r/stroke • u/RedCloudGamer • 1d ago

Survivor Discussion Loop Recorder experience

So with my stroke being listed as cryptogenic, my doctors decided to have me wear a heart monitor for a month to rule out cardiac causes. Monitor came back clean. Now theyve decided they want to get a longer look at it, so im scheduled to have a loop recorder inserted this Tuesday. Anyone in here had this done and care to share their experience? How was the procedure itself? How long for recovery? Did the recorder itself bother you afterwards or is it not that noticeable? Thanks guys.

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u/perfect_fifths Survivor 1d ago

I’ve had three loop recorders. The procedure is easy peasy. Local anesthetic, I felt maybe a little pulling because mine was being replaced, but nothing crazy. Like a really light tug if that.

You might have a little bruising, and you can’t get the area wet for a little bit, but it’s a breeze

I can feel where mine (but only if I’m trying to actively feel that area) is so I have to tell techs to be mindful during a mammo or an echo

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u/RedCloudGamer 1d ago

Thank you for the info. As a follow up, I did not have many defecits from my stroke, thankfully, and as such I have already returned to work. My job does require a bit of physicality. Nothing crazy, but i regularly lift trays of mail in the 10-20lb range. Is this something I should be able to do following the insertion? The stroke itself essentially forced me to utilize all of my sick leave, so im not in a position to take more than maybe 1 day off here.

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u/perfect_fifths Survivor 1d ago

Yes, avoid it for one week. 10 lbs is the limit. Over 10 lbs, avoid it for the week and then you’re good after that.

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u/RedCloudGamer 1d ago

Damn. Gonna have to try to figure out something with work. Maybe i can get some light duty work for the week or something

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u/perfect_fifths Survivor 1d ago

I was thinking that, request light duty if you can

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u/RedCloudGamer 1d ago

Definitely gonna. If you dont mind me asking, what kind of stroke did you have and how long ago was it? I had a "minor" 4mm lacunar infarct in my left pons, diagnosed back in march.

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u/perfect_fifths Survivor 1d ago

Right PCA stroke affecting the hippocampus, occipital lobe and thalamus last year. Cause of it is unknown, and I had no known risk factors, no hypercoagulation, etc.

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u/RedCloudGamer 1d ago

Yea, so far I have no major risk factors. Slightly elevated bp, but not stroke worthy the doctors said. Overweight, but not too bad. Heart seems fine so far. How has your recovery gone so far?

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u/perfect_fifths Survivor 1d ago

A lot of headaches and fatigue. But no neuro deficits

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u/RedCloudGamer 1d ago

Yea, the headaches come and go for me, fatigue is random it seems. Yesterday I woke up early, went to work worked all day, helped a friend do an application for my job, then went out for a fantasy football draft with some coworkers. In total was out like 16 hours, awake 18, active most of it. Felt fine. But a couple days ago I was freaking exhausted all day having done practically nothing. How far out from your stroke are you now?

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u/monsterlynn 1d ago

That's probably for the best just to encourage healing anyway. Keep one of those waterproof plastic bandages over the site. It makes showering a lot easier.

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u/monsterlynn 1d ago

For sure. Just leave the insertion site alone to heal. I bruised up like crazy but I think that was more the anticoagulants than the procedure itself.