Heart Rate Monitor is Awesome!

[SOC]

So you have serious OI issues? I wonder if there's a way to get that treated by your local GP. That might be enough to enable you to travel to a specialist eventually.

 

[Sparrow]

So you have serious OI issues? I wonder if there's a way to get that treated by your local GP. That might be enough to enable you to travel to a specialist eventually.

My GP is of the (mistaken) impression that if what I have is CFS, then it cannot also be POTS. Therefore, since I have CFS, I do not have POTS. (sigh) I don't want to be too pushy about it right now, because my insurance stuff is still a little up in the air, and I don't want to do anything to rock the boat too much. We're on track to try to get me some testing eventually, though. And in the meantime I am getting gradually better. Just a bit slowly for my taste.

 

[mobyjoby]

I really feel for you Sparrow - I hope you get some certainty with your insurance soon so that you can start to get your GP to work a bit harder for you.

 

[Sallysblooms]

Sorry your doctor doesn't understand. Very odd. Easy for him to learn, just google!

 

[SOC]

My GP is of the (mistaken) impression that if what I have is CFS, then it cannot also be POTS. Therefore, since I have CFS, I do not have POTS. (sigh)

What?! That doesn't even make sense. Where do they get these ideas? OI problems are incredibly common in ME/CFS. It's almost definitional. Sheesh. Any hope of taking him/her part of the CCC or ICC and pointing that out?

 

[soxfan]

I just received my heart rate monitor in the mail. I ordered a Timex one which is also a watch. I really wanted to find out how high my heart rate goes when I am at working standing for 6 hours. I am especially interested to see what it is doing when I break out in those massive sweats.
Resting my rate in around 60-65 no higher (sitting). When laying in bed it goes down into the 50's. I walk everyday and am in pretty good shape so maybe that is why.

Seeing my doctor on the 29th and will have a discussion about all this....

 

[Sparrow]

Thanks for the support, guys. Nice to know I'm not alone in my reaction.

My doctor is well-intentioned, just misinformed. So many things seem like common knowledge to me now - I forget sometimes how little of this information has actually trickled down to the front lines. But I should be getting a consult with a more knowledgeable group at the hospital soonish, and they should be able to pass on some useful information to her. I think that will go over a lot easier coming from other doctors than it would from me. The last thing I need right now is to successfully get across to her that I'm having POTS issues and have her decide that means that I no longer have CFS. Life would be so much easier without having to worry about disability insurance...

 

[Wolfiness]

Hi everybody, I'm interested in this, but I am so severely ill (maybe 2 or 3 on the Bell Scale) that pretty much everything I do pushes me above the anaerobic threshold, judging by my current pulse-ox monitor (the kind that goes on your thumb and goes through batteries too fast, so I can't wear all it the time). Is it worth spending £100/ $150 on a more expensive kind for continuous monitoring, sync with apps etc.? And if so, is it worth choosing one like the Mio Alpha (www.wareable.com/sport/mio-alpha-2-review) that will beep if you exceed your threshold? Obviously normally a warning is exactly what you need, but a) in my case it would probably go off all the time and b) the Fitbit Charge HR (www.wareable.com/fitbit/fitbit-charge-hr-review), which I think only indicates heart rate zones with lights, is, well, just more stylish plus it has way better battery life for continuous monitoring.

 

[elliepeabody]

Hi everybody, I'm interested in this, but I am so severely ill (maybe 2 or 3 on the Bell Scale) that pretty much everything I do pushes me above the anaerobic threshold, judging by my current pulse-ox monitor (the kind that goes on your thumb and goes through batteries too fast, so I can't wear all it the time). Is it worth spending £100/ $150 on a more expensive kind for continuous monitoring, sync with apps etc.? And if so, is it worth choosing one like the Mio Alpha (www.wareable.com/sport/mio-alpha-2-review) that will beep if you exceed your threshold? Obviously normally a warning is exactly what you need, but a) in my case it would probably go off all the time and b) the Fitbit Charge HR (www.wareable.com/fitbit/fitbit-charge-hr-review), which I think only indicates heart rate zones with lights, is, well, just more stylish plus it has way better battery life for continuous monitoring.

I bought a Mio Alpha 2 a few weeks ago.
It's not a thing of beauty, more chunky than sleek.

However, it does do what I want it to do and you don't have to wear a chest strap.
I have the HR monitoring on all day and switch it over to just a watch when I am in bed. It then only needs charging every two or three days. If I leave it on HR monitoring 24/7 then it needs charging once a day.

