@bluelady44
I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006. I am on my 3rd one and have about 3 years left on battery for number 3. I have experienced shocks and can pass on my experience with this. I got cardiomyopathy from a virus and caused a LBBB.

First, my local cardiologist advised me at a 30 EF a ICD is recommended. I was at 30 EF then but no side affects other than PVCs.

I went to Mayo Jacksonville for second opinion. The EP there advised he would recommend both a ICD/Pacemaker. The ICD is recommended at that EF but he also wanted to address my electrical problems with a pacemaker. He referred me to heart failure doctor for consulation also who recommended the latest medications for HF.

I chose to change my care to Mayo Jacksonville. My HF doctor put me on Entresto and cardividol both high dose. My EP did the ICD/Pacemaker implant. My EF stablized at around 25% and has stayed there for over 10 years. In addition to HF medications I have been put on medications for PVCs.

Over the 20 years now that I have had an ICD/Pacemaker I have been shocked several times. They were traced to specific reasons (recorded by device). Those reasons were addressed by changing programming of Pacemaker and additional medications.

For coupe of years now no (knocking on wood as I type that) shocks. Now what can I say about getting shocked. What I was told several times by my EP is: "A ICD is like having your own EMS team ready to act anytime you need it." As you know a ICD shock is highly affective to corecting arrymymias. A ICD shock is not going to fix damage caused by having a heart attack but it highly effective correcting tachacardia and arrymmias (spell).

Now my experience and my opinion on having a ICD. I don't think I would be here typing this if I did not have a ICD/Pacemaker. It has brought me back to normal rympthm many times. The affect on you when getting a shock is very different from each person to the next. Some say not a big deal and some will say a big deal. I can't tell you what you will feel just what I did.

I have learned now over the 20 years I have had one that I am thankful I have one. I know it is there if needed. It takes time for a EMS to get to your locations and administer a shock. At 4 minutes into tachacardia, etc. problems start. So a ICD in your chest monitoring you 24/7 and seconds to respond when needed is far different than the time it takes for EMS to be notified, drive there, set up shock, and then shock you.

I too live alone and had an ICD placed two months ago due to NSVT. I am happy I have it. I have never fainted and haven’t been shocked. I am not aware when I have brief (max of 8 seconds) episodes of VT. They tell me that this is because have a normal ejection fraction and an otherwise normal heart. All tests were negative to determine a cause. These tests included MRI of the heart, sarcoidosis, amaloidosis, genetic testing looking for an arrhythmia gene, and exercise stress test with immediate echo following it. They see an old scar in my heart and have attributed my VT to that scar -probably from a virus- can even be from a cold. The scar interrupts the normal electrical impulses and their pathway within the heart. Amazing more people don’t have heart scars from colds.

I was advised to immediately sit down on a sofa( if possible) if and when I feel faint to avoid hitting my head on the way down.

I have the combo pacemaker/defibrillator. I am 81 no problems yet. 4yrs.