After a sudden cardiac arrest on 6 May, I had my ICD fitted on Monday this week and came home on Tuesday.
I'm doing really well but have a few concerns!! before this incident I was a really active and fit 52 year old woman. I loved my weight training and also ran and did yoga. Was actually out running when I collapsed.
I'm worried about what, if any exercise, I will be able to do once I have recuperated and my leads have bedded in. Also I have a previous history of depression and low mood and I'm worried about if this whole episode will hit me at some point and send my state of mind down.
Anyone have any advice or personal experiences they can offer?
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PColb01
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I had a heart attack/cardiac arrest in December 2019 and had an ICD fitted in August 2019. I went back to cardio rehab at the beginning on November 2019 - sadly because of the current situation cardio rehab will currently be on hold.
I had to limit moving my left arm for 6 weeks to allow everything to settle, after that it was a case of steadily building my routine back up, and was soon back to doing everything I was doing before having the ICD - gym, some weights, a bit of running.
There's no reason why you can't get back to your normal life once everything has settled in.
Try and have a chat with your GP about returning to physical activity and if you're concerned about your mental health your GP will be able to refer to for counselling
Hi Russell, hope you're keeping well & safe. Were you given the OK to lift weights or were given a weight limit? Kevin was told by his nurse no weights at all but I'm not sure if it's because of icd, the severity of the damage to his heart