Icd implant

[Subcutaneousicd]

Hello, so I have recently been fitted with a subcutaneous icd, and just wondering if you would share your experiences with me on how you deal with day to day life when you have had or known somone have an icd ?. Because at the moment my moods ect have taken a nose dive!

[Wodney1966]

I've had a s icd 3 yrs neva shocked me but been close couple of times hospital phoned me to ask how I was feeling it's like walking bout with a paramedic lol always looking after my heart lol 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[DaveTR]

Hi,

I had an ICD fitted just over 2 years ago and at first it was strange and certainly brought home how ill I was. It was (and is) a constant reminder.

3 full blown shocks and 100+ correcting therapies later I am more happy to have it there.

As Wodney1966 says, it's your own paramedic 🙂

[Gillymaccy]

I had 2 icds one for 5 years other been in 10 weeks. You can live a nearly normal life ,same with every thing good days bad days x

[Clipperkid]

I’ve had mine since 2018 and quite honestly I do not know I have it - it has not shocked me as yet - I live a normal life - tempest fugit !

[siouxbee19]

Give yourself some time, be good to yourself, heed doctor's orders, and before you know it, the day will come when you almost forget it's there, but so happy to have that little "paramedic" in your chest!

And my best advice for any female ICD recipients? Find your most comfortable yet supportive bra, and wear it 24/7 (except showers) while you heal! Trust me when I say you'll be so glad you did, I wish someone had told me this little trick beforehand.

Take care & do let us know how you are doing...🌻

[Driver11]

Hi you are going to feel strange for a while but you really do forget it's there. My sister in law asked my the other day how it was. I said it's no diffent to having a filling in your teeth - you know it's there but you get on with your life. Trust me it will get better - good luck

[MEW123]

Hello, I am a 44 year old male with a cardiomyopathy, mostly right sided but generally getting on OK. Never had a CA but did pass out in 5 a side football in 2008 before this issue came to light. I had a Boston Scientific S-ICD implanted at Papworth in May 2019, no shocks, as I would expect, to date. Give it time to heal fully, avoid heavy lifting and stretching. I would agree that I generally do not know it is there. Prior to this implant I was actually considering buying my own AED for home and even to carry around. Now when I see one on the wall somewhere it reminds me how lucky I am being watched over 24/7. I guess you have the same type of device as I think only they make them, I was also given a Latitude monitor which sends data to them to keep an eye on it. I have travelled overseas 3 times since having it, it seems OK to go through the new style scanners at Stansted now, in Spain, Madeira and Germany, they just patted me down, no issue. The only thing I am conscious of is getting too close to certain items, things with an electromagnetic field. Best wishes and my advice to us all would be more living less thinking, who knows what is round the corner with this virus and other issues in the world.

[dickielex]

It's seven years since I was entrusted with an ICD following a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. I have the same machine still tucked under my collar-bone. I am pretty much unaware of it. The scar is virtually invisible and the machine doesn't stick out noticeably unless you look. For seven years it has downloaded data via my Broadband about my cardiac activity and about its interventions. The data is processed by a team at Hereford Hospital who contact me (rarely) by phone if something looks odd and they give me and the machine a check-up twice a year. It's a guardian angel and what an amazing innovation in cardiac care and monitoring these small but powerful machines are. Most of us have had them implanted free thank sot the NHS and it's worth looking on-line to find out how much the procedure and machine cost in the USA. So we are so lucky to be able to live full lives without being scared. Our parents wouldn't have enjoyed that luxry.

[Melliesissy]

Hi, my sister has an icd. After the euphoria of surviving cardiac arrest and getting back home to 'normal' life she went through a raft of emotions. Including depression. But you must remember that this too will pass. She has her icd for 8 months now, and happy to say you wouldn't know it. Take your time, be kind to yourself.. you are already winning by being on this forum. You may find the closed facebook icd group helpful. My sis does and through it we met another local icd survivor and partner which reallyy helped us all too. Btw don't just survive, live well. Best wishes and let us know how you go on.

[purplerain58]

hello my husband had one fitted, although he was fine with regard to the procedure and recovered pretty quickly, he is very much aware of the machine and it has restricted what he does to a certain extent with lifting/arm movements.. He is very small stature and has not a lot of covering and they did think he may have to have it put under the muscle, fortunately this wasn't done and it is under the skin. I don't want to put a dampener on the other positive feedback but this is his reality and is probably in the minority. Otherwise he's fine and the machine has never gone off, i think he is comforted by it being there just incase.

[hf54]

fantastic comments from all above -mine probably goes in in april .thank you to all...

[Subcutaneousicd]

Thank you to every single one of you for taking your time to share yours and your loved ones stories. I am still struggling to come to terms with it as i seem to be aware of this box constantly. And still in a little pain with it all, I have a slim figure so the box is not protected or covered by any fat. Which is proving a very uncomfortable. But I guess these things take time to get used to. But again thank you all 💚 hope everyone who is due their operation goes smoothly and you all make a full recovery and I wish you all the best!