Most Recent Messages in ICDs

Any advice for a future ICD'er

Hello, I will be having a Bi-Valve Defibrillator with a Pacemaker implanted on Feb5th. I'm 64 yrs old and have CHF and much difficulty in breathing, My ejection fraction was around 35% after I had my 1st MI 15 yrs ago. After the 2nd one last November it has dropped to 15-20%. I am very positive about the implant improving my chances to live to see my grandchildren as they grow up but also apprehensive as to how much the defibrillator will improve my EF. I have been a diabetic for 35 yrs-a br...

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new guy with crt-d

  • by mikej
  • 2010-01-19 01:01:47
  • ICDs
  • 1628 views
  • 4 comments

hello all,love this site ive found tons of useful info here ,i felt information starved on icd,s i had my implant done november 2nd /09 and ive found a lot of questions i had ,i found the answers here,great to have a site like this for information thanks!

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Riding My Harley ??? Questions

I read a few of the other posts about riding a bike after the ICD was put in (Still confused). I have a Medtronic Pace/defibrillator and I would like to hear from some of you and your experiences with riding after the ICD. I had it placed 12-30-09 and will still be awhile before I can ride. Losing my bike would be like cutting of my right arm. Any advice or experiences would be helpful. Thanks, Richard

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Metal Detecting Wands

Has anyone had any problems being checked with the wands they use in the courthouses? I went into a courthouse in California this past summer. I told them about the ICD. I didn't have to go through the metal detector but they used a wand on me. In just about a minute or so I started feeling like my heart was racing in the Indy 500. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Need one or not?

Hello! I am looking for similar cases. My husband is 32. He currently has a biventricular pacemaker and a mechanical valve in the aeortic position. His cardiologist here in Pittsburgh says he needs a defibrillator because he has had several non sustaining episodes of ventricular tachycardia and by having the defibrillator if he would have one that put him into v-fib then it would shock him. The Cleveland Clinic is saying he does qualify for a defibrillator because his ejection fraction is a...

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VTACH Study

Hi there,

this is for all the Defib patients out there, especially those who suffered a heart attack:
Catheter Ablation Prior To Defibrillator Shock Reduces Risk Of Recurrence Of Ventricular Tachycardia (VTACH Study)
Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174929.php

Prof. Kuck is my EP, and I heard him speaking about this study at a national experts meeting in October. Was highly interesting, and the results were very convincing.

Best wishes

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wireless connections

Call me crazy if you want...but I know I am not imagining this. I have had an ICD since Feb/2008 and have been shocked 5 times and paced out of VT more than 150 times. I have a complex VT and per my EP, it has been labeld "Unable to classify". Every time I am in my basement/familyroom and on my laptopwhich has a wireless connection, my heartrate goes crazy. I feel like I am being paced. The wireless router is about 15 feet from where i normally sit. The closer I sit to my desktop, the stronger...

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Wi-Fi Environment vs. ICDs

  • by babuc
  • 2009-12-08 01:12:16
  • ICDs
  • 1898 views
  • 3 comments

Hello there!

Does spending a lot of time in a Wi-Fi environment has any adverse effect on ICDs?

I have been considering installing a Wi-Fi devise in my home so that we all could access the internet freely from a single line. How about wireless speakers?

Would appreciate any help on the above issues.

Bob

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Living with a shocking life!

Hello All: I am a new member as of today 12-4-09, my ICD was implanted on 6-17-09 and it has been an experience. I was diagnosed with CHF and arrythimthmia and believe me its been
shocking to say the least.

My first episode was in May and the next two was in November at work, once when I was sitting at my desk and the next just
after the EMT's got me on the gurney. It can be difficult learning
to live with our devices but, if we didn't have them, we just might
not...

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Driving Issues?

Good Evening,

I'm nervously approaching the big day when a Boston Scientific CRT-D aka Biventricular PM/DEFIB will be implanted.

My EP says driving will not be a problem after a week or so. Evidently there are no state laws in Colorado restricting one's driving privileges if implanted.

Any feedback good or bad would help ease my mind.

Thanks to all for your posts.

