How an insertable heart monitor uncovered a mother’s hidden heart condition
(BPT) - Jennifer Adamy, a 43-year-old cardiac nurse living in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was very familiar with the signs of heart problems. So, when she started experiencing symptoms of irregular heart activity several years ago, she knew right away something was amiss.
"I noticed I was having abnormal heartbeats where I felt like I would need to catch my breath," said Adamy. A single mom with a career in health care and two young children, Adamy chalked up her symptoms to a lack of sleep, dehydration and the stresses of everyday life.
Throughout the next year, Adamy's erratic heart rhythms, which developed into heart palpitations, became more frequent, prompting her to see a cardiologist. Her cardiologist prescribed her a wearable device called a Holter monitor to help determine the underlying cause of her symptoms. However, the monitor, with its various wires and electrodes attached to Adamy's skin, didn't catch anything significant.
Facing the unknown
As Adamy searched for answers, her condition worsened, and she began experiencing syncopal episodes or fainting, where she would lose consciousness.
"I always knew when I was about to faint. Sometimes I would get tired or dizzy," said Adamy. "Then, I'd feel a tingling in my fingers and toes that would travel upward."
Eventually, the episodes got so bad that Adamy devised a plan with her two children, so they knew what to do when their mom felt a fainting spell coming on.
"I told them, 'If mom is out for more than two minutes, or you can't detect her breathing, call for help,'" she said.
This routine became part of the Adamy family's everyday life. Beyond passing out, she experienced exhaustion, lightheadedness, dizziness and general malaise, which kept her from doing the things she loves, like visiting the beach or riding bikes.
With no explanation for her symptoms, Adamy's cardiologist referred her to an electrophysiologist, a doctor who specializes in the heart's electrical system. After performing a series of tests, including an in-office electrocardiogram, her electrophysiologist did not have enough data to recommend an immediate treatment plan.
Her condition took a dramatic turn during a trip to Las Vegas with her fiancé. As she walked through a casino lobby, she suddenly fainted and was rushed to the hospital. In the ICU, doctors discovered Adamy had experienced tachycardia, an abnormally fast heart rhythm. This condition required doctors to shock her heart back into rhythm three times. Eventually, Adamy returned home and was admitted to her local hospital.
Revealing the rhythm
Without a firm diagnosis or treatment plan, Adamy's electrophysiologist recommended she receive a Medtronic Reveal LINQ™ insertable cardiac monitor (ICM). About one-third the size of a AAA battery and placed just underneath the skin of the chest in an outpatient procedure, the Reveal LINQ ICM monitors the heart continuously for up to several years if needed and uses advanced algorithms to detect and record irregular rhythms.
Having the Reveal LINQ ICM couldn't have come at a better time for Adamy, as she soon had another fainting spell while helping her son pack for an out-of-town baseball tournament.
"The nurse called me and told me the fainting event was captured by the monitor and she knew I was alive because I was still transmitting data," said Adamy. The nurse informed Adamy that her heart had stopped for nine seconds.
"I could have died right there in front of my son," said Adamy.
The data captured by Reveal LINQ ICM showed that Adamy had suffered a systolic arrest - a sudden loss of cardiac systolic function, which can cause cardiac arrest. Given this finding, Adamy's electrophysiologist recommended that she receive a pacemaker that could help regulate her abnormal rhythms. Within days, Adamy received a Micra™ AV leadless pacemaker, which is the size of a vitamin capsule and fits entirely inside the heart.
A new pulse on life
Since receiving her pacemaker, Adamy has not had a single fainting episode, which she attributes to her pacemaker working as intended.
"Without the LINQ device monitoring continuously, doctors may never have known what was wrong with me," said Adamy.
Today, Adamy is back to living her life with comfort and peace of mind. She hopes that sharing her story can encourage others to advocate for themselves even when facing an unknown condition. She especially wants other women to know the risks and symptoms of heart disease, and not brush off symptoms as stress or anxiety. The misperception that women are less likely to have heart disease than men can cause common symptoms to be ignored.
"You are your best advocate," said Adamy. "You know your body, and if something's wrong, be vocal until you find an answer. Never give up."
If you or someone you love is experiencing unexplained fainting or other symptoms that may suggest an underlying heart condition, talk with your doctor. To learn more about cardiac monitoring, visit MonitorYourHeart.com.
Always talk to your doctor about risks, diagnosis and treatment information.
Possible risks associated with the implant of the LINQ™ Family ICMs include, but are not limited to, infection at the surgical site, device migration, erosion of the device through the skin and/or sensitivity to the device material.
For important safety information, see: https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/insertable-heart-monitors/getting-monitor/important-safety-information.html.
Possible risks associated with the Micra implant include, but are not limited to, complications at the surgical site, injury to the heart where the device is attached, sensitivity to the device material, failure to deliver therapy when it is needed, or receiving extra therapy when it is not needed.
For important safety information about Micra, visit: https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/pacemakers/our/micra/important-safety-information.html
Source: BrandPoint
