lighten my day. Sincere regards Billie

Smitty

by OIMAPRINCESS2477 - 2008-05-06 10:05:06

Very Nice. Where was this machine years ago when I was having problems and the drs were miss diagnosing me. Could have save lots of money on drs visits by getting one of these bad boys. :) Where do you find this things? Must have alot time to find the things that make all of us get a chuckle. Hope all is well

Britt<3

i would have bought it

by jessie - 2008-05-06 11:05:59

since my dr. could not find my problem i could have bought it and diagnosed myself. fate saved me as it were so at least i have this chance. boy waht will be next. jess

Sounds good.......

by Pete K - 2008-05-07 01:05:21

Sounds great, wish it would also adjust the pacer, LOL. As I have been a long time seller on Ebay until recently, I would just point out before anyone buys that, that the seller has a low feedback rating and is in China where there is no recourse if you don't receive your item. (I lost 4 items in shipping back and forth to China and found out there isn't even anyone to talk to about it in China. Never had any parcels not get lost.)
Pete

Omron makes one for $399

by axg9504 - 2008-05-07 06:05:17

I had heard that this was being developed. I don't know what's on E-bay but Omron is a respected Japanese maker of BP monitors (and possibly other equipment) and they have one for $399.

But caution, I don't think getting one is a substitute for a doctor, preferably an EP who knows how to read them. I have found that even EP's can't always get it right. I had one diagnose Afib for me. I saved the charts he used and took it for a second (and third) and got disagreement both times with his conclusion.

There are some good books available for the novice to get some background. One I picked up was by Dale Dubin

DIY EKG

by SMITTY - 2008-05-07 06:05:42

People, I intended this message as a joke because I do not really think having us do our own EKG is a good idea. Assuming a purchaser does not get ripped off when trying to purchase one.

My reason for thinking DIY EKG is not a good idea is I have experience with an EKG machine that did a diagnosis. In the late 80's my wife was head honcho in a family practice clinic that purchased one of the most sophisticated (at the time) EKG machines available. That thing was a ten or twelve lead unit and all the technician had to do was put the leads in the right place, punch one or two buttons and that machine took from there. When it finished it would print out in plain English what it found. Of course those technicians, which were mostly CMA, had to be trained to use that machine and old Smitty was the guinea pig. I must have had 30 or 40 EKG done over a period of a couple of weeks and every few weeks thereafter as refresher courses were always necessary. I would always read the printout and I could understand what it was saying when it said I had bradycardia. I even knew which was the P wave, QRS complex, T wave and the U wave. But what I didn't know was the real significance of what I was reading.

I knew I had coronary artery disease which had caused me to have a heart attack that left damage to my heart and I followed that up with a quadruple bypass a few weeks later. Since I knew I had heart disease, I thought it best to leave the interpretation of the data to the doctor.

I know this is a long way around to say I was just having a little fun and that I do not advocate anyone doing their own EKG. Frankly, I never thought I would see the day that there would be DIY EKG machines on the market.

Smitty

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.