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Will be getting an ICD inserted soon
Hi,
3 months ago, I went into Cardiac Arrest and miraculously survived. A few days ago I had an echo done and was told that my Ejection Fraction was around 30%. I have been wearing a life vest (portable defibrillator) for the past 3 months in the event that another attack would occur, and have been ok since. I now have to rid of this portable defb and get an ICD inserted under my collarbone sometime soon.
I am just nervous about the whole thing and was wondering if anyone else has been through this.
Any kind of input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
15 Comments
Zapping
by JoeR - 2015-02-25 02:02:20
Thanks again. I guess I will have to deal with it when the time comesto see what it feels like. Hopefully it won't go off for a long time. Avoiding contact sports and horse playing with my kids is the downside, but I will be extra careful though.
P.S. I did read that post about the guy having sex with his wife and he just about knocked her out when his went off. That is scarey!!
There is a lot of helpful info on this forum. I feel better now that I am understanding what others are going through.
Joe
Positive thought
by JoeR - 2015-02-25 03:02:06
I am glad that you recovered well enough and you are now better than ever. I will take it one day at at a time.
Thanks for the positive thoughts.
I think the
by Theknotguy - 2015-02-25 03:02:22
I think the biggest thing is not to count yourself out. If you look around the forum you'll see people carrying on pretty normal lives. Sometimes better lives because either the pacemaker or the ICD allows them to do better than they would have otherwise. So while you aren't looking forward to being zapped, being dead isn't a good option either.
After I got through the first four weeks of not being able to lift the arm and limiting activities, it was great to be able to do things I hadn't been able to without my pacemaker. The stronger and more regular heartbeat really helped. More blood to the body, you feel better, and are more inclined to do things that you wouldn't before. Getting dizzy every time you stood up was no fun. Now, with the pacemaker, I can stand straight up with no problems. Point is, don't count yourself out of activities with your kids until you know you can't do them. Just take one day at a time and see where it leads you.
Hope everything continues to go well for you.
Yep, most of us have...
by Lurch - 2015-02-25 12:02:11
Had my first MI in 1998, won a triple by-pass with that round! About 18 months ago had some testing done and found that I had an ejection fraction of about 25% which entitled me to an ICD!
I copied this from another post I made a few months when somebody asked what to expect, hopefully it will be helpful. If you have specific questions, this is the place!!
Typically, you will report to the hospital at an ungodly hour (for me it was 5:30am). You will sign enough papers to drown in, then you will be taken to your room.
At our hospital you use one room for the entire stay (probably saves on cleaning costs). My wife and I were escorted into the room and I was given a very fashionable hospital grown to change into. Of course, the first one was made for a small child and didn't come close to fitting me, so they got me a jumbo version.
Once I modeled my new attire for the wife a nurse came in and started an IV. Shortly later the Anesthesiologist came in and asked me the same questions I had answered on the mountain of papers I filled out before.
He told me that they would put me out, do the procedure, wake me up then bring me back to the room.
He left and few minutes later another Anesthesiologist came in. Apparently they had an emergency and bumped me back about 45 minutes so the other Anesthesiologist must have met his quota with the emergency patient; that or he didn't like me..... Right after that they put something in my IV that started relaxing me.
Shortly before 9 am the Surgical Tech came to the room, checked to make sure I was who I said I was (as if someone would sneak in for a procedure like this), and wheeled me down the hall.
We went into the procedure room where there were a bunch of folks standing around waiting for little ole me! They had me move from the hospital bed to the procedure table, which was an adventure in that lovely grown they had given me. The Anesthesiologist asked me again who I was and what procedure I was having (I had really hoped that they knew what I was getting....) then gave me some really good stuff through the IV.
The next thing I remember they were moving me back over to my hospital bed and telling me that everything had gone fine.
They rolled me back to my room where my wife had been waiting. Fortunately, she had gone downstairs and got me a big cup of coffee! I have to have my coffee in the morning, but I couldn't before the procedure. Bless that woman!!!
About 45 minutes later the Biotronik representative came in and did my very first "interrogation" of my unit. They place a little disk over your PM/ICD that allows them to make adjustments and read all the settings. He gave me my temporary ID card (apparently they check to make sure the credit card payment cleared before you get a real ID) and a booklet about my device and what I should and shouldn't do.
About an hour after that the Doctor came in. By this time, I was fully wake and had been walking around the room and the hallway. He saw that I was wearing the sling the nurse had given me, took it off and threw it across the room! He told me to wear it only at night for the first couple of weeks or if I was doing something where I needed to be reminded not to lift my arm over my shoulder or pick up anything heavy. He is not a fan of slings as they can create problems for your shoulder later. I noticed through this group that each doctor is apparently a little different regarding the use of a sling.
The hospital I was in has "room service" where you order your meal from a menu and they bring it whenever you want, supposedly.... We ordered lunch and waited, and waited, and waited. A nurse finally checked on it for us and found that they had no record of my order! Wife ran out and got us some lunch from a restaurant down the street. Learned our lesson and she did the same thing for dinner.
