Most Recent Messages in ICDs

New Machine!

Hi All,
Haven't been on for a while but I read comments every day.
My quesiton is I just received my ICD interrogation machine.
I was wondering from members who have one what it's like. Do you feel it, mine has a speaker they can talk to me on, and any comments you may have. Just weird to have this device next to your bed reading your heart! Guess I better be a good girl!

Hi Candi51

Linda

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Another newbie from downunder!

Hi there, I have been lurking in the shadows here since my hubby Graham had a dual chamber pacemaker fitted in early March to see if it would provide G with some relief from A.Fib. Unfortunately it has not. His cardio in conjuction with the E.P. thought the next course of action should be an A.V. Node ablation. Neither of us were that keen On this route but if it meant better quality of life for G we would go with it. We have just received a letter from the Hosp where the A.V.Node ablation would...

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Ela Ovatio DR 6550 ICD

Hi Everyone,

I have had my current ICD for about a year. Last time I went for an interrogation it showed 69 arrhythmias in a 3 month period and it was pacing 8% of the time. I went in today and had it read. It showed no pacing and no arrhythmias.I have not read about any problems with the ICD model or maker. Does it seem right that after 8 years of cardiac problems, 5 shocks and hundreds of arrhythmias that suddenly all is well with my heart? My cardiologist didn't seem concerned and...

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a little laughter

in one of the support groups i belong to a member had quite an extraordinary story of macabre humor. as his story goes, he was preparing some string beans for cooking, which he was holding in his hand when his ICD went off shocking him senseless. when he regained his senses, he noticed that the beans he was holding in his hand were letting off steam, as though they had been cooked.
i kid ye not. sounds like something out of ripley's believe it or not. the whole group had a good laugh at...

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ok i'm just gonna ask it.....

this is totally embarassing but i'm curious so i'm just gonna go ahead and ask it. i'm sorry in advance if i offended anyone, that is not my intention....
ok so is it ok to use a "vibrator" while having sex if you have an icd?
crazy question...i know but i am serious when asking. i feel weird asking my doctor and i figured if i was gonna ask that this would be the place to do it.
thank you in advance to whoever responds!!!!



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CHAT

Hey is there anyone that wants to hit the chat room up friday night and late night. just let me know or PM me.

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Living Wills and ICD's

Hello-
I am trying to find more info on Living Wills and Advance Directives in association with having an ICD. I did find one really good article with info but not neccesarily specifics.
Here is the link if you want to check it out-

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3798/is_200710/
ai_n24394969/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1

I do have a device clinic tomorrow and I will also ask there and pass on any new info I find.
Thanks-
Candi
...

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Defibrillators Are Lifesaver, but Risks Give Pause

I'm beginning to wonder if I really needed an ICD after reading this article in today's NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/business/13defib.html?_r=1&em=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1221359394-pABZAjETEDm5vM2hPDvO5w

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St-Jude CRT study

bcme136 , Yes i am in the st-jude crt study.I told the doc as long as it doesnt cost me anything or extra dr visits or trying to make defib zap me they could study me.Wish I could get discount on dr bills for being in study

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tapping noise

hi, can anybody help me please. i have just been fitted with a pacemaker for the first time and while still in hospital could hear a tapping noice in my chest. i told the doctors who had no idea what it could be. they tested my pacemaker and said it was working properly. at home the next morning the tapping noise has started again. i have just been reading on this site someone else with the same problem.
can anybody help please

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Medtronic ICDs

As i look around this site and a few others i have been on looks like medtronic makes junk. Im haveing a defibulatar put in on week from tuesday, I think i will contact my cardioligist and request he not put one of theirs in me. Am i seeing this right anyone have a commment on this. Please please let me know quick.

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Guess im getting a defib in a week

Hello all, just found this site. Ill give you my bio. On July 13,2008 I went to urgent care as i thought i had broncitis, dr gave me some antibiotics, the next two days later woke during the nite not being able to breath, went back to dr he ordered a chest xray as he thought i went into pnenimoia, called and said i had had congential heart failure started me on some heart medicine and water pills went in monday and had a eckocardigram, dr calls wants me to see a cardioligist, friday july 25th ha...

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interesting info on ICDs

I am always researching and found this interesting article on ICDs:

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/news/20080903/heart-device-may-not-hurt-life-quality?ecd=wnl_nrn_090308

it was just published today!

Pookie

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my icd feels like it moved..

hi im Cristal, i recently had an icd implanted on July,21,2008 for me it was a little complicated due to the fact i also had to recover from giving birth..=/ yeah i know woo hew, but the thing is Ive been a month with the icd and yet still feel slight pacing not as much as when swelling went down my cardiologist told me i was feeling that because i was just a little extra aware of it..but see now my arm hurts like hell and sometimes i feel like a little stabbing/squeezing in my heart also it mov...

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OK Next Question

Is there anyone that likes their ICD? It seems that everyone hates being defibrillated by it. Does it leave you completely stunned? If you got zapped while driving, could you continue to drive? Is it painful as in ouch or as in screaming agony? Do you eventually get used to it? Is the technology improving so that soon the ICDs may not be so uncomfortable?

The closest I have come to regularly submitting to pain is when I got allergy shots twice a week for three years. At least I knew...

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Excuse me but...

What exactly is an ICD?
Implanted Cardiac Device?
Internal Cardiac Defibrillator?
Is it different than a Pacemaker? I am new here and don't get a lot of the jargon.

Thanks

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Do ICD's restart themselves?

  • by sis
  • 2008-08-28 12:08:32
  • ICDs
  • 1888 views
  • 0 comments

I have had my ICD since April of this year and have been fortunate that it has never went off yet but Monday night I felt something for the first time that felt like 3 or 4 big heart beats that felt like they were coming out of my chest! I called my Doctors office the next morning. The nurse called me back asking how I felt and told me I could come in but I was feeling fine and didn't think I needed to go in. I have an appointment on Sept 10th and just jotted down the date and time it occured...

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One year no shocks

  • by Anita
  • 2008-08-26 07:08:12
  • ICDs
  • 1988 views
  • 3 comments

Hi my son Devin was shocked 8 times in 20mins in June 07. He has ventricular tachycardia and his heart rate goes over 300bpm. We have been going to the Mayo Clinic in MN where the doctors feel they have fixed his tachycardia. He has alot of aniexty and everyday things can be very difficult. He still has his ICD and lives with fear everyday. Just wanted to share our good news with you.... one year with no shocks.... thanks to the good doctors at the mayo... all other hospitals did not give...

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How does rate response work

I have an ICD and have problems with getting the rate response settings adjusted correctly. A small level of activity or road vibration results in my heart rate increasing significantly and I feel pretty awful. Could someone please advise how an ICD works, in particular the sensing of activity and how it increases your heart rate. Thank you

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Road vibration causes increase in heart rate

I have ARVC and was fitted with an ICD approx 7 years ago. I suffered many VT's and subsequent shocks untill last October when I was treated with ablation. Since then my heart rythm has been fairly stable except when travelling along a bumpy road in a car with fairly hard suspension. This has got worse since my pacing technician adjusted the Rate Response, Activity Threshold from Medium Low to Low. She adjusted the setting because I complained that I need a bit more "go" when exerting myself or...

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You know you're wired when...

Born to be Wired is your theme song.

Member Quotes

Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.