I’m getting my ICD soon, anyone care to share their experience?

thank you so much for your reply. Your information was very helpful and I am not getting a pacemaker just the ICD on Friday.

also, I was wondering, why did you have to get more than one ICD over time?

@hpboss84
The ICDs and Pacemakers run of batteries. They are usually good for 8-10 years but depends on usage. If you don't have a pacemaker which paces your heart or keeps will pace it if gets too low. Your ICD will be monitoring your heart beat 24/7 and that takes battery life.

If you have ICD shocks that takes battery power also and will reduce the battery life each time.

I was originally advised to get only a ICD but went to Mayo Jacksonville for second opinion. My EP there said he would recommend doing both and I agreed. The pacemaker will help keep your heart in rymthm and also provide a good electrical signal to your heart. It can correct heart rate if too slow which medications can cause as well a low rate personal heart rymthm. Low heart rates as statisically prone to have arrythmias (per my EP). Many athletes whos heart rates are tremendous low will wind up getting pacemakers after playing.

I assume you have a low EF as why you got the ICD recommendation is that correct?

My EF is in the low side but not abnormally low. So, what does a shock feel like? This is my biggest worry right now.

By the time you read this, you will be well on your way to "back to normal." The device will take the worry away from a sudden incident that could be fatal. I was so, so glad when my device was installed, syncopes and dizziness with vertigo disappeared (following a septal myectomy 7/2022). My device is checked every 6 months along with the data sent during the nights. The battery/devise will need to be replaced around 2032. I have never had a "jolt" thus far, but know people who have, no real negative comments except taken by surprise. BTW, tell TSA at airports for screening. I cannot hold babies close on that side (pressing). Let us know how you are doig!

salve ,io ho inpiantato icd due anni fa nessun problema due giorni ero gia a casa ,oggi non lo sento neppure come se non avessi nulla e talmente sottile che non si nota saluti dall'italia

@hpboss84
First just got notified by Coleen that I was not getting notifications for some time now so had no idea when participants were replying to my posts. If I had seen your question I would have responded.

Your question on what does a shock feel like? Let me first say I was told by Pace Clinic (Mayo Jacksonville) that everyone will have a differed respose to the shock and what they feel like. The shocks are also programmed and are tested to what strength you need and will get.

I have heard individuals respond no big deal, others WOW. I am going to be honest. When you are shocked it can happen when you are conscrious or unconscious. If your heart goes into VTAC and does not get paced back into rypthm (not shocked) you are most likely going to faint and not feel the shock. But NOT always and again everyone different as well a degree of VTAC.

How does it feel? No way to explain in normal terms as just can't be duplicated to something else to give you an example. Some say feels like horse kick you, some say much more minor feelling. So it will be an individual thing. My ICD/Pacemaker is below my chesk muscle. I have had about 8-10 since 2006.

My first ones were shocking (no pun intended) only because it was first time for them. That is what makes it scary. After a few I became almost used to them and really (when conscious) the shock would rectify the tachacardia or rympthm. It actually made me feel safer knowing it was on the job monitoring and taking action.

Initially for me it felt more like someone inside my chest sharply kicking my heart area with a blunt shoe. When I would lose consicouness I would not feel it at all. When I would wake up I know this will sound strange but would wake up refreshed like great nap and was energetic. I would realize only after looking around and where I was that I had gone unconscious and got shocked.

There is many many things that can be done if you do get shocks. Many medications that will help prevent the cause of the need for shocks. If you have a pacemaker also then it can be programmed to help keep heart rympthm better, and even try to pace you out of arrymthma first before shocking. So it can be a changing on going treatment.

I apologize again but just found out I was not getting any noficication from MCC