I’m getting my ICD soon, anyone care to share their experience?

@hpboss84 Good place to come for information. Please though let your EP or cardiologist guide you in what you should be doing and not doing. My EP did not want me to wear a arm sling. Said could cause shoulder to freeze up from non activity and something he did not want me to have to go through. He is the Director of EP/Pace Clinic at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.

I am on my 3rd ICD/Pacemaker. The first is always the worse. You will have some pain in the area and you need to limit moving your arm above your head as well as back and forth. I spent the night (24 hour watch) each time I had it done. Mine used a glue to close wound so healed quite quickly.

A ICD is a life safer. At first I was really afraid of it and having it in my body. My EP said to me "It is like having your own EMS there to give you life saving shock." And that is correct it will monitor your heart rymthm and take action if it does not resolve itself. The shock (I used to have many but medication have stopped that) is quite pronounced but it saves your life. Most of the time a EMS cannot get to you in time to save you or a long time to get to you.
Most of mine came after I fainted (tachacardyia). Are you having a pacemaker also? Mine was put in to help with heart rymthm. It will pace your heart on a regular basis which helps prevent tachacardia and low pulse problems or arrymthmia.
Bottom line it is a life saver and have grown to give me peace of mind kowing it is there to bring me back.

thank you so much for your reply. Your information was very helpful and I am not getting a pacemaker just the ICD on Friday.

@hpboss84
The ICDs and Pacemakers run of batteries. They are usually good for 8-10 years but depends on usage. If you don't have a pacemaker which paces your heart or keeps will pace it if gets too low. Your ICD will be monitoring your heart beat 24/7 and that takes battery life.

If you have ICD shocks that takes battery power also and will reduce the battery life each time.

I was originally advised to get only a ICD but went to Mayo Jacksonville for second opinion. My EP there said he would recommend doing both and I agreed. The pacemaker will help keep your heart in rymthm and also provide a good electrical signal to your heart. It can correct heart rate if too slow which medications can cause as well a low rate personal heart rymthm. Low heart rates as statisically prone to have arrythmias (per my EP). Many athletes whos heart rates are tremendous low will wind up getting pacemakers after playing.

I assume you have a low EF as why you got the ICD recommendation is that correct?