I watch

iWatch

by AgentX86 - 2022-07-03 00:59:36

No, no, and no. There are none.  Personal EKGs aren't programmed to operate with pacemakers.  The instructions tell you that they aren't to be used.  They are not programmed, tested, or qualified for our use.

The reality is that they are useful if you 1)learn to read an EKG strip yourself, at least as far as it relates to your condition. 2) allows you to send a strip to your doctor (assuming he agrees) for analysis. 3) Or better, both.

It's hard enough to get a reliable pulse rate out of such gadgets.  Pacing spikes and any kind or arrhythmia just makes things worse.

I have Apple Watch and Kardia.

by PacedNRunning - 2022-07-03 01:09:33

I use both. They are fine to use with us. But you definitely need a trained medical professional to read them and they need to know you have a pacemaker. The reason they don't give the ok disclaimer is because the Companies don't want to pay the money to test them on a small group of users. I haven't had any issues with mine. My doctor is well aware I use both. 

Detection of AF and Flutter

by Gemita - 2022-07-03 05:17:14

Jimmy you could also try to detect your AF and Flutter by feeling your pulse (wrist, neck or groin area) when you get symptoms.  Feel for regularity of rhythm, any pausing, speeding up of your heart, whether your pulse is steady (regular) or unsteady (irregular).  An AF heart beat will generally feel unsteady (irregular).  It can occur at a slow, normal or fast speed.  Flutter usually feels fast (fluttering), but generally steady.  Also pay attention to your chest sensations if you are symptomatic during episodes.  My AF makes my heart quiver, vibrate, pause and I can feel my heart constantly changing speed, affecting my blood pressure too.  AF is a chaotic disturbance which affects my blood flow causing breathlessness, chest pain, weakness and instability.  Prior to my pacemaker I experienced syncope during some fast episodes.  Learn how to feel your arrhythmias, especially if they are intermittent and make a note of the time and date they occur.  Some episodes may go unnoticed (some lucky mmbers are completely asymptomatic) but learn how to recognise some of the chest symptoms associated with AF to help detection.  

I agree with comments from both PacedNRunning and AgentX86.  In my personal experience, home monitors do not always cope well with the irregularities of an arrhythmia like say AF.  It would need a trained eye to accurately assess any print out, but that is not to say that iWatch/Kardia are not helpful.  Kardia Mobile is successfully used by many members here, who are then able to send a print out or take it with them to a consultation with their health professional to confirm the arrhythmia present.  Alternatively you could learn how to read an ECG yourself. Kardia Mobile state that their product is not tested for use with pacemakers, but this doesn’t mean it cannot be used.  Kardia is still I believe recommended as a helpful home tool to screen for AF in my hospital in the UK, even for pacemaker patients, but you may need professional help to read your print outs as stated above.

When at home, I often use a quality blood pressure monitor to confirm the presence of an irregular heart rhythm and fluctuating heart rate and blood pressure.  It frequently errors in the presence of a very slow or very fast arrhythmia, but at least it confirms on a second or third attempt why I am experiencing such troublesome sudden symptoms.  I can usually tell from my symptoms alone what rhythm disturbance I am in, but I have had plenty of practise.  I no longer feel the need to monitor myself every time I experience a significant arrhythmia.  I just make a diary note when these now fortunately diminishing episodes occur, to discuss with my pacemaker clinic on my next visit.  

iwatch

by Julros - 2022-07-03 15:04:33

I am nearly 100% paced. I have an iWatch and it cannot/will not provide an ecg. It will sense one paced beat, and then it resets and tries again. I have both a flutter and a fib and my provider will do a 12 lead ecg in the office to be precise about which one I am experiencing. That being said, I can tell when I am not in an atrial arrhythmia, because my resting pulse is 60. When I am in afib or a flutter, my resting rate is 70. 

When you under go a device interrogation, the clinic will determine the percentage of time spent in afib/aflutter, and treatment is based on this percentage as well as your symptoms. 

Thank you all for I watch comments

by Jimmy S - 2022-07-04 01:10:41

I so appreciate everyone's comments.. thank you! I believe that my pacemaker has helped my A Fib but I also have persistent a flitter. I am 100% paced as well. 

will not use I watch for reliable EKG. I am so impressed that some can pick it up on pulse feel alone. Thanks so much all. This is a great forum!!
 

a real ekg monitoring device

by dwelch - 2022-07-09 07:55:18

None of these things are expected to work.  If for some reason you feel you really need such a device you would need to get a real ekg monitoring device made for hospitals or clinics and rollit around with an extension cord.  As well as learn how to read the waveform.

It sounds like the problem is not monitoring but the reason why you feel the need to monitor.  I think you need to seek help understanding your condition and coping with life with this condition and an implanted device.