Home from the hospital with new ICD

Recovery

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-08-02 21:04:06

Extra strength Acetaminophen helped a little.  Ice packs helped.  Also I put a baby pillow between my arm and side as I slept.  I used a sling for a while.  I always exercised my arm within the doctor's limitations.  It took several weeks. 

When I could drive again, the seat belt strap crosses my ICD site and that hurts even a year later, so I bought cushions that mount on the seat belt and that is much better.  A small pillow is better for longer road trips.

Finally, get back into exercising your whole body and be thankful that you have a device that protects and helps you.

Good luck!

Use the sling!

by BOBTHOM - 2018-08-03 11:57:01

It's really easy to forget to not lift or pull with that arm so use the sling just to remind yourself to take it easy on that side.   The incission will look awful for a longer time than you would expect, but it will pull down and flatten out and eventually look like just a razor line.  Keep a log of any strange sensations if you get any and report them to your doctor.  I had issues with random small shocks for quite a while and still do just not as often.  They had to turn off the daily recalibration that it was doing.  But each of us is different.  Just limit use of your arm and you'll be fine.  I was driving in a week and a half and took a long flight in 8 weeks.  Airport security is an adventure, make sure you have your ID card and alert them because their equipment will light up like a christmas tree.  They wanted to pat me down and were startled when I pulled away.  Once I explained that it was a recent implant they were OK with it.  Oh, and be careful with cabinet doors!  My ICD sticks out what feels like 1/2 inch and I hit it a couple of times.  Good luck to you!

just said welcome

by magiciantommy - 2018-08-05 01:36:00

i same like you, just get the PM done 8/3/2018 and just go home, hope will learn more in here, good luck together!

Welcome!

by Electric Elise - 2018-08-09 09:07:20

Welcome to the club! May you get back on track as quickly as i did and then go out and enjoy your newly improved life. I’m one month paced and i don’t really think about it much. My scar’s decent, but your incision site looks brilliant already, i bet it’ll be barely noticeable in a couple of months! Best of luck and keep us posted!

ICD and driving

by Redredwine - 2018-09-06 05:55:10

Interesting reading that you could drive after a week of the ICD being fitted. Over here in UK they take your licence off you for 6 months and you only get it back if no shocks during those 6 months.