Holter Monitor needed before surgery?

[LaughClown]

Ok, I started excersising regularly about 2-3 weeks ago at the gym at my university. Ive been doing cardio on the incline bike because it has a heart rate monitor. I also seem to tolerate thebike much more than running.
Im wondering though, how reliable are those heart rate things on the machines? Because it was showing some screwy things. There was first twice that I looked up at the display and it showed me at 71bpm, stayed there for about 15 seconds then went back to 135bpm where it was before. Then I was excersising, and was pushing it pretty hard (I try to for just a minute or two per work out) my heart rate went to 150 so I backed off and it went down to 140 pretty quick, then it went blank. I was gripping the handles pretty tight so I let go a couple times and a minute later it came back as 230 for maybe 2 secs then dropped to 32bpm for ten sec then back up to 130. Then yesterday mid routine it dropped to 80 for 20 sec or so, went up to 175 then dropped to 125 where it about was before. My friends think that the machines are bad ,they were all seperate machines but get a lot of use and I was always gripping the handles really hard when it happened. Plus I doubt these things are precision medical instruments.
Now, Ive only had one instance of pvcs or any arrythmia, and I am backing down my workout till after ther surgery. So do I need to get a holter monitor since its only been in heavy excersise and I should be having the surgery in the beginning of November? Its most likely just the valve, but would anything the monitor says affect the surgery? I just want to see if there is a purpose to spending the time effort and money on it when it will porbably be fixed regardless.
Thanks

 

[Adrienne]

First of all, I don't think the HR on the exercise machines is very reliable. I use a Polar F11 HR monitor when I exercise. What is strange is that the thing that emits the signal to the watch that you wear also sends the signal to the treadmill (so you don't have to hold the bar). Well, in general, what I read in front of me on the treadmill seems to coincide fairly well with the watch monitor. However, sometimes, after about 20 minutes, the screen of the treadmill shows a few strange things which kind of scare me, whereas the monitor of the watch I wear stays pretty steady.

In any case, as to the benefit of the Holter Monitor, well, I guess if it showed you go into A-Fib (it doesn't sound like it from what you say), they could do a MAZE procedure at the same time as the valve job.

 

[sue943]

Oooh, someone else noticed about the wrist watch monitor and the treadmill monitor being the same, I thought it was just me. I wear the monitor from time to time and even in bed. I reset the watch to clear the highest reading and in the morning I could have had some VERY rapid heartbeats in the night, weird.

 

[mtkayak]

Yeah, the treadmills are not very reliable. It would be best to buy a heart rate monitor watch with a chest strap. I forget what model mine is but I have a Nike watch. Mine also logs onto the treadmill automatically and the watch too so I actually have two readings both of which are the same. They are great to have too if you go walking or jogging outside.

 

[Nancy]

You know the old saying that you use the right tool for the job, right? The treadmill monitors are not medical monitors, so I wouldn't be trying to diagnose yourself with them. If you think you are having strange heartbeats, then absolutely call your cardiologist. Wearing a Holter monitor for a couple of days would be the right tool for diagnosing heart rhythm abnormalities.
Hard hand gripping can affect heart rates, blood pressures, etc. When you have a stress test on the treadmill, they tell you not to grip hard on the handlebars.

So give your card a call. Better to be safe and ask the question, than wonder what's going on.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The first question that comes to my mind is what kind of SENSORS were used?

The Chest Strap sensors are notoriously bad about cutting out if your skin is dry, the pickup sensors are dry, or the pickup sensors are not positioned correctly.

I used to apply a drop of Saline Solution to the chest strap sensors (the rough surface areas on each side of center) to ensure good electrical contact to the skin. This was especially helpful at the start, before I began to sweat.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[LaughClown]

thats pretty much what I suspected. These have two small handles, one to each side, that have metal contact points. When you grip both it gives the read out.
The reason I asked is because I had some pvc's (only the one time) and when I called my card to check I was just told to call back if anything else irregular happened and they could get a monitor.
Just as I thought, though, its very likely its just the machines. I dont have any other reason to believe I have anyting to worry about so...
Thanks again.

 

[Steph]

I don?t know if this will help or not but I have used a monitor for years.
Monitors can, and will, pick up outside signals. I always use a chest strap. With that strap I can still pick up the dogs electric fence in some areas of the house and get a reading of 220. Also a low battery can mess with the reading. When I have many people in a spin class, and some of the bikes are too close to each other, some of the riders will get a double reading (226) . I have run under electrical wires and had my reading cut into half until I pass . Equipment in the gym is also geared to the average individual, (what ever that is). Personal information, i.e. Weight, age, sex, etc is not usually taken into consideration (some equipment is better). Use the numbers and information as a guiding tool. Your machines sound like they need a good tune up!! Best of luck with everything. Please keep us informed as to how you are doing.

Steph

 

[Adrienne]

Certain HR monitors like the Polar F11 are "coded" so that they only pick up the signal of the electrodes around your chest and not someone else's.

 

[Steph]

Thanks for the info Adrienne, I did not know they had ones like that. I am going to look into it for my next monitor. I hate picking up everything else around me!!

Steph

 

[mtkayak]

The first question that comes to my mind is what kind of SENSORS were used?

The Chest Strap sensors are notoriously bad about cutting out if your skin is dry, the pickup sensors are dry, or the pickup sensors are not positioned correctly.

I used to apply a drop of Saline Solution to the chest strap sensors (the rough surface areas on each side of center) to ensure good electrical contact to the skin. This was especially helpful at the start, before I began to sweat.

'AL Capshaw'

You are suppose to wet the back side of the chest strap. You can simply use water. I actually stick mine under a sink of running water to make sure it's nice and wet. If you do not wet the back side (contacts) you will have a hard time picking up a signal if you pick up one at all.