Very anxious about having ICD fitted and after effects

[GrammyB]

Need guidance as so anxious about having icd fitted next week if things go wrong

[rogerctyler]

Hi GrammyB I had an ICD fitted back in 2014. It has shocked me at least once & bought me round. There is nothing to worry about having it fitted. It’s a very painless procedure & you cannot even tell it’s under your skin. It is not painfull in any way. The biggest pain is going back to the hospital every year for a check up. They do an automatic download every 6months so long as you have got wi-fi. Otherwise they will do it over your phone line. Don’t worry they will explain all that to you closer to the time. I hope this reassures you. Good luck.

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Hi, I have an ICD and understand your anxiety, but I love my device now. There have been a few posts about this before and you may find the responses to them helpful to read through. I'll add the links below, plus one for BHF page about ICDs in case you haven't seen it yet. Good luck and feel free to send any questions my way

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

[sturon]

Hi Grammy.

Welcome to the forum.

Your anxiety is a very natural feeling. Having any surgery is an anxious time and having an implanted ICD is especially so. The procedure is a very simple one and done hundreds of times in cardiac centres. Of course the staff will go through all the risks of the procedure but in reality it is very, very rare for anything to go wrong.

As Roger said to you they will probably give you a home monitoring unit to download your ICD data, in my partners case it is a Latitude monitor and he sends his device data each week to the cardio physiologists. They review this and check everything is okay.

The most inconvenient thing for my partner was having to stop driving (in his case for 6 months as his S-ICD was fitted after a cardiac arrest).

When you go for the implant explain to the staff that you feel anxious and make a list of all the questions you may have. They are there to support you and give you reassurance.

I don't usually recommend Google but you may find this site of some use.

bostonscientific.com/en-US/...

Boston Scientific is one of the main manufactures of ICD and they have lots of information on the procedure and information about life with an ICD / S-ICD. They also supply the Latitude system of home monitoring.

Also Arrhythmia Alliance has information which may be of interest:

heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/...

This forum is also a source of support. After your procedure ask if there is a local support group, in our city there is one and it meets twice a year. It is an opportunity to meet others who are living with an ICD.

Hope all goes well - let us know how you get on.

Good luck.

Ron.

[derekfirman36]

Hi I had my ICD fitted in June 2017. Best thing I have ever done. Feel 10 years younger (Current 82) Now garden and play golf. Good luck xxx

[gal4God]

I’ve had no issues with a ICD apart from ICD pain wen it was fitted and wen it comes out to be replaced. It hurts thought it my body but it’s worth it. I would never choose it unless it was needed tho.