ICD/PM recovery

Hello,

I first became a member of this site 4 years ago after my ICD/PM implant. I was in a state of shock and terribly frightened and lonely trying to come to terms with what had happened to me.

I have been reading many messages from people who have only recently had inplants and are understandably still coming to terms with the change to their lives.

I just wanted to say that things really do get better and eventually the implant does become just a part of your life. It does take a while to accept and sometimes also to come to terms with the psychological impact but it does come.

It is a big thing for anyone to go through and understandably there are many questions to be answered and concerns to be put away.

This site was my saviour during my early days, everyone was so kind and understanding and I hope that everyone can find the same positive support that I did.

I really am very fond of my ICD now and I never thought that I'd ever be able to say that.

Take care all, things do improve - truly.

6 Comments

Hello!

by HelenB - 2008-06-02 06:06:49

Hi Katielou,

I am one of the new ICD recipients on the site - I just got mine 3 weeks ago tomorrow, and am slowly getting used to it and feeling better. My uncle died of HCM a year and a half ago, and my Dad and I both have got ICD's now.

It sounds silly, but I try to imagine the ICD constantly sitting in my chest asking itself, "Is Helen alright?" I try to think of it positively, like a friend.

It's good to hear that it gets easier as time goes by. I think it helped to have my Dad go through it a whole year before me, because I got to watch his recovery and see how he dealt with it. That way, there were no big surprises for me when I got mine. This site has also been a huge help. It's great to find people going through the same thing and know that so many others have done this before me.

Thanks for your reassuring words. I hope to be in your position one day!

Helen

Hi

by bonniefox - 2008-06-02 11:06:27

Thanks Katielou, for the insight! I got my PM in Nov 07 and I had just gotten to the point where I was trusting and accepting and then I had to have a lead replacement 2 weeks ago. Some days are better than others but I feel very fragile and vulnerable and I need to regain trust and follow Helen's (comment above) thinking of my PM as a friend. This websight is so great---I don't feel so alone!
Love those success stories and information!!!!!

Name suggestions...

by Angie_O_Plasty - 2008-06-04 02:06:03

I'm sure others are better than I at thinking up these things, but here are a couple possibilities:
"Lightning"
"Captain Zap"
or if you're a REAL geek, name it after some scientist who discovered something to do with electricity (e. g. "Faraday" etc.)

Names

by HelenB - 2008-06-04 04:06:36

Alright... his name is Harvey (after William Harvey, who discoered circulation). Thanks for the tip Angie_O_Plasty... I guess I am a geek! :)

This may sound silly but...

by Angie_O_Plasty - 2008-06-04 12:06:21

some people find that naming their pm/ICD helps them cope better as far as "thinking of it as a friend" and having a sense of humor about the situation. Certainly plenty of people on this site have done that (I seem to remember a whole discussion on this a while back).

Names

by HelenB - 2008-06-04 12:06:42

Actually, I had been planning to name mine! But I'm having trouble thinking of a good one. Still working on it... :)

You know you're wired when...

Your life has spark.

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