You can set it up to beep at you if you go beyond your range but I haven't bothered. What I have done is set it up for 5 HR 'zones' and there is a flashing light on the watch so you can see at a glance which 'zone' you are in by the colour of the flashing light.
Blue - HR 0-70
Dark Blue - HR 71-80
Green - HR 81-90
Yellow - HR 91 -94
Purple - HR 95 -100
Red - HR 101-120

For the calculation of max HR of 220 - age x 60% my max HR comes out at 101 which is why I have set it up as I have.

If I am doing anything it is very easy to glance and see if I am pushing myself too much. As I said on another thread I was very surprised how my HR spiked up to 140 (going upstairs slowly or washing) and how my HR stayed higher on the day after I have overdone it.

I now do things more slowly and sit, lie down or crouch if my HR spikes until it stabilises.

On the minus side the display isn't easy to read in low light, although you can double tap the screen for 5 seconds of backlight. The Mio Alpha 2 is waterproof and the strap is comfortable.

I've managed to sync the Mio with my ipad but it does keep dropping out, it maybe because I have an older ipad. My cheap 'n cheerful android phone is running an old version of the OS so isn't compatable with the app. Considering updating the phone, as from the ipad app I can see how helpful it would be to record my HR over a longer period of time.

The Mio is new tech, and it could be better, but I am happy with it so far. Let me know if you want to know any more.

Some useful reviews of HR monitors here
http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/

 

[TiredSam]

I didn't know about the flashing light on the watch screen, so thanks for that. I was considering getting one a while ago but what put me off was having to switch between watch and monitor instead of having it all on one screen. What would be perfect would be a vibration alarm when I change zones instead of a peep, so people around me wouldn't need to wonder why I was peeping. Might have another look at it and put it on my list for Santa now.

 

[elliepeabody]

I didn't know about the flashing light on the watch screen, so thanks for that. I was considering getting one a while ago but what put me off was having to switch between watch and monitor instead of having it all on one screen. What would be perfect would be a vibration alarm when I change zones instead of a peep, so people around me wouldn't need to wonder why I was peeping. Might have another look at it and put it on my list for Santa now.

The coloured flashing light isn't on the watch screen, sorry if I wasn't clear. The flashing light is at the top of the strap so you don't have to turn your arm to see it.

I don't think it can be set up to beep when you change zones, but it can be set to beep when you exceed your max (although I've never used this function)

The flashing light really does well, while typing this I can see in my peripheral vision that I am going between dark blue and green.

As I said I keep it on HR all day, so I don't use it as a watch. Not a problem for me as I haven't worn a watch for years, and have a clock in the room where I spend most of my time. I suppose for you it partly depends on how much you like having a wrist watch.

There are a couple of You Tube videos reviewing the Alpha 2 eg

which are worth a look if you are seriously considering getting one as they aren't cheap.

 

[Wolfiness]

Thanks elliepeabody, it does seam the Mio Alpha is a good choice. In the end I decided that because my priority now is rest and relaxation and I'm in bed 99% of the time a heart rate monitor wasn't the right thing for me; I went for a breathing tracker I chanced upon called Spire and I'll see whether that proves useful.

In the past I've found the SC911 Stress Thermometer accurate at measuring relaxation but it doesn't record its data, so if the Spire doesn't help I'm eyeing up the Basis Peak fitness-heart-rate-and-everything-else watch or the Microsoft Band, both of which measure skin temperature (albeit at wrist, not fingertips) and galvanic skin response. As yet though although there are apps that will record those values they don't interpret them the way that all the dozens of apps will interpret heart rate for you.

Links:
http://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech/spire-review
http://bio-medical.com/products/stress-thermometer-sc911
www.wareable.com/fitness-trackers/basis-peak-review

 

[TiredSam]

2 more questions if I may: does the flashing zone change light still work and keep flashing when the Mio Alpha is on the clock screen? Also, do I need a smartphone to operate it, or can I make all the settings over the Mio Alpha itself or a PC? Thanks.

 

[elliepeabody]

2 more questions if I may: does the flashing zone change light still work and keep flashing when the Mio Alpha is on the clock screen? Also, do I need a smartphone to operate it, or can I make all the settings over the Mio Alpha itself or a PC? Thanks.

No the zone light doesn't still flash when in time mode, then it is simply a chunky watch. Putting it into time mode turns off the HR sensors on the back (and extends battery life which is why I turn it to watch mode when I go to bed)

Yes you can set it up directly on the watch although it is easier on a phone or tablet. I did set it up directly from the watch initially, but it took a while as I started button pushing before reading the instructions

Here is a list of the compatible apps
http://www.mioglobal.com/en-us/compatibility/apps.htm
and compatible devices
http://www.mioglobal.com/en-us/compatibility/devices.htm

HTH

 

[elliepeabody]

Thanks elliepeabody, it does seam the Mio Alpha is a good choice. In the end I decided that because my priority now is rest and relaxation and I'm in bed 99% of the time a heart rate monitor wasn't the right thing for me; I went for a breathing tracker I chanced upon called Spire and I'll see whether that proves useful.