Ron

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Cardiac toxicity due to chemo

Hi:

I am a 47 year old woman who has rheumatoid arthritis. 5 years ago I took ENBREL, since then I have gone through a medical nightmare. I suddenly developed atrial fib, then congestive heart failure, then endometrial hyperplasia (pre-cancer), then severe anemia, then another bout of congestive heart failure (oh had lots of unsuccessful cardioversions), then more atrial fib, the was diagnosed with stage 3 lymphoma after having a CT in order to do an ablation. Chemo was tough, but...

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1st shock received

Hi.. any advise, thoughts on when you get have your first shock?? Kind of mixed about the whole thing, gratefull to have good doctors, be alive and that it worked perfectly. Unsettled at the relization that it really went off. Having it go off kind of ripps away my core confidence that I am strong and healthy.
Thanks! Janiejane..

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New to ICD

One week ago today I had a Medtronic ICD implanted and have so many issues and questions to deal with. The decision for an ICD as very sudden after I died during the EP Study. I would love to speak with someone that has had a similar experience. I live in Staten Island, New York. My cell phone number is (917) 297-3830 and my name is Lorraine. If you think you might be able to help, please give me a call.

Thanks,
Lorraine

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i've been there

Hello everyone
i was 39 when i had my heart attack my left side was blocked 100 percent for about 1 hr, a month later my right side was blocked 80 percent, then i failed my last test and the doctor said i need an icd, boy i felt like my life was over 39 a county job and a icd, well i told the doc i would lose my job because i was a bus driver for Akron Metro Rta, he said your job or life, well i told him who would hire me with an icd, so i had it put in and two weeks later they fired me, wo...

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ICD erosion

Has anyone had this happen to them. My ICD was put in 4 yrs ago. Turns out I had one of the Medtronic wires that was recalled and it started to fracture. May 5th this yr I had a new wire put in. I have been complaining that something is not right from week 4 post op. Six months later I made another appt. with the surgeon who then confirmed that everything was not alright and told me that the skin by the new ICD was eroding. This only happens 1% of the time. Now I am waiting for the date of my ne...

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I am tired of being tired

  • by rjlit
  • 2009-10-16 11:10:11
  • ICDs
  • 1903 views
  • 0 comments

Hi Everyone,
I am new on this board so I don't know if this is the right place to post this but I am hoping someone might have some suggestions. I got my dual PM/Defib a year and a half ago and feel worse after the surgery. Prior, my ej frac was 20% but I was asymptomatic. They think it is postpartum cardiomyopathy and fortunately, I had no symptoms whatsoever. They caught the enlarged heart through an xray when I had pneumonia. I had the device implanted and felt horrible for 3 weeks.....

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children with ICD

  • by Anita
  • 2009-10-06 07:10:44
  • ICDs
  • 1670 views
  • 1 comments

Is there anyone that has a child with an ICD. My son turned 16 Oct 5 . He has had his ICD since he was 13. He had a ICD storm 5mos after he got his and was shocked 8 times in 19 mins. I was hoping that someone might know another child that has same problems. thanks mom

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Exercise

Hi everyone. Have had 2 ablations and a Pulmonary Vein Isolation (last ablation and PVI were a little over a year ago).

Recently I upped my exercise program to a 2 mile walk prior to an 8 mile bike ride. Twice (10 days apart at exactly the same spot during my walk) my heart has jumped from 95 exercise rate to 111 and 116. The last time the happened I had strong PVC prior to the event. The event doesn't last long only about 30 seconds before coming back down to my exercise rate of 95 (...

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help!

Ok,
My ICD is currently under my pectoral muscle.... right under my arm. when my arm moves, the devise does move a bit. Does anyone have this???? Are there any arm movement restrictions?????

When my battery goes a new surgeon thinks it should be repositioned. Above skin and under my collarbone. Will this be better or worse? I considered it under my breast..... but i think that may be a littke too personal!!!!!

Any advice or suggestions!!!

Molly:)

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Cuba Anyone?

Hi everyone! Hope you are all well. I have been reading your helpful posts for the last couple of months and I thank you all for sharing your experiences. My best friend had an ICD implanted in April, and I am trying to educate myself in order to better understand, help, and support him. My question is about travel. For those of us who risk no legal repercussions by travelling to the beautiful island of Cuba, I was wondering if anyone on this message board is aware of how safe it is to travel to...

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You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.