ICD shocked?

I am a new patient to an ICD, and I have read some horror stories out there, and was wondering if anyone can share with me, if they were shocked. I am told that it feels like a horse kicked you, not that one has ever kicked me.

But I am more worried, on where it will happen, and how the people around me will react, during a meeting or in church. Is it embarrassing? I am more worried about that.

TIA

3 Comments

shocked

by franko1966 - 2010-04-11 04:04:49

i had my icd,and pacemaker for three years this jan,only had it go off once,you will know it .it is almost like a horse did kick you

shocked

by riodog - 2010-04-11 10:04:55

My CRT-D went off 3 times. Only 2 of which I remember as the 3rd one was in the ambulance as they were trying to stabilize me for transport.
When the first one hit I was sitting in the kitchen holding a bowl. The zap was so strong and unexpected that the bowl flew out of my hands and hit the refrigerator. I managed to wake my husband and call 911 before the 2nd one hit. Due to complications (punctured lung etc.) I wasn't aware of much for 10 days after all that. I do so vividly remember the first zap that I am still scared of it happening again. I mean SCARED. I'm not normally a wimp and have a pretty good threshold for pain but that really got to me. In my opinion the last thing you need to worry about is being embarrassed.

gretchen

I'm the opposite of the story I guess.

by turboz24 - 2010-04-12 11:04:47

I've been shocked with the full amount (31 joules) 3 times so far and paced 2 times.

The best way I can describe the shock is that feeling when someone sneaks up on you and spooks you really good and you jump? that's what it feels like to me, but with no after effects.

I had an ablation, so I only vtach now if I go hypoglycemic (only episode after my ablation), but I'm way more afraid of the medications than I am the shocks.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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