Icd

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Permalink Reply by Hugo Campos on August 16, 2009 at 11:01am

Hi Kevin,

I received an ICD in November of 2007 for secondary prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death, due to HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy). It's normal to be a "little freaked out" as you mention in your post. When I got the news that I'd need an ICD, I actually got VERY freaked out.

There are several things to take into account when getting a device. And in my case, I was particularly unprepared to deal with the feelings of anxiety and depression that followed the implant. The moment I got home from the hospital I felt depressed, scared and lonely.

I was lucky to find two other patients online who shared the same fears and concerns and, together, we started a patient group in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live.

I tell a bit about my experience in my blog here:
http://icdusergroup.com/2009/03/my-journey-from-patient-to-consumer...

Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Hugo.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Kording on August 24, 2009 at 6:38am

I had one implanted a year ago June. It was a very simple procedure and I have had no problems with my implant. As far as I know, I've had no incidents requiring it6s use.

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Permalink Reply by Erin on August 31, 2009 at 10:03pm

I have had mine since I was 15 years old due to cardiac arrest (born with congenital heart defect TGA & also have a pacer) & have had it replaced 2 times in the 11 years I have had it. The most time was last year when they had to replace everything including the leads because they were fractured. I have had it shock me 4 times, all last year & while it was scary it was comforting to know it is there when I need it.

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Permalink Reply by Dr Ted Portnay on October 15, 2009 at 6:51am

Check out: http://www.sjm.com/procedures/procedure.aspx?name=ICD+Implantation

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Permalink Reply by travis inman on December 2, 2009 at 2:38pm

Hey kevin, Im guessing by now you have your ICD , i just became a member of this site and man do i wish i knew about it before. I had 2 massive heart attacks in 05 and in 2 months i had to have mine. While the first month was criticle not to move my arm I have since " gotten used to it bein there. I still go through depression and anxiety because of it because i was shocked once because my heart rate jumped to 180 bpm . I had to have an ablation because of a defect in my sinus node. I am only 36 and eventho I was scaared for a while to walk or any activity, I am glad to have mine. We here of horror stories all the time of patients needing to have theirs replaced because of a recall, but think of it like this," you have your own life saving device on bored with you!!!!" God bless and I hope the best for you!!!

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Permalink Reply by Karen Grubaugh on January 15, 2010 at 10:01pm

It's Jan '10 now so I am sure you have your ICD and are comfortable with it. I had an ICD implanted three years ago and two years later it was replaced by a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-Defibrillator Device for Dilated Cardio Myopathy. I was a little anxious before each surgery because of the "stop the heart and make sure the thing works to restart it" procedure. Once recovered from the surgery, he ICD has caused me no anxiety, no depression, I was thrilled to have my very own life saving device implanted. An EMS friend of ours told us they only save about 15% of the folks on which they use an external defibrillator. He explained they just can't get to most heart attacks fast enough. So rejoice! ICD is a good thing. Karen in Texas

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Permalink Reply by Eugene Boese on January 18, 2010 at 7:07pm

My first AICD was implanted in September 1993 after malignant tachycardia was discovered. Since the batteries eventually wear out the AICD is replaced about every 4 to 5 years, so I have had a few. It is amazing how much the technology has improved since my first one. I've had a few shocks during this time, but this depends on individual.

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Permalink Reply by Edward on January 28, 2010 at 3:49am

Hey Kevin, how's it going? I am on my third icd, Aside from the bump in your chest it really is a good thing for quality of life. As they say. I don't even know it's there except for when I shower. I had had a bypass X 4 and two years after that they replaced my mitral valve, then during one office visit I was told that I needed an icd. I went home and did some research to find out the pros and cons and to get my head around the whole thing. I am lucky that I have not had my device fire"yet". Drop me a line if you want to.
Ed.

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Permalink Reply by Deb Copas on February 10, 2010 at 5:26am

Hi Kevin, I just joined this site and saw your question. I had an ICD implanted in Aug of 2005 due to my "electrical system" in my heart is not working the way it should. I do have cardiomyopathy (was told they aren't sure of the cause but I probably had the flu sometime in my life and that infection attacked my heart) I too went through the same feelings as you following the implant. My ICD paces my heart mostly due to the fact my heart was falling below the 60 beats a minute issue. I've been very lucky in that the defibrillator has never went off, BUT I feel good in the fact that if I need the quick help, it's there. I have the machine where I do my own downloads every 3 months and send them into the clinic. Dan, the tech calls me the next day and leaves me a message that things look good or anything else I need to know. I do go in to the clinic once a yr for a closer check up and that's a great time to ask questions. Could you tell me why you have one? Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions or just want to talk. Take Care! Deb

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Permalink Reply by mary on July 30, 2010 at 7:03am

i have a question about the heart going below 60 bpm, my doctor wants to up my medine to 50mg and i told him its already at 60bpm at rest. he said thats why you take it twice a day your bp and bpm wont go down much more than that..Im scared.

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Permalink Reply by Deb Copas on July 30, 2010 at 7:55pm

Mary,

What exactly is it that you are scared of? After I had my ICD implanted, my cardiologist had the pacer "tuned" because my heart too went below the 60 bpm especially when I slept. The fine tuning as I call it now keeps my heart beating at a minimum of 60 beats a minute. If you don't understand anything or have questions, make sure you ask your Dr. You need to feel good about what your Dr is doing for you, and if you don't he/she needs to know. This is YOUR body, YOUR heart, YOUR life and you deserve to have peace of mind with this. Good Luck to you

mary said:

i have a question about the heart going below 60 bpm, my doctor wants to up my medine to 50mg and i told him its already at 60bpm at rest. he said thats why you take it twice a day your bp and bpm wont go down much more than that..Im scared.

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Permalink Reply by mary on July 31, 2010 at 6:07am

hi deb, i dont have a icd, or a pacer yet, but something tells me i will soon. im taking antenlol for arrythmias and thats why he wants to up my medicine to 50mg but my bp is already to low, my cardiologist tells me to not worry and take it twice a day i should hopefully be ok. well that made me feel, if i dont take it i will still get the arrythmia but if i do take it, it might help and the arrythmias and might go away, but what are the chances of that happening? Life has no easy answers, i guess....im afraid of passing out from the increase of medicine....or my heart stopping in my sleep...what to do?
Deb Christian said:

Mary,

What exactly is it that you are scared of? After I had my ICD implanted, my cardiologist had the pacer "tuned" because my heart too went below the 60 bpm especially when I slept. The fine tuning as I call it now keeps my heart beating at a minimum of 60 beats a minute. If you don't understand anything or have questions, make sure you ask your Dr. You need to feel good about what your Dr is doing for you, and if you don't he/she needs to know. This is YOUR body, YOUR heart, YOUR life and you deserve to have peace of mind with this. Good Luck to you

mary said:

i have a question about the heart going below 60 bpm, my doctor wants to up my medine to 50mg and i told him its already at 60bpm at rest. he said thats why you take it twice a day your bp and bpm wont go down much more than that..Im scared.

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