Wearing a Holter Monitor for the next 2 Days

SO, I'm a bit aggitated at my primary Dr. I called her at 9am yesterday because my ear/jaw pain was getting annoying. My pain mgmt Doc said TMJ but I wanted her to check for sinus issues, as my ear feels like there could be fluid in it and I've got drainage. Well I also have the pain on the left side under my armpits (rib area) that comes and goes for a month or so. After a few back and forth calls they made me go to the ER to rule out cardiac. Everything was fine (I've had 100 heart tests) and the ER Doc said TMJ for the jaw and probably fibro or something for the side pain...not heart related.

They made me do this last year too (same symptoms) and it just frustrates me. I know they have to rule everything out, but just when I'm comfortable with the fact that my heart is OK, they make me go for a bunch of tests that scare the crap out of me again!!!

I have a low heart rate (upper 40s-low 50s at rest) because I used to be a runner and he thought that was a bit low, so I'm hooked up to this thing for 2 days. I'm trying to hide it so people at work dont ask me a bunch of questions about it!! I'm also concerned about the ER bill. My insurance is not as good as it was last year and I'm sure even the 20% of the ER bill I'm responsible for is going to be a nice chunk of change

I'm pretty sure that the dizziness and upset stomach I'm feeling now is due to the reduction in my clonazepam and the TMJ is just part of the whole cronic pain thing. I clench my teeth terribly due to stress...trying to stop that. Dr said avoid chewy, sticky candy and hard foods.

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

I've worn a holter before. It's not so bad. They are very common so if people see it, it is easy to just say "holter." I was having palps and wore it but they found nothing. I've have an unusually high at rest heart rate (around 85+ and when I am working out it gets up to about 190 even if I'm not "hitting the wall.") I also used to be a runner so I find this really unusual. My doctors don't seem to care. I am going to see a doc at school soon just to ask one more time. I hate being on the treadmill and holding the handles and having the heart rate thing warning me I'm maxing out and to slow down. Grrrr.

I wish the best of luck with the halter monitor and tests. Hopefully it will all turn out good and the expense won't be too much. You take care now!

Your Bro Sam :)

I've been reading so much stuff and it seems to me the only way to know 100% is to open someone up. I've had a regular stress test and a thalium test with an image of my heart and a bunch of other tests. All were fine. They all tell me besides the family history, all my other risk factors are low. I'm just going to try and do the best I can. I dont have the high blood pressure or high cholesterol that my brothers and mom have. I also dont smoke or drink. I do need to lose about 12lbs though and I'm working on that. I dont eat a BAD diet, but the Lexapro has made me crave more carbs. This is just one of those things I cant control so I'm trying hard not to obsess over it. I can take this monitor off at 5:36pm today and will drop it off on Monday. We'll see what they say.

Korissa said...

I had holter monitor test last week and found out everything was ok.

The reason for it was I had done a belly flop onto the floor and couldn't remember falling. I wasn't experiencing anxiety the day of the fall. Just fatigue from chopping ice two days before. I told my MD about the belly flop only because I thought it was a funny story. I was there for other reasons.

I think  he said that 70% of the time results are ok, but there can still be a problem.

Anyone else hear that?

I was having terrible anxiety the day of the holter test, but evidently I handle stress ok since none of the flutters, off balance feeling, shortness of breath showed up as anything on the results.

Also had treadmill stress test and echocardiogram and all were ok.

Korissa ,
I also did a belly flop last saturday, I went lighted after bending down to look in the oven ,stood up ,still lighted ,and fell I was aware of falling ,I was thinking i am havig a stroke ,and i have 15 coming for easter dinner ,i called my daughter ,she insisted i go to the ER ,i had been pretty stressed before that ,[the story of my life] after doing a lot of tests the doc said i had vasovagal,I have very bruised knees and legs from falling ,i came home and carried on with preperations for dinner the next day ,everything went well . i also had 5 people overnight, I started getting anxious about it the next day [monday]now i am worrying about it

P-Fit,

I am sure by now your monitor is off and it is just going to be a case of waiting for the report.  Using a Holter Monitor is very common and I am sure your report will be normal.  A low heart rate does cause concern for some but as you stated you are very atheletic so that is the most likely cause for a low resting heart rate.

Because endurance athletes have strong hearts, they generally have low heart rates. As an analogy, consider a bricklayer lifting bricks. If his arm muscles are strong from lifting lots of bricks, he can move 10 bricks with each lift rather than just two or three. Similarly, if your heart muscle is strong thanks to running, it has a higher stroke volume, which means that it can pump more blood with each beat than an untrained heart. It can also pump the same amount of blood in a minute using fewer beats. The average resting heart rate of endurance athletes is around 50-60 beats per minute. I've seen reports, though, of a healthy athletes whose resting pulses were only in the mid 30's.

Doctors who are familiar with athletes only get worried - and follow up accordingly - when a resting heart rate is lower than 30. I am not sure how active you are but this is a quick explanation for others re the relevance of a slow resting heart rate for a very atheletic person.

Please keep us posted on your outcome and know that we care.

Hugs

Kitt 

Dee, I wore a 24-hour heart monitor recently. I was supposed to have the results back in two weeks. It's been longer. Still waiting. Anyway, the tape they use on the skin always leave sores on me. Ouch, not good.
Did they happen to check your potassium level?

Geez, I hope all of you are feeling better soon! I can totally relate and anytime you need to compare notes or experiences, let me know! Feel better, take care and I'll keep you in my thoughts.

I had to wear a holter monitor a few years ago. I was kinda frustrated with it too, I felt like the unibomber:) I had mine because I suffer on occasion with Atrial Fibrillation. It only happens when I throw up and then it triggers the AFib. I knew the test wouldn't show anything because as I said it only happens with I throw up, which is not often. I just did the test to humor them and all turned out as I expected, okay. Good luck!

Low or high potassium levels can negatively impact your body. I hope you're feeling better. I know the results will come back fine. Ask the doc on Wednesday what tests were done. Feel better soon!