ICD shock Anxiety/ptsd

@bahayes57
Oh wow brought up many memories (not good ones) on my experience with this.

Back in 2015 after 9 years of having a ICD/Pacemaker it went off for the first time. But not just once but 5 times within a 4 hour period. I was hospitalized and Amiodarone was I.V. me. I was in hospital for 5 days.

I told all the doctors and nurses I was scared to death. I did not want to leave hospital. I was released and drove back home which then was Vero Beach Florida. I was taking a shower and body started shaking uncontrollably. I did not know it but was having a Anxiety/Panic attack. Then back in hospital for another week.

I went to Mayo psychiatric department where I was tested for PTSD. I scored at the top number for it. I was put in Escitalopram and Xanax. For about a year I did not leave home except for doctor appointments. I was too scared to get a hair cut. It was not only the fear of being shocked but the embarrassment of it happening in public.

What you are feeling is normal with PTSD or anxiety/panic syndrome. It is quite common with ICD shocks that my doctors said does and will happen. With medications (I hope you are discussing both medications for you mentally as well as physically) I slowly got the courage to go out even start exercising.

With escitalopram I was able to function again but always aware of possibility of being shocked. So I tried find ways to not be heart focus and was exercise. I found out I loved water aerobics and started doing it 5 days a week. Mind went off my ICD/Pacemaker and found I could smile.

What is important here that I am trying to pass on is that being stressed and anxiety causes adrenaline in body (fight or flight hormone) and builds up in body which can affect the heart an and mind. I found exercising reduced that. With exercise you need to check with your doctors of what is appropriate for you.

Don't like or want to exercise find a hobby you like doing. Anything that brings a smile to your face. Do you have a pet? My dog was trained to be a therapy dog. He was attuned to me when he since I was under stress and would come over and lick me. It brought me out of my heart focus. Mayo psychiatry had him registered as a PTSD service dog for me under the American with Disability Act (ADA).

Now after 2015 how have I done. I have been shocked about a dozen times since then. It seems to come when under stress so I know that is a trigger. The trigger the last time was losing that ADA Service Dog of 13 years which I was totally devastated.

So I still fear getting shocked but I do not let me stop living. With medications you can really limit the possibility (find one that works for you) of shocks. Dealing with it mentally is just as important so medications can help again along with lifestyle changes.

Am I capable now of doing things. Yes just returned to water aerobics, biked on Sunday for 15 miles and I swim for an hour once a week. Thinking of getting another dog but have to get over the loss of my companion first.

One cardiologist really changed my thoughts of having a ICD/pacemaker. He said, "It is like having your own EMS team waiting to help you if needed." So if you are being shocked it is a life threating situation and the time for EMS to get to you and shock you back into rhythm is critical to surviving and or suffering affects caused by lack of blood circulation,

So I began to see my ICD/pacemaker as something good to have versus being scared of it. I know it is there now when needed and even though don't want it to happen I know it going to save my life and I can depend on it if I need it.

I hope my experience with this helped. Know what you are feeling and very common. Seek help with the physical and mental side of this. It will help you and like me go a long way to having a quality of life you want.

@bahayes57
Oh wow brought up many memories (not good ones) on my experience with this.

Back in 2015 after 9 years of having a ICD/Pacemaker it went off for the first time. But not just once but 5 times within a 4 hour period. I was hospitalized and Amiodarone was I.V. me. I was in hospital for 5 days.

I told all the doctors and nurses I was scared to death. I did not want to leave hospital. I was released and drove back home which then was Vero Beach Florida. I was taking a shower and body started shaking uncontrollably. I did not know it but was having a Anxiety/Panic attack. Then back in hospital for another week.

I went to Mayo psychiatric department where I was tested for PTSD. I scored at the top number for it. I was put in Escitalopram and Xanax. For about a year I did not leave home except for doctor appointments. I was too scared to get a hair cut. It was not only the fear of being shocked but the embarrassment of it happening in public.