Rest of the day was boring; sat around, watched TV, surfed the net and watched people come and go.
Next morning they took me to X-Ray to make sure the wires were still where they had left them then kicked me out!
The Doctor gave me a prescription for pain medication. I took two the first two days, but it really wasn't all that painful, but, I had paid for those meds so I might of well enjoy some of them. Stiff and little muscle soreness, but nothing like what I had expected.
Had mine implanted the first week of May, five or six weeks later I was body surfing with my Grandson.
The procedure is done about 200,000 times annually in the US, so they apparently have got it down pretty good!
Keep us posted on how you are doing, and, please, if you have any questions, ask!
Good luck.
ICD
by JoeR - 2015-02-25 12:02:25
Lurch, thanks for that long post. There was a lot there that you had explained in detail, thank you. I have been wearing a ZOLL Life vest for the past 3 months, and this was keeping me at ease knowing that if I should get another attack, it will zap my heart. I have been ok since and has never gone off. My 3 months is up and now I need to get an ICD.
I did like what you had posted on your last 3 lines. Bodysurfing after 6 weeks? I have 2 teenagers and was wondering if I'd be hesitant on doing sporting activities with them. I don't want to do anything crazy that would make this ICD go off. Just 2 weeks before my cardiac arrest, I was playing 3 hrs of street football. I think that may be over though.
Plus, I finally get to go back to work next week and commute by bus 2 hrs each way. I am terrified knowing that while I am sitting/sleeping there that it will go off and I will jump and hit the roof. This would scare the heck out of me and everyone around me.
Do you know if it can possibly go off while I am at rest sitting in a bus, or do I have to be doing some type of moving activity?
I have lots of questions going on in my head. Thanks for getting back to me.
arm restraint
by Hamsquatch - 2015-02-26 12:02:18
so I decided to read all the posts, as for arm restraints my ICD clinic recommended sleeping with a t-shirt on and keep your arm inside of the shirt instead of putting it through the sleeve, this has worked quite well for me with an oversized extra long shirt, did not work very well for me with a regular size shirt as things were a little tight and I woke up a couple times with my shirt around my neck.
Also as a follow-up to my last post I had to have my lead replaced Feb 4th, they gave me Tylenol 2 for pain which I couldn't take due to nausea and I was laid up for about 3 days with extremely limited activity (sitting infront of tv).
When you have the procedure and they are making the pocket under your skin it will pretty much feel like someone is trying to make a breast pocket at the ICD site and trying to lift you up by your new hole in your chest, then it will feel like someone is trying to jam a 4 pack of AA batteries under your skin, that's pretty much all I can remember from the first procedure while in the OR.
First post
by Hamsquatch - 2015-02-26 12:02:29
I haven't read all the posts on this message (long!) but I had my ICD implanted Oct 24th (long story short had a V-Tach was in hospital 11 days, almost died, etc). But Jan 25 and Feb 1st my ICD had to correct my heartbeat and I didn't feel a single thing nor had symptoms of a tachycardia and my only physical activity had been walking or shoveling snow.
Zoll Defibrilator Torture
by EricBros - 2015-04-09 07:04:48
I had my Mitral Valve repaired 6 months ago. After the operation, the doctors had me wear that Zoll Defibrillator / torture device. I wore it for 5 and 1/2 LONG months. If I so much as walked too fast, the thing attempted to ZAP me! Luckily, every time it attempted to ZAP me I was able to intervene and STOP it from ZAPPING me. I was told that if you are conscious it should NOT ZAP you!
My ejection fraction is between 30% and 35%. I have NOT had any episodes, ever. Unlike most people on this site who have had bad episodes and have had an ICD implanted to rightfully help alleviate their concerns.
I have stopped wearing the vest, but no ICD.
Your post intrigued me because of the Zoll Defibrillator,
EricBros
By the way.........
by JoeR - 2015-04-09 09:04:24
Eric, why aren't you wearing an ICD? Was it your choice not to get it, or did you not need it?
My EF is now 35 and I am on the border for getting this ICD, but was told I should have one as a precaution.
Zolled out...
by JoeR - 2015-04-09 09:04:36
Hey Eric,
In 7 days, I finally get to stop wearing this Zoll life vest because that is when I get the ICD. I've had the ZOLL thing for 4 months now, and the only times it had went off was accidentally when the electrodes had moved off my skin while sleeping or driving. Then this past week I played basketball less for than 15 minutes during 3 separate times. Each time the ZOLL wanted to give me a ZAP and I quickly turned it off. I called ZOLL to tell them it wanted to zap me 3 times and they told me that when I was playing, the nodes were moving on my skin and causing friction, causing the false alarm. They could see that in their log. They said if I wanted to play some more, to put some lotion on the electrodes so it moves freely when I play.
