My First Real Shock

I have had my defib/pacemaker since March 2009. Everyday I feel electric currents in my incisioin area. Well, May 29,2011 I received my first shock. I was standing up and turned around and wham it hit me. I can't describe it, but I saw a flash of white light and blacked out for a few seconds, I think. I went to the er and was told my heart rate was to high but that shouldn't have made it go off, because even thought it was too high, it wasn't a danger. They also told me one of my lead was fractured but it wasn't the lead that paces me, so not to worry. Is there anyone who has been told this. I have an appointment to see my cardiogolist next week.

5 Comments

Interesting

by Anapeg - 2011-06-03 06:06:32

I had my St. Jude "hit" me 55times in an hour and twenty min. for no particular reason. Makes me wonder if we have a problem? My escapade was about a month age and I am still afraid to do much.

Mike

Fractured leads

by ElectricFrank - 2011-06-04 12:06:08

Be sure to check out the fractured lead with the cardiologist. While the pacer can still pace the chamber of the heart where the good lead is located, that doesn't mean that pacing is optimum. Just ask yourself "if the fractured lead isn't needed then why was it installed in the first place"?

As an example with my AV Block the atrial lead senses the natural beats in that chamber, and uses them to time the ventricular beats. If the atrial lead failed the pacemaker will switch to estimating the timing based on movement of my body. While this works it is not anywhere near as good as having my atrium and ventricles in sync with each other.

The bottom line in your case is whether the inconvenience of having the lead replaced is worth it. Only you know that

frank

The Fractured Lead

by RGValleyGal - 2011-06-05 01:06:27

What brand of pacer do you have? Do you know the serial number for the lead? I may have some answers for you about fractured leads....

Fractured lead

by sugdaro2005 - 2011-06-05 02:06:43

I have a TELIGEN ICD, I don't know it that helps you or not.

I had a fractured lead

by Katelyn - 2011-06-15 11:06:33

Last summer my shocking lead fractured (Medtronic) and I had 7 inappropriate shocks as a result. I went straight to the ER, where they replaced the lead with a new one (St Jude). I wasnt allowed to leave the hospital until it was fixed. No problems since. You should get the lead extracted and a new one implanted. Or sometimes they will leave the old one in, disconnect it, and implant a new one.

You know you're wired when...

You have a dymo-powered bike.

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It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.