Is this anxiety? ICD implanted

I am getting more anxious due to feeling my heart beat harder than usual. I have a ICD transmitter here at home and it was tested yesterday by phone and it is ok...have about 3 more months left on it, but the last several day's, I just feel my heart beating as I said harder than usual. Does anyone else deal with this? What's hard is living 45 min away from the nearest hospital and my Cardiologist. I'm new to this site and I never seem to find anyone in the Chat area?

3 Comments

Hi

by Genie - 2010-06-01 04:06:08

Hi,

I don't have an ICD (I have a PM) but wanted to say hi because no-one had replied to your question. My heart seems to be a lot more noticable since i had the PM fitted in March - I can feel my pulse everywhere, even in my feet! But your message sounds like you've had the ICD a while? In which case, I'd probably get this checked out by a doctor, just in case. The devices don't just stop when the battery goes low, so this shouldn't make a difference, and you've had the device checked so you know it is ok.

But perhaps you are also anxious about the battery? This by itself could make your heart pound, or make you more aware of its normal beat.

I don't understand the chat feature, which might be why you never find anyone there. People tend to use the message boards, or they send private messages to each other. I'm sure you will find lots of people to talk to here - it's a bit quiet this week, but it's usually very lively.

Welcome to the site!
Genie

ICD and PM

by cruz - 2010-06-01 09:06:35

If I cross my arms, I can feel every beat of my heart with my hands, and did not feel this prior to ICD. When I lay in bed, I can feel my heartbeat throughout my body. I've been checked and re-checked and they say it's normal, so I'm not sure what to make of it other than at least I know it's beating. I'm trying to think of that as a positive. My ICD is very new (3 mos old), but I've been checked by the tech twice and according to everyone, including the EP and tech, no problem with the ICD and feeling the heartbeat or pulsing is normal. I'll be watching to see what everyone else says too as it's quite annoying when I'm trying to go to sleep.

Anxiety or reason for concern?

by Nevada Silver - 2010-06-01 12:06:26

Thank you Genie and Cruz for your kind thoughts...Atrial fib was the reason I had to have a PM in 2001 and following a "surprise" cardiac arrest in 2006, the proud owner of an ICD...just kidding! :-)
I had told my Dr some time ago that I felt that my heart was beating harder than usual. He did not agree...just said "I was more sensitive to it."...For at least a week now, I've experienced some shortness of breath, some moments of dizziness and feeling the heart beating stronger than usual. I'm thinking it's AF again...gosh, I hope not...I think this has also caused anxiety...
I've had 4 diff. opinions re this ICD. An in office ck of it indicated 6 mos ago that I had 3-5 mos left on the battery with no other explanation offered. I was a little confused and didn't ask questions...the next time, I'm showned the print out from the ICD ck and the tech showed me a green line and said it was nearly at the end. I'm thinking...what now? Is it just going to stop? I am 100% dependent on this thing...it stops and so do I. A week later the Dr.,when I expressed my concerns, laughed and said to me" oh, we just won't let you die"! They also did a test on the ICD and found that the alarm system on it doesn't work...so, the anxiety...Thank goodness, I found some answers to this on this website.For example to anyone else that has concerns, once the green line gets down to a certain point which "they" watch...we still have 3 mos left to have it replaced...OMG I'm writing another novel here...I guess I am frustrated as well! I would encourage all to ask questions!!!!! I'm thinking maybe I was afraid of the answers?
Thanks again...
Nevada Silver

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

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