Most Recent Messages in ICDs

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Hello
My husband has had his ICD with three leads put in 3 mths ago and was shocked for the first time New years Eve Morning while he was in the shower. He is having a hard time changing his whole life and wanted the ICD removed. He felt that he did not really need it and they should have tried other ways first. His question to all of you is why did you need to get a difibrillator? can any one encourage him and does it get better? He is having to change his life, drinking, smoking, and now...

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Newness and questions on Fluid Retention

This site is wonderful. I have felt so lost and almost desperate at times trying to understand everything. I suffered Sudden Cardiac Death on 12-31 around 4:30am. My husband heard my last breath and with his CPR until the Paramedics arrived they were able to revive me. fter two days on a ventilator seven days later I had an ICD put in. I still am very sore and not quite me yet and wondering how long until I really feel better. Still can't lay flat to sleep and don't know why but at least I...

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ICD support group

Hey, I just read about somebody who started an ICD support group in Houston for any of you that are interested. The web address is http://icdzap.com.

You can also read his story on http://heartdisease.about.com/library/community/bljim-houston.htm

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Tattoos and ICD's

Hello-

I have never had a tattoo before but after everything that I have been through with my heart this past year I am wanting to get one.
I would like to have it on my shoulder but was concerned about if the vibration or magnets would be a problem with the ICD. So my lower back is another option. I did search through the previous posts but most them dealt with PM's.

Any info would be great and I do have a call into my Dr as well to get his input.

Thank...

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Update to when amiodarone fails

Hi everyone...Ok they added mexiletine to Bobs amiodarone and it made him deathly sick, woosy, confused. So that has been stopped. Friday he is going to have a doppler echo to see if he is a candidate for the third lead on his ICD. As of now he is on 400mg of amio a day and no more shocks, knock wood, but we don't know how long he can continue the 400 mg daily, amio is toxic in some people. Thats where we are at right now. He is feeling better, mexiletine did a number on him....Marilu

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do i really need it????

OK..im 21 i have genetic long qt"s type 1 and recently went to my doctor cause of some pain i was having thinking my icd was just pacing extra hard,and my nurse told me the icd is just sitting there....sitting there? i mean im not anxious for a shock or anything but she then explained to me that i will not receive pacing until my heart rate goes up to 100 and that i will not get socked until it goes up to 200 and the usual they say and as it monitors goes only up to 80-90 when im walking althou...

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Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

  • by Leora
  • 2009-01-19 09:01:04
  • ICDs
  • 2041 views
  • 1 comments

Does anyone else out there have this particular heart disease? I know very little about it and was diagnosed with it a little under 2 years ago. I learn bits and pieces of information here and there, but am curious to know more. I have found out that it is 'supposedly' from the Asia side of our family and genetic. Any information would be most helpful.

Thanks!!

Leora

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Phantom Shocks

Hello everyone, I have had my ICD for 8 mths now...the first week home I had this shock that made my whole body jerk, but when I went to the dr he said it was nothing...months went by where I would get these mini zaps but no one gives me a straight answer. I get them very consistently and very often. They are not the real deal because they don't knock me out they just cause me to let out a loud sigh/yell. But it is mild enough to call a zap- not a shok...does anyone else ever feel this way? A...

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when amiodarone fails

Thanks everyone for your replys. My husbands problem is not atrial but ventricular and he goes into V-fib. He has tried tikosen in the past without success. Plus a number of other rhythm drugs and none worked like amio. The problem now is, it is taking more and more amio to keep the V-fib under control. And as we all know amiodarone can be a dangerous drug...I have faith in his EP but I also know that we are getting close to the end of the drug list. He has another appointment on the 20th...hop...

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when amiodarone fails

My husband has had a ICD since 2003. He has been on amiodarone off and on since then. He tried other rhythm drugs like sotalol, dronedarone, mexiletine, without success.. At present he is on 200 mg of amio and 200 mg of mexiletine daily. The mexiletine makes him unbalanced. His ICD continues to shock him on a regular basis, weekly. Which makes his life miserable. Now they want to increase the amio again to 600mg a day. I worry because amio can be a dangerous drug, he already has neurological pro...

