I am really glad the Director decided to start a specific group for this. Millions of people now have ICDs, and Pacemakers or both like I have.

I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006. I am on my 3rd ICD/Pacemaker. Mine were implanted at Mayo Jacksonville where I have been a patient theres since 2006. I have gone through a lot with mine over the years. I have had probably a dozen shocks in all these years. Everytime I do my EP team looks at the cause and what to do to prevent the need the ICD/Pacemaker to shock me again.

In addition to my ICD/Pacemaker I am on a lot of medications that my EP and heart failure doctor have me on in addition to another medication my pyschiatric medication specialist has me on. I mentioned the latter medication because taking them was a result of being shocked 5 times in a 24 hour period. This tramautic event brought back my Vietnam service, deadly force as a police officer and I got PTSD with anxiety/panic disorder.

My PTSD anxiety/panic disorder is under control and only slighty affects my life style. I have a lot of years now with a ICD/Pacemaker experience and experience with the surgeries, pace clinic, home monitoring, ICD/Pacemaker under skin verus muscle implantations, things that can affect your ICD/Pacemaker and hopefully lesson anxiety over getting one and living with one. All these come from almost 20 years now being treated at Mayo Jacksonville.

I think one of the most important comments to me about having a ICD/Pacemaker that changed my feelings on having one was: "A ICD/Pacemaker is like having your own EMS in your body waiting to help." It is a great medical device that has saved millions of lives. My pacemaker has also stopped my EF from dropping any further and corrected low pulse rate.

My need for a ICD/Pacemakr came from HF and low EF. It was getting lower and lower and once reached 30 medical advice was to get a ICD. I have cardiomyopathy (virus got into heart) which caused electrical issues. I have a Boston Scientific device.