A Fib set off my defibrillator

Saturday morning at 4 am my ICD started to shock me for a period of 7 fires due to an A Fib issue. I have been awake now for over 24 hours. Have been admitted to hospital. I have been put on Amiodarone and a blood thinner. I am so exhausted yet so in fear of another shock.  As I am grateful my ICD certainly did it's job, a mess I am. I am out of A fib now. My ICD was implanted almost 8 months ago and I went through a rough period of depression. A virus attacked my heart was the reason for my ICD. They gave me an Ambien to sleep but it had no effect. Thank you for listening. It's been a very long day and night. I was doing so well. I hope I don't fall backwards in my happiness that I felt after my depression. Again, thank you for reading. 


5 Comments

Atrial Fibrillation

by Gemita - 2020-02-23 06:46:31

Hello Rockpainter,

I am so sorry you are having a bad time this weekend and I hope that things settle for you very quickly. 

I suffer from AF too and I can imagine what you have just experienced.  I was offered Amiodarone, but chose Flecainide instead.  Amiodarone is one of the most effective meds against AF I was told, particularly where other meds have failed to help, but it does come with some serious health warnings.  Hopefully your doctors will slowly wean you off Amiodarone and put you on something that you can stay on safely longer term.  

You were doing so well and you will again in the future once you get over this hurdle.  AF needs to be firmly controlled and two of the most important meds are anticoagulation to protect from an AF related stroke (if you have risk factors) and rate control meds (like a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker) to keep our heart rates within a safe range and to calm everything down.  Some of us may also need the help of an anti arrhythmic med.  With AF firmly controlled, your ICD should stay a good deal quieter. 

I hope for the very best

 

 

Hope the Sandman visits soon!

by cagedliberty - 2020-02-23 12:59:33

Hey there friend!

Thank you for keeping us posted. I am so sorry that your health has taken a little detour to the ER. I hope the doctors can figure out a regime that works for you while you are in the hospital so that you can manage your health when you go home. 

Keep checking in so we know you are ok and that you finally got some sleep time.

Hugs, prayers and love for you

ICD and AF

by AgentX86 - 2020-02-23 14:32:47

AFib shouldn't have triggered your ICD. AFib isn't ar all dangerous and that ICD should have been able to tell the difference between AFib and VFib/VTach, which are dangerous.

Yes, ameoderone is the most effective antiarrhythmic but is also the most toxic. For the short term it's a really good at what it does.

I can only imagine what you've been through but I think you need a long talk with your EP. Keep on the positive side. Negative thoughts aren't going to help get over this setback.

You are right!

by Rockpainter - 2020-02-24 10:24:32

It was V Fib. I was such in a panic and so scared . I saw A fib on the monitor. Please forgive me all for the wrong information. Thanks for posting your response! As I am calmed down much more today, I drilled the Cardiologist and in a calm, quiet environment, I gained more knowledge that I could process. 
cheryl

ICD doing its job

by AgentX86 - 2020-02-24 16:08:13

Yes, as excited that it made you, and completely understandable, your ICD did its job. As bad as it was, it probably saved your life. It's time to rejoyce!

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