So, next week I get the ICD. I am looking forward to finally freeing this life vest from my body, but worried about getting the ICD. Will keep you all updated.......
Joe
Well... let me say this...
by EricBros - 2015-04-10 04:04:25
First, I just noticed you and I are the same age and the same profession.
Yes, it is my choice not to have it installed. Is your EF 30-35 or 35-40. Mine is 30-35. Unlike you I have never had any heart related pain or emergency issues before the operation.
I had very similar issues with that blanking ZOLL device. Wearing it was the worst torture I have ever dealt with. Even worse than the operation and the week in the hospital.
I was told innumerable times by Zoll's Helpless Desk that it was static. They should have planned for static, since static happens. Also, the vest when "sized" correctly is about 2 inches narrow than my actual chest. So it was constantly digging into me. I finally told them to send me the next bigger size. Helped a little in the digging into my skin department.
I stopped wearing it as much as they told me to because it was such a horrible experience. And it constantly wanted to zap me even when I was doing nothing more than putting on my coat.
Thank goodness, I never had it go off while I was sleeping.
My exercise of choice used to be running. While wearing it on the treadmill, if I sped up to 4 miles an hour (a fast walk), the device would want to zap me.
While I was at Cardiac Rehab (they had me on the Telemetry machine), it attempted to Zap me while I was warming up. I asked them to look back and they basically told me there were no issues that they could see.
I am very curious what it looks like or how noticeable is it?
I hope you have good luck with it.
Zoll Life vest
by JoeR - 2015-04-13 10:04:21
A few nights ago I was having a bad nightmare in my sleep. I woke up to the sound of my ZOLL Defibrillator beeping ready to give me a ZAP within 45 seconds. I think I barely had a few seconds left before I managed to turn it off.
I can't wait to get this thing off this Thursday, and the ICD inserted. I'll let you know if it is noticeable from under my skin.
Beeping Zoll Vest while sleeping
by EricBros - 2015-04-15 03:04:32
OMG, that is absolutely the worst nightmare I can think of related to that horrible device. I was told if you are consious (you were sleeping not unconsious) that the device should not be alowed to zap you.
With your reported medical history it reads like you should have it inserted and hopefully, never have it go off.
I hope your doctor sets the ICD at the appropriate level for your normal activity and the potential extra effort you might have.
Best of luck to you,
EricBros
ICD finally Inserted April 16 2015
by JoeR - 2015-04-19 09:04:46
Here is the update...First of all, I am relieved that the ZOLL LIfevest is finally off of me after having it on for the last 4 months. It was still nice having that peace of mind knowing it was there as my life saver if I ever had another cardiac arrest.
I got the ICD inserted this past Thursday. Let me tell you, I really have to take 2 tylenol every 6 hrs and have been taking it since Thursday. It is now Sunday. There is a small slit just below my left collar bone above my breast. My whole left breast is swollen and hurts still, getting better slowly every day. It also is now turning purple on the whole left side of my breast. Sleeping and laying down is tough.
I cannot drive for a week until my next follow-up with my Dr next week. If I have no issues with it since the appt next week, I can start driving. But if there is an issue, driving is postponed for another week, etc.... I was extremely concerned about false alarms because the ZOLL was driving me crazy towards the end, getting ready to ZAP me several times. But the Dr said that most likely the ICD would never go off. It is set for 200 to 250 beats per minute, so if my heart rate ever gets that high, I will get that kick in the chest everyone talks about. Heart attacks and cardiac arrests get that high when it happens, which I did not realize.
The slit has some kind of stitching that melts away and I do feel a bump over the ICD and is noticable. I am not sure how much more it will go down, since it is still swollen though.
My questions to you all that have an ICD or Pacemaker installed.
1) How long after are you in pain after it was inserted?
2) Did your left side turn purple or black and blue around the whole area?
3) After swelling has gone down, Is yours noticeable still?
Thanks,
Joe
You know you're wired when...
You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.
Member Quotes
My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.
It can
by Lurch - 2015-02-25 01:02:48
The ICD can go off whenever and where ever you need it. Sometimes, they fire for no apparent reason, but it is few and far between (I always equated it to the air bag in my car, its there when I need it, but I hope I won't and, so far, it has never misfired !). Think of it this way, if it wasn't there to go off, you probably won't be worrying about it, or anything else for that matter!
I have read where others have had it fire while they were driving and they were able to safely pull over. While I don't know statistics, I would bet typically when it goes off you are either unconscious or feeling so bad you don't really care. There is a recent post on this site about one going off what a guy and his wife were having sex! That brings about all kinds of new possibilities!!!
Most folks with an ICD will avoid contact sports. When you hit it against something you will understand why! One guy in my area playing a lot of racquetball but wears a towel folded up under his shirt and against his ICD to cushion it.
Take some time to look through the posts here and on other similar forums. I found it very helpful in giving me a much better perspective of how to live with an ICD.