What you are feeling is normal with PTSD or anxiety/panic syndrome. It is quite common with ICD shocks that my doctors said does and will happen. With medications (I hope you are discussing both medications for you mentally as well as physically) I slowly got the courage to go out even start exercising.

With escitalopram I was able to function again but always aware of possibility of being shocked. So I tried find ways to not be heart focus and was exercise. I found out I loved water aerobics and started doing it 5 days a week. Mind went off my ICD/Pacemaker and found I could smile.

What is important here that I am trying to pass on is that being stressed and anxiety causes adrenaline in body (fight or flight hormone) and builds up in body which can affect the heart an and mind. I found exercising reduced that. With exercise you need to check with your doctors of what is appropriate for you.

Don't like or want to exercise find a hobby you like doing. Anything that brings a smile to your face. Do you have a pet? My dog was trained to be a therapy dog. He was attuned to me when he since I was under stress and would come over and lick me. It brought me out of my heart focus. Mayo psychiatry had him registered as a PTSD service dog for me under the American with Disability Act (ADA).

Now after 2015 how have I done. I have been shocked about a dozen times since then. It seems to come when under stress so I know that is a trigger. The trigger the last time was losing that ADA Service Dog of 13 years which I was totally devastated.

So I still fear getting shocked but I do not let me stop living. With medications you can really limit the possibility (find one that works for you) of shocks. Dealing with it mentally is just as important so medications can help again along with lifestyle changes.

Am I capable now of doing things. Yes just returned to water aerobics, biked on Sunday for 15 miles and I swim for an hour once a week. Thinking of getting another dog but have to get over the loss of my companion first.

One cardiologist really changed my thoughts of having a ICD/pacemaker. He said, "It is like having your own EMS team waiting to help you if needed." So if you are being shocked it is a life threating situation and the time for EMS to get to you and shock you back into rhythm is critical to surviving and or suffering affects caused by lack of blood circulation,

So I began to see my ICD/pacemaker as something good to have versus being scared of it. I know it is there now when needed and even though don't want it to happen I know it going to save my life and I can depend on it if I need it.

I hope my experience with this helped. Know what you are feeling and very common. Seek help with the physical and mental side of this. It will help you and like me go a long way to having a quality of life you want.

@altilla Welcome to Connect! You have issues with your ICD which, after about 5 years, has been doing things that cause all kinds of anxiety. That has truly gotten in the way of leading your best life! If it's any consolation, you may not believe how common this is, in fact, it has been widely discussed and studied. Finding ways to cope is essential to doing the things you love to do. Others have made suggestions here on Connect: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anxiety-after-pacemaker-implant/ Please do consider meeting with a mental health professional to help you through this.

@jc76
Hello,

Thank you for your response. I have been on the fear of embarrassment side of this as well. I am a 1st grade school teacher and I worry about this happening at work. I know the ICD is here for helping me. It's the public embarrassment I battle with the most. I tried to take anxiety meds but they made me more anxious lol. I will talk to a mental health specialist. Thank you for sharing your experience.

My husband has had a Defibrillator since we were 34 yrs old. We’re now 65 & he’s had 5 Defibrillators since 1996. He’s been shocked several times & he’s now on the medication “Tikosyn” since December 2024.
His Cardiologist (with his 1st Defibrillator) put my husband on Zoloft for the anxiety that his condition/Defibrillator was causing. He has now been on Zoloft for about 29 years.
God Bless you.

My husband has had a Defibrillator since we were 34 yrs old. We’re now 65 & he’s had 5 Defibrillators since 1996. He’s been shocked several times & he’s now on the medication “Tikosyn” since December 2024.
His Cardiologist (with his 1st Defibrillator) put my husband on Zoloft for the anxiety that his condition/Defibrillator was causing. He has now been on Zoloft for about 29 years.
God Bless you.