@walkinggirl Hello there, I have been diagnosed with HCM since 2017 and was told at that time I could possibly need an ICD. In May 2025 I had an episode where my heart stopped at church but thankfully I didn’t pass away. November I had an ICD implanted and as you experienced I woke up during surgery at the point where I heard my surgeon say “she’s ready for suturing” and felt pressure on my chest while my surgeon was positioning the ICD in my chest. But went back out reawakening in recovery. Since that time I’ve had numerous complications and to date on antibiotics for my second round of bacterial infections, tests and bloodwork. Seems my body is reacting to an allergic reaction to the titanium from the ICD. God willing I pray not another surgery. Please let me know if anyone else has experienced such and if an ICD has been removed due to an allergic reaction.

@walkinggirl @thoma175
I have never heard of being awake for the procedure either. A lot of time they use propranolol and you are in wa wa land but you remember nothing.

Being awake and aware and conscious of your surgery and remembering it is in my opinion something wrong.

My comment comes from experience. I have had 3 ICD/Pacemaker surgeries and remember nothing after my doctor came over and put an X on my surgery site. I have had catherizations while awake but never heard of ICD or pacemaker surgery without sedation or a type of anesthesia to prevent what happened to @thoma175.