How to cope with ICD insertion and multiple VT episodes

[wservigna]

Hello @ll I'm a 33 years old male, I had a VT episode last October and I had an ICD fitted, In this year I have been in and out of the hospital 4 times with VT episodes and 1 collapse due to medication. Now I was recently discharged, with a new medication plan (Sotalol and Ramipril), but with no long term diagnosis. I've been struggling a lot both physically and mentally with adjusting to this new "normal-life" scenario, any general recommendation about how to deal with this physical and mental wise?

[BobD Volunteer]

You might like to ask this on the Healthunlocked British Heart Foundation forum o see if gtehjfre is a dedicated ICD forum as we deal with atrial fibrillation here.

[Prince123456]

Hi m8. Can I ask what medication caused you to collapse ?

[wservigna in reply to Prince123456]

I was on bisoprolol 10mg a day, it caused me to collapse twice and wasn't helping at all.

[Prince123456 in reply to wservigna]

Very surprised Bisoprolol caused the collapse never heard of anyone collapse due to Bisoprolol. I was on maximum dose 20mg for 18 months just made me very tied so moved to Nebivolol it’s a more cardio selective med. they put patients on Bisoprolol because it’s a cheaper med.

[Jajarunner in reply to wservigna]

I'm not surprised you collapsed! A single dose of 5 dropped my HR so low I nearly passed out. I was in Afib and in hospital at the time. It dropped HR from about 170 to 80 in a matter of minutes and obviously my Blood Pressure crashed with it. I ended up with legs in the air and bed at 45 degree angle. But the doctor was ever so pleased at how much it lowered my HR. Seriously!!!! (I had an emergency cardioversion soon afterwards and they wondered why it took my heart 'a while' to get beating again!)

I hope you get the help you need x

[TracyAdmin Partner]

How are you feeling? You have been so much over a short period of time. For support and advice, you may wish to join the 'Arrhythmia Alliance' Forum on HU, where you can reach out and share experiences with individuals that may also be in a similar situation as yourself. You may also wish to visit the Arrhythmia Alliance website too? You can view some of the HCP 'Devices' videos, patient stories and visit the Patient Resources, you may benefit from downloading the 'CRT/ICD/S-ICD Patient Information booklet' helpful?

booklet

[wservigna in reply to TracyAdmin]

Mentally it's been really hard, in these first weeks my mind race all over the place and some anxiety kicks in, and physically I feel extremely tired and weak. I'm starting to walk around a bit, and one of the things that I'm focusing on a lot is healthy food, following mostly the Mediterranean diet, to increase the fish and vegetables. I know some patience is required but like I said these first weeks are complicated.

[TracyAdmin Partner in reply to wservigna]

I completely understand, if you continue to feel like this, please contact your doctor for further medical advice. Take care, Tracy

[blulla1]

Have a read and see if you want to give this a try.

carrafibdietinfo.com/

[wservigna in reply to blulla1]

Really interesting, thanks for sharing !!!

[Sustainedvtach270]

Welcome to the afib forum! I also suffered from vtach while in Afib. Afib greatly increases the chances to have vtach. Following my vtach episode in march, I went into cardiac arrest and was fitted for an ICD. Since then I had 2 rapid afib episodes that triggered my ICD, the first time, I hadn't changed my diet and the second time, I stopped taking Sotalol for more than 10 days. Now I am a vegetarian, gluten free and I am back on Sotalol, the minimum dose once a day (instead of twice). 2 great books I highly recommend, the Afib Cure by John Day and Anxiety Free by Patrick Mckeown. What helped me the most, 1/ Diet, don't eat less than 3 hours before sleeping,2/Walking 10000 steps per day 3/Slow down the breathing, breath through your nose, exhale longer than inhale and do diaphragmatic breathing.

[DawnTX]

I don’t have any answers for you, but I do wish you well and as far as getting used to your new normal it is going to take time. Whether it is a fib or flutter or anything in the beginning, we are so aware of it because it is frightening. The good thing is you have many people here who understand what you are going through. As always though your first line of defense is your doctor best of luck I feel terrible that someone your age is going through this I guess I just accept it for me.as part of aging. Just like an old car parts start to break down although I’m not happy about it because in my head I’m still 35 lol.