How strong is the kick from an ICD?

Thank God that my ICD has never fired but if it does, I know it is painfull. My question is though - does in knock you off your feet? I have balance problems and do not weigh very much and am worried in case I get thrown over do damage .Thanks

3 Comments

My experience

by Stan1022 - 2012-09-26 04:09:04

I have had my defib fire once. The follow up device check indicated that it had given me the maximum charge. The charge was not a pleasant experience but it only last a second or two. I did drop to my knees but I don't know if it was from the charge or from near fainting. I was a little rattled from the unexpected event but immediately felt better. The device check showed that my heart had gone into a very dangerous rythym and briefly stopped and that the device converted it to a healthy rythym. I am sure that the experience is different for everyone. But, from my experience I don't believe the device charge will violently knock a person down. Your legs may give way from a faint or the unexpected electrical charge. So my two cents is don't worry about your device fireing but be happy that it does.

very surprising

by polrbear - 2012-09-29 03:09:21

Mine fired on me twice in February of last year, The two shocks were 15 seconds apart. The ICD thought my heart rate was 375 bpm because it was oversensing the T wave (it was actually in the 180s, which is acceptable at my age while exercising).

I was coming off of a paved trail, so I thought I was struck from behind by a fast-moving bicycle. It was no help that it made me jump--almost into traffic! I was looking around, trying to see who hit me. Nobody was there, so it dawned on me what really happened right as the second shock hit. The sound was deafening and the pain excruciating both times. However, I was awake and it was an inappropriate shock.

For most people, it's going to shock appropriately the overwhelming majority of the time. Many people are feeling poor when this happens and are often sitting or laying down, not standing. Some rhythms might allow a person to be awake and asymptomatic, but this is less likely and your EP can discuss with you when these might occur for the settings on your device.

Realistically, I think the rhythm your heart would be in can give you more balance problems (i.e., cause you to fall or pass out) than the device performing to correct it.

shock

by 06kj - 2012-10-17 12:10:13

I was knocked off my feet and fell on my back one of the times I was shocked. I was doing high knees un the middle of an intense workout so the shock pretty much caused me to jump in the air and land on my back.

I don't really know if others can relate to this but my personal description of how it feels: In pirates of the caribbean when the girl falls in the water wearing the necklace, it sends off a pulse of energy that makes a sound and sends waves through the water. I feel like its that going off inside me.

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