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ICD Interference?

Does anyone know whether radio activated dog training collars, such as the ones sold by Innotek , which operate between 2112 and 219 MHz, can have any negative affect on my Medtronics ICD. I just had it implanted December 5 and I'm still pretty paranoid about it.

Thanks,

Phil

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CRT-D

Hi, I am relatively new to the blog and I would like to say it has been very helpful to me. I was wondering if anyone else has a 3 lead? I just had my St. Jude ICD/PM 2 lead replaced yesterday with a 3 lead, due to my low EF and V-Fib. The new model will sense when my upper chamber is pacing, sending a signal to the bottom chamber so my heartbeats will be synchronized. I am very hopeful I will see a positive change in energy etc.

Bruce

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hurting shoulder

hi, had my icd a few months now all was well until lately i have an aching pain in my shoulder is this normal?

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An ICD Crossroads

In 2000, at the age of 34, my doctor here in L.A. noticed a strange heart rhythm. After many tests, a cardiologist suggested that I MIGHT have something called Brugada syndrome, a sudden death disease, even though I was asymptomatic. The abnormal rhythm was caused by a drug I was taking at the time, but the culmination of these factors led them to suggest an ICD implant, which I had. In 2007, I had the unit replaced and over the years, both devices never delivered any therapy whatsoever.

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ICD And Pace-Maker "I'm new to the Message Board"

Hello everyone, I am a female, I have a long standing history of heart disease on both sides of my family. My first heart attack was when I was thirty-two which left me with extensive heart damage. I have CHF, and recent diagnosis of COPD. I had a Pasemaker/defibrillator, 2 leads implanted on February 14, 2008 "on Valentines Day" I have tremendous pain in my arm and blood clots were discovered two weeks ago. Long story. I am pleased that I found this web site and message board and hope I can mak...

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Breathlessness

  • by Ajay
  • 2008-12-06 01:12:53
  • ICDs
  • 4761 views
  • 5 comments

Hi,

I got a ICD + PAcemaker (Combo) device 2 months back. Everything went well for the initial 2 weeks and slowly i developed loss of breath. I had discussions with my doctor and per his advise my medicine for pumping the heart and for BP ( Medicine Cardace) was increased to 2.5 mg BD. It helped me initially with no episodes of breathlessness but again I am developing the same problem. My doctor advises taking Lasix during these episodes however I need advise from all who have got thi...

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ICD Shocks

My mother had a pacemaker then got "upgraded" to an ICD. That leaves me wondering if the eventual plan for me is the same. If you have an ICD and it has "delivered therapy" how would you discribe the feeling?

Vonnie

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When you get a cold...

Hey Gang!
It'sme schocked. Quick questions. I am 11 months inon a defrib and I notice every time I get a cold I have a stabbing pain sometimes above the box, sometimes below and sometimes in my rib cage... Normal or not normal....I liked to know cause maybe I should get checked. If there is anyone that can help please do. Thanks...

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:-(

I just got shocked for the first time last night. I've had my ICD for about a year and a half and was doing some cardio type stuff and felt winded. I just stopped to rest a bit, I didn't feel like I was going to pass out or anything and within 5 seconds BAM it hit me. It didn't feel anything like others have said on here though. I just remember hearing a loud POP! sound in my head and seeing a flash but I don't remember any sort of pain involved with the shock. I was pretty freaked out by it tho...

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Phantom shock

  • by lb151
  • 2008-11-15 05:11:48
  • ICDs
  • 2864 views
  • 4 comments

I had read online somewhere about the phantom shock. It seems after you have received a shock,your brain may record this. In a dreamlike state you can relive it. It happened to me the other night. I'm sure it was a dream,because if your ICD ever fires,it isnt something you have to wonder about. It sure did disturb a good nights sleep. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and how often.

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You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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