Defibrillator Works!

Having had my pacemaker/defibrillator implanted in March 2008, I had not had the experience of needing the defibrillator until this past weekend. I am a runner, have been for 30 years, and was at the 3 mile mark when my legs became rubbery and eye sight goofy and then THUMP, the defibrillator kicked in and I was able to jog and finish the race. I obsess over heart issues constantly. I am 56 years old and my father died at 56. I am a nurse, previously worked with heart patients for many years. I can think of every imaginable negative situation although they do not occur. Do know I need to move past this. I race all over the United States...did 35 races in 2009 but this fear, at time overwhelms me. Thank you for any input.

5 Comments

Response

by LShaw - 2010-04-05 04:04:08

So true...having been told the same thing prior to the experience, I had no idea what to expect. I yelled, "help" twice and then it was all over. Somebody brought me a glass of water and a med student and her father came over...but the whole experience lasted about 10 seconds. Via computer, I sent my tracing to Cleveland Clinic and they verified that the event lasted 8 seconds. I have nothing to compare to since I know of nobody who has been shocked.
I am most grateful because if I did not have the device, I would be dead.

Really??

by wenditt - 2010-04-05 04:04:49

Is this a true story? I was under the impression that when your defribillator went off people fell to the ground...and then needed to go to the emergency room.

If this is true...then God Bless and a job well done on finishing the race!

Kind of the same

by turboz24 - 2010-04-06 02:04:10

I would think a lot of people don't collapse or fall down when shocked. I have never lost conciousness even when I hit a rate of 285, never falled down during a shock, etc.

I was doing upright rows, got an arrythmia, got shocked, and I finished my workout, no biggy.

Amazing

by Dwight - 2010-04-06 09:04:49

You are a lot tougher than I am. If we should ever be running in a same race please don't fall on me and shock me! Be careful out there and use some common sense. You are truly amazing.
Dwight

Responding to a defib incident

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-06 12:04:00

My only suggestion would be to discontinue the race after a defib. While the defib worked and restored your heart rhythm, something caused it, which was likely brought on by the high HR during the race. Returning to high exercise could result in a cardiac condition that might not respond to the defib. There is also the issue of how many defibs the battery can support.

Might at least be a good idea to do a treadmill test to verify what is going on with your heart before returning to running.

frank

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I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.