newbie too

Hi- I was a frequent visitor here 5 years ago when I had my pacemaker implanted. I was scared then and u guys helped me. I am 61 and within the last month I have had an interrogation done on my pacemaker, a tachy heart rhythm found and an ICD implanted. I am scared of it going off and scared of it not going off. I have had not much time to adjust to all of this and feel overwhelmed. I dont know what to expect ..
You helped me once before -HELP again.

2 Comments

Take each day

by Sue H. - 2011-12-01 11:12:01

as it comes. I wouldn't be afraid of the ICD going off because I know it is doing it's job. And don't worry about it not going off, these little computers are pretty reliable. Feeling overwhelmed is very common in some heart patients so you are not alone in those feelings. You can't predict the future and can't stop the future so why try. My dear father once said to me why are you worrying. (I was a big "worry wart"). So he continued with this advice -- go sit on a chair and worry for 30 minutes and tell me what you have accomplished at the end of the "worry-time". When I realized I had just wasted 30 minutes of my life, I made an effort to block all worry thoughts out of my mind by changing my thoughts to good ones. Think good thoughts because they become things! Hope I've helped a little....(-: Sue

I agree

by KarenHall - 2011-12-14 01:12:41

with the comment above, but I know that it isn't easy. It is early days for you and your ICD, so ge gentle with yourself and give yourself time to accept it. Mine went in 6 months agao and there are still days I would like to rip it out of my chest, and others where logic tells me that it is there for a damn good reason. I teeter between the two, but I know that one day it could very well save my life, so by and large I do feel grateful for it. I guess the main thing is to remeber that the feelings you are experiencing - fear and shock (yes, shock!) - will subside with time. You just have to allow yourself that.
Karen xx

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