Heart monitors? (advantage, doctor, insurance, sleeping)

[marylee54]

My doctor put me on a Heart Smart, which was a joke.

You have to press a button when you felt an event to record it, then phone it in, had to couple it to the phone. It could only store 3 events, then would over write it. The events came in bursts, by the time I could get to a phone they would be overwritten. Probably it was garbage data transmitted.

I wore that thing for a month and they said they didn't detect anything, but I had plenty of events. Today I just called and demanded a Holter monitor, they placed it this morning. I think my doctor is being guided by sales reps, probably gets more insurance reimbursement for Heart Smart. I can't see the advantage of the stupid thing, also, it doesn't record unless you press a button, so, obviously, it doesn't record while sleeping.

The claim the advantage is you can take it off to shower. wow, big deal. If you use a holter for > 24 hours, you can deactivate it for showering, too. I'm now p'od he only set it for 24 hours, on Friday, I can't return it until Monday, anyways, why was he so intent on getting a month's worth of readings when it was Heart Smart but with a Holter its just for 24 hours? I didn't think to ask at the time and its too late now (too late time wise, that is)

Perhaps its an insurance issue, perhaps they have to do a 24 hour first then beg for more time? But why should I be guessing? I'm having a lot of events today, I've also had holters before, and they always say nothing showed up, but they never really go over the test, just mumble something about "normal" then walk away, after all that!

This time, if they say nothing found, I am going to ask for the report and tell them I'm seeking a second opinion. At least force them to read it!