Ventricular. Tachycardia/ ICD restrictions

Last Saturday I hand washed my car, eat a pizza, took a hot shower and I went to a birthday party. Before leaving for the birthday party I took Flecainide and my blood thinner. While driving I noticed on my Fitbit my heart rate was evaluated to 169bpm. I didn't become concern do to I'm in Afib and my cardiologist assistant stated my Fitbit would not get a good reading because of the Afib. The following Monday morning I received a call from my doctor office stating they received alert. The nurse stated I was in ventricular tachycardia for 41 minutes. By 2pm I was called and instructed to go to the ER. The only thing I felt that Saturday was I my heart rate evaluate but it was only for a minute or two at the most. I spent 5 days in the hospital getting blood tests and my arteries scoped for any type of blockage. I had a ablation done in May and afterwards was prescribed Flecainide. While in the hospital this past week I researched Flecainide and it started it can cause ventricular tachycardia. My arteries came up clear which really concerned the doctor to why I have a heart block, flutter, and went into tachycardia. I'm dieting now for a test to see if I have cardiac sarcoidosis. I was released with a life vest defibrillator and informed that I would be getting  upgraded to a ICD after the results of the test. During this time I was informed no driving. I'm very concern because I'm the main provider in my household income. I do live 30 miles from work and there is no work from home at my job. My wife is helping me by taking me to and from work but also has to work herself in the mornings where I work in the afternoons. I don't want to burn her out with constantly driving me. I did some googling and with a ICD your license can be taken away. My fears are losing my license which means losing my job and insurance. And the feeling that I was I a test dumb for medication that can put me in ventricular tachycardia. Question is with ICD do you really get your license revoked, and has anyone else ever heard of Flecainide side effects?

4 Comments

Lots of stuff here

by AgentX86 - 2021-08-16 19:46:31

First, please fill out your profile. So many questions are geography specific that it's impossible to give any sort of difinitive without some clues.

As I read your post, iit seems that your biggest question is, can you drive with an ICD? Generally, in the US, anyway, you can drive as long as your condition is "stable", whatever that means. Practicly, it's your doctor's call. There are state to state differences but it comes down to your doctor. Follow his instructions or you open youself and your family to a possible ruining liability situation, which your insurance company could walk away from.

Two years ago I couldn't drive for six months because of a siezure. Right now, I haven't been allowed to drive for a month (at least a month, perhsps two, to go) because of a broken arm. Then again, I have nothing to drive because some fool forgot to stop at a 4-way. My wife has to take me to work (when I can't work from home), to the frequent doctor's appointments, and to the even more frequent PT appointments.  All about a half-hour from home and a half hour from each other. Fifteen years ago, my wife went into a diabetic shock (first clue that she was diabetic) at work and couldn't drive for six months. It really sucks but you're not alone.

Yes, Flec is an antiarrhythmic, until it isn't.  Then it becomes proarrhythmic. It's a well known side effect and will happen to most if it's taken long enough. It's certainly common enough that you should have been warned about the possibility.

FitBits and other similar devices are useless for those of us with arrhythmias, particularly Afib.  However, your fingers and a watch aren't. Always take your HR manually if you suspect anything. A Kardia Mobile is a useful tool but you have a pacemaker which covers most of those bases (your PM won't give you any information and your pacemaker can only report it after it's happened.

Vtach is very serious but the good news, if there is any, is that your arteries are clear (forgot about that three months without a license).

Ventricular. Tachycardia/ ICD restrictions

by Graybear - 2021-08-18 11:52:32

Thank you still new to all this I only received my pacemaker in June of 2020.

Flecainide

by Selwyn - 2021-08-19 20:00:45

Sorry to hear of your difficulties, you are obviously between a rock and a hard place. 

I took Flecainide for some years for atrial fibrillation prevention. Yes, it does cause heart arrhythmias, though is an anti-arrhythmic medication.  In my case, it caused atrial flutter. I had a flutter ablation in order to continue with the Flecainide, as I am intolerant of beta-blockers. It can cause ventricular tachycardia. I don't think you should be taking Flecainide given your VT ( ventricular tachycardia) history- as you realise this can be life threatening. 

Flecainide is contra indicated with any structual heart disease. This would include cardiac sarcoid. 

I would suggest now would be a good time for you and your cardiologist to re-evaluate your medication. Never stop meds yourself without consulting your physician. 

Just had the drivers license discussion with my doctor...

by BOBTHOM - 2021-08-22 01:37:24

My ICD discharged in July and that was one of the first things the electro physiologist said to me, that they could pull my drivers license if my arthymias were not controled.  Of course that led to the discussion of number of shocks recorded versus number of events and realistically it was a strong arm tactic to get me to increase my dose of Amiodarone.  I know in North Carolina, if you have a commercial drivers license they would suspend it and it gets tracked.  For regular licenses I'm not sure there is a real process for it, but, if something were to happen and the insurance (or police report) indicated that you were under doctors orders not to drive any damage would be your personal responsiblity.  In my mind, not worth the risk especially with the availability of Uber these days.  Good luck with your condition, hope you get it straightened out, and remember not to push yourself so hard, your not as young (and healthy) as you used to be!

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