To All Who Have Had Ablations,

I was wondering how many of you got 30 day event monitors after your ablations.

I know that Cathy from Columbus got one & Gwen from Milwaukee. I haven't heard of anyone getting one from the Cleveland Clinic. I would think it would be routine. I have requested one via a letter from my EP doc at Clinic and am waiting for his reply.

Thanks, njb

NJB,

I had an ablation at CCF 13 days ago. Dr. Natale was the EP. I was sent home with a monitor similar to an event monitor which I used two or three years ago, but it is different. This one does not attach to the chest. Instead, there are two leads, and each lead goes to a metal wristband. I was instructed to put these on each wrist like a watchband and call a certain phone number at CCF and transmit for 60 seconds or so once a week for three months. Also, if not in NSR or if any strange beats or if anything is in question, I was instructed to also transmit on an as needed basis to CCF.

Newman

Newman,

Thanks for reply. I got one of those also. I guess I just don't consider it very good compared to the ones I've had in the past. Also, many doctors at pacer lab at Clinic have complained about the poor quality of transmission.

njb

Hi NBJ,

How have you been? Have you had any success is getting answers/help from CCF? Or are you still "in the ring" like many of us fighting for information and answers?

I see Dr. Natale next Wednesday. 2 weeks ago I had my follow up visit with my EP. In reviewing all of the information from the 30 day event monitor and the holter monitor, along with the problems I'm currently experiencing, he told me I basically have 2 options. First, I could do drug therapy for 5 years while ablation technology continues to improve, or I could have another ablation. I'm very anti meds so I've scheduled the ablation for 12/19 (flutter ablation and attempt to target foci causing so many problematic PACs). In the meantime, I'm going to see Dr. Natale for another opinion. It'll be very interesting to see what happens.

I hope you're making progress. In answer to your post, I highly recommend the event monitor. It's attached all the time and I was able to "take" 2 events before having to transmit. Sometimes I was transmitting quite a few times a day, other times only 1-3 times during quieter days. My only problem with the event monitor is that I'm allergic to the adhesive on the pads (even the "infant" type that are not supposed to cause skin reactions) and after the 3rd week, I had to stop wearing the monitor because I'd developed rashes, blisters, and a hypersensitivity to the patches. Therefore, I only attached the pad and leads, took reading, and transmitted when my events were particularly bothersome. The information the 30 day event monitor captured was very interesting and certainly great information for my EP in reviewing my status and recommending further treatment.

Take care and keep in touch.