Baby Can I Drive My Car? (with an ICD?)

So, next week on June 18th I have my Guidant 1290 pacemaker replaced with a St. Judes CRT/ICD.

What's the situation with driving?

Are there state regulations (Californina here) for people with ICD's? Do EP's generally allow patients to drive? Do ICD's give any pre-defibrillating warning before firing? This already seems to be a high anxiety situation knowing that at any moment one can get zapped, and if on the road, this certainly could present a problem.

As Lawrence Olivier repeatedly asked Dustin Hoffman in "Marathon Man," "Is it safe?"

Thanks for all responses.

5 Comments

DMV notification

by auntiesamm - 2008-06-12 02:06:03

In California healthcare providers must notify the DMV if a patient has lost consciousness. There is a specific form that is used. I do not know what the criteria are other than what I have already stated. You can go to the CA DMV website and probably get some of your answers. The way I view is that with the device you are MUCH safer driving than without! Hopefully there will be at least one person in CA who can answer your questions better than I. Take care and God bless.

Sharon

Driving

by thomast - 2008-06-12 03:06:16

I have never passed out, but my Doctor did tell me not to drive for 3 months after implanting the PM and ICD. After a month I convinced him to let me drive to the coffee shop a distance of about a mile. I did get zapped twice in 05 when I had this put in. It was not bad, about the same as touching the spark on a lawn mower which I have done many times. I don't think it would bother me if I was driving I got zapped.

Drive until your tank is empty

by gldoble - 2008-06-12 04:06:19

Hi there,

I've been driving a minimum of 100 miles a day since 3 weeks after my ICDPM was installed. Be shocked twice, but other than that NAP, (Not a Problem).

Drive as long as you can afford the gas. :)

All states are different

by coryi711 - 2008-06-12 07:06:32

I called Florida DMV direct and florida has no restrictions as long as your EP and Cardiologist have no restrictions. I drove myself to first checkup 7 days after implant. But I used my sling [ I have a 5 speed transmission in full size truck ..a little pain trying to steer with sling and shift with other arm.. All 50 states have different rules for pacemakers and defib.'s. Some states let you drive with a pacemaker but not a defib. Call your DMV they will inform you on implants.
Zombie

Able to drive ...should drive?

by joy1 - 2008-06-12 11:06:29

Like Zombie said...every state is different. The only universal no driving with an implant laws are if you have a CDL license; no more commercial driving and no flying either. FAA will not allow implant patients to pilot a plan. Cardiac patients who do not have implants and have gone for atleast two years without incident can take lessons and apply for their pilots license.

In the state of Washington you are allowed to drive with implants but not if you have lost consciousness. So if you have lost consciousness for whatever reason, you are by law not suppose to operate a motorized vehicle for the following 6 months. A doctor has the legal authority to notify DMV and inform them you have lost consciousness and to revoke your driving priviledges.

Ok, having said that, something else to think about is a persons moral obligation to the safety and well being of others... Is it safe for us to drive; are we endangering ourselves or others by operating a vehicle either given our condition and or the effect of our implant. I for one, before my implant, could tell when I was having problems and could pull off the road. At first, after having my ICD put in, driving was very uncomfortable though I would do it periodically just to assert my independence. Inspite of the EP doctor telling me not to drive for 6 months. After I was zapped it was a different story, I was afraid to drive for fear that it would fire and I would loose control of the vehicle.

So there are a couple of things to think of both legally and morally.

Joy

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Do feel free to contact the manufacturer of your device. I have found them to be quite helpful when I have had questions and concerns.