Dana,
This is great information and so close to what I have experience over the decades. I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006 and on my 3rd Boston Scientific device. I go through the same things when heart goes into VT with the trying to pace me out of it and does not work a shock. I have been told that the valsalva technique is also a technique and the one you mentioned. I have used the strong coughing when device is trying to pace me out and has worked .

It is great advice to say check with your doctor and labs before adding supplements. I was advised recently (Mayo EP) to take magnesium but was already taking. I had been reading on MCC about potassium helping also but when I checked with my EP/PA she said that my labs showed upper level of potassium and woud not recommend taking a supplement.

I started having some problems with VT and shocks back in January when I had pace clinic turn on my exercise function in my pacemaker. I had never had this function on with 3 devices. It seemed that the VT and shocks started again at same time I had them turn this on where I was getting VT and shock about once a year before then.

I am not in anyway a doctor or expert on this but I said to myself what has changed, what am I doing different to cause this. So I asked PC clinic to turn off the exercise mode and sure enough the VT and shocks stopped where I was getting them once a week.

Maybe had nothing to do with it or just mental stress worrying about exercise mode causing it. Appreciate your information and being a mentor.