Connect
← Return to Pacemaker & ICDs: Introduce Yourself & Meet Others
Discussion
Pacemaker & ICDs: Introduce Yourself & Meet Others
Pacemaker & ICDs | Last Active: Aug 11 1:29pm | Replies (234)Comment receiving replies
Hello my husband recently had an ICD implant placed on the (L) side of upper chest near the collar bone. When he was considered a candidate for an ICD we had never heard of an ICD nor anyone living with one. We would like to hear about your experiences and challenges of living with an ICD
Replies to "Hello my husband recently had an ICD implant placed on the (L) side of upper chest..."
@durytegirl I was so worried that my ICD would shock me that it affected my quality of life for the first 4 years. What I worried most about was receiving a shock while I was driving on the interstate. I would hate to hurt or kill someone else in a wreck. Also had a fear of exercise, even walking, and setting off a shock. I got over my fears with the help of my local Womenheart support group. Joining them was truly a life changer.
@durytegirl
I have had a ICD/pacemaker since 2006. I am on my 3rd device and will have my 4th in one year.
Internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD). They have been available for decades. The ICD is the device that monitors your electrical functioning for your heart. It looks at pulse rate, AFIB, VFIB.
When the settings your electrophysiologist (EP) has set it will react the way it is programmed. You might not understand what it will do as it is what your EP has set it at.
Before I give you some personal experience with this. I don't see you mentioned if you are seeing a EP. If you are not I suggest you do even if have to drive to one. They are experts in electrical functions of heart.
Most of the time EP put in ICD/pacemaker (there are singular or both) when ejection fractions (EF) get around 30. That is because (again from my EP not me) more irregular heart beats when gets that low.
Other times you may have tachycardia or AFIB, etc.
Now the surgery is what EPs say is minor. And it is for them. But you will not feel anything. What they do is connect the ICD to your heart via wires. Those wires are what device uses to control or correct your heart. It takes about a year (per my EP) for you body to encapsulate the device and generally at that point much less aware of the device.
It will be fairly noticeable. If I could pass on to you the most important thing I was told by my EP was: Think of your ICD as having your own EMS team. It is there to shock you back into rhythm when you need it.
Mine is programmed to first try to pace me out of the rhythm but remember I have a ICD/pacemaker not the single ICD. Most of the time the pace out works if not you get a shock. I will not mince meat here. For some people it is no big deal. For others a dramatic event.
But it is done to safe your life. The only reason I am alive and here to type this is because of my ICD/Pacemaker. With it I do anything I want (per my doctors but very little restrictions) because I know if my heart goes into VTAC my ICD is there to bring it back to rhythm.
Feel free to private message to me as can sent you more about this and what I have learned over the 20 years with this device.
Connect
@durytegirl Welcome to both you and your husband! My ICD, Buddy, and I have been an item for just over 3 years. It paces to avoid arrhythmia, I never had a shock. I miss sleeping on my stomach. I tell TSA and at other security sites, some scanners are ICD friendly and others are not. Once the healing was over, life is very normal. What kind is his? Mine is a Metronic, I have a monitor on a bedroom shelf, sends reports. How are you both doing with it so far? Any discomfort? I had none, others do and have noted Tylenol and ice help.