Fiance (63) has to wear a heart monitor because his EKG revealed something called “Mobitz type I Wenckebach / 2nd degree heart block”. His heart rate is 42 (normally around 55). He’s very healthy – not overweight – blood pressure is normal (110/84). Anyone have experience with this? thanks in advance
Did his physician explain what he was being monitored for or what the implications of this condition are?
Good question. I got a very brief text from him (and I’m worried) so no, didn’t get the full picture. The preliminary googling I did seems to say the likely cause is simply age. I think the monitor is to see, over a 24 hour period, if there are other lost signals.
Are you speaking of a HOLTER monitor? It’s really not that bad. I had to wear one for a 24 hour period and record any abnormality in my heart rate/beat in a small diary that I then turned into the doctor when the monitor was removed.
There is a monitor my folks each wore for two weeks, like an extended holter monitor. At the end of the time period, it was simply put in the provided box and mailed to the lab that will interpret the results. I’m not sure what the monitor is called but it is good because it records for the longer period of time than most holter tests which are generally only overnight.
I don’t know the name of it other than “heart monitor”. Maybe I posted too soon 
I just don’t like the word “heart” and “block” in the same line…
The good thing is there’s so much that can be done to correct heart problems - the key is diagnosing them as soon as possible. If it’s an intermittent problem, the only way the doctor is going to get the readings they need is by monitoring when the issue is occurring - hence having to lug around the monitor. I should have been on one, however since my EKGs were normal at the dr’s office my doctor wrote my issues off as panic attacks - until I landed in the ER and had to have my heart chemically stopped. Believe it or not - that turned out to be one of the best days of my life, because after I left the ER and headed to the cardiologist, he looked at the tape from the EKG while I was having the attack and said “I know exactly what this is and we can fix it”. A few more tests, an outpatient procedure - and I’ve been cured now for going on 5 years.
Yes, it’s scary, but really it is so much better to be proactive in these situations.
I wore the Holter monitor several months ago if that’s what it is. It’s annoying because you can’t shower while you have it but other than that it’s not really a big deal.
I’d wait to see what it is before freaking out
Thanks romani! As Winnie the Pooh would say, freaking out is what I do best! Or was it Eeyore…
Thanks InigoMontoya – I need to see this as a good thing they’re being cautious. Boy – that sounds like one scary ER visit!
Thanks HIMom – I think that’s probably what will happen – he’ll wear it for 24 hours, send it in, get some feedback.
livinginLA – did you manually record any abnormality you felt? Or did the device do all the recording for you?
@classof2015 oh I understand completely. I am also a freak out type of person so I totally get it
Good luck to both of you!
For what it’s worth I wore it for 48 hours. I think there are different time periods depending on what you’re looking for.
I’ve had a holter monitor several times. It’s really not a big deal. You ARE supposed to push the button and record what you’re doing, especially if you feel something “funny” so they can pay special attention to that when reviewing the data. The monitor confirmed my heart was beating a bit fast, so I was put on a low dose beta blocker that keeps it lower and makes me more comfortable.
Honestly I only wrote down abnormalities a few times. I was having arrhythmia and so the monitor recorded the abnormalities but they wanted to know what activities I was doing when it happened so that was what they wanted me to write down. It happened so often that I just gave up writing anything down. My regular doctor did refer me but my cardiologist wasn’t very concerned after they did an ultrasound. My arrhythmia comes and goes but hasn’t caused any real problems.
I also wore it for 48 hours like romanigypsyeyes did.
interesting…thanks all…I will try to post back once he gets results. Appreciate all the info.
Mobitz 1 is usually harmless, and a low heart rate is also not generally concerning unless it’s causing symptoms like fatigue or lightheadedness. Your fiancé’s doctor is making sure that there is no more advanced form of heart block. Advanced heart block can cause a very slow heart rate that doesn’t increase appropriately with activity. The treatment for advanced heart block or a low heart rate that is causing symptoms is to put in a pacemaker. This is a minor surgical procedure with minimal implications for activities which restores a normal heart rate. The pacemaker can even increase your heart rate during exercise. I wouldn’t worry about this if I were you. (I am a primary care doc.)
I did the patch heart rate monitor (Zio). I wore the patch for 2 weeks, then mailed it in. After a while you didn’t really notice it. You could shower but weren’t supposed to go swimming or anything. I have had an arrhythmia for 40 years, but it only happens once or twice a month and we were never able to catch it on an EKG. Finally with the patch we caught it and documented it. The arrhythmia doesn’t really bother me very much and usually I can get rid of it fairly quickly. The problem was if I get one while I am playing tennis it is harder to get rid of and is very embarrassing. So they are trying me on a low dose of a Calcium Channel blocker. So far (it has only been a couple of weeks) so good.
Thanks CIEE83. He just finished his 24 hour period of wearing it. Yes – he mentioned that the next step might be a pacemaker. Got some good info on the health and wellness thread from MichaelnKat about requesting an ultrasound of the aorta and carotid artery. Fiance asked for that; they did a stress ecogram instead. I appreciate the kind words.
tx5athome – thanks. That’s very interesting. Hope you continue to do okay.
Our cardiologist friends recommend the Kardia Mobile monitor ($99). It is bluetooth enabled and works with your smartphone and you can use it to record any irregularities, and then email or upload the data to your doc. You can use it stand-alone or in an iphone case.
classof2015 remember all heart issues do not relate back to exercise and weight… genetics (you get that lottery ticket at the time of conception)
my brother has an issue with “skipping” heart beats. he probably has had it forever . he had to go threw testing in the end it was determined his issue is “harmless”