In the past I've found the SC911 Stress Thermometer accurate at measuring relaxation but it doesn't record its data, so if the Spire doesn't help I'm eyeing up the Basis Peak fitness-heart-rate-and-everything-else watch or the Microsoft Band, both of which measure skin temperature (albeit at wrist, not fingertips) and galvanic skin response. As yet though although there are apps that will record those values they don't interpret them the way that all the dozens of apps will interpret heart rate for you.

Links:
http://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech/spire-review
http://bio-medical.com/products/stress-thermometer-sc911
www.wareable.com/fitness-trackers/basis-peak-review

Thanks for those links, interesting reading. The technology is relatively new, and I reckon in a couple of years these devices will be more multi function. Now you have to pick and choose, depending on what your main needs are. The idea of a breathing tracker is very interesting and is something I hadn't considered before. I'd be very interested to hear how you get on with the spire.

 

[Valentijn]

I don't think it can be set up to beep when you change zones, but it can be set to beep when you exceed your max (although I've never used this function)

My older Mio Alpha only has 5 zones (very low, low, normal, high, very high) and three colors (blue for very low & low, green for normal, red for high & very high). But the beeping does change based on how far I am from the normal zone. Low and high get a single beep, and very low and very high get a double beep.

So I have set 100 as my threshold for red/single beep to tell me I need to rest briefly until I'm under 90 to continue, and have set 110 as the threshold for red/double beep to tell me to seriously stop what I'm doing and recover for a while.

But since low values aren't a problem unless they get really low, I've set something like 65 as my threshold for blue/low beeps. I think it would drive me nuts if it started beeping or flashing at 80!

 

[elliepeabody]

My older Mio Alpha only has 5 zones (very low, low, normal, high, very high) and three colors (blue for very low & low, green for normal, red for high & very high). But the beeping does change based on how far I am from the normal zone. Low and high get a single beep, and very low and very high get a double beep.

So I have set 100 as my threshold for red/single beep to tell me I need to rest briefly until I'm under 90 to continue, and have set 110 as the threshold for red/double beep to tell me to seriously stop what I'm doing and recover for a while.

But since low values aren't a problem unless they get really low, I've set something like 65 as my threshold for blue/low beeps. I think it would drive me nuts if it started beeping or flashing at 80!

Thanks, I'll have a delve in the Mio2 instructions to see if it will beep when you change zones. It also has a 3 zone function where you can set below target HR, target HR and above target.

I'd be interested, how useful have you found the HR monitor and has it helped you to control symptoms?

 

[Valentijn]

I'd be interested, how useful have you found the HR monitor and has it helped you to control symptoms?

I don't wear it on a regular basis around the house. But it was very useful in seeing how my body was typically responding to various activities. So it was very helpful in showing me that stairs are a bad idea, vacuuming is a bad idea, gardening has to be done sitting down, and I shouldn't stand up nearly as long as I was when cooking.

Now I primarily use it during outings and showers. Outings are fairly predictable, but it's still useful to see if I need to sit with my feet up in the waiting room, or should cut short a "walk" on my mobility scooter instead of going to shops. But it's pretty vital during showers, since that involves a lot of activities which are raising my heart rate too high, sometimes very quickly, even when I'm sitting on a shower stool with my feet up.

 

[elliepeabody]

I don't wear it on a regular basis around the house. But it was very useful in seeing how my body was typically responding to various activities. So it was very helpful in showing me that stairs are a bad idea, vacuuming is a bad idea, gardening has to be done sitting down, and I shouldn't stand up nearly as long as I was when cooking.

Now I primarily use it during outings and showers. Outings are fairly predictable, but it's still useful to see if I need to sit with my feet up in the waiting room, or should cut short a "walk" on my mobility scooter instead of going to shops. But it's pretty vital during showers, since that involves a lot of activities which are raising my heart rate too high, sometimes very quickly, even when I'm sitting on a shower stool with my feet up.

Thanks, yes that feedback from the monitor is so useful in identifying things that at the time don't seem too bad, but are actually quite stressful for the body.

Anything using my arms had a much greater effect on HR than I expected, putting plates away for instance, or wiping down worktops. I haven't showered for a while now as last time I nearly passed out. I sit on the shower stool and wash with a flannel with my feet on the toilet seat, but it is still difficult to keep HR down. I daren't think what showering and washing my hair did!

I now stop and have 'micro-rests' to allow my HR to stabilise, I'm hoping that it will gradually bring some benefit. Wish I'd got a HR monitor ages ago, but the chest straps always put me off, but the Mio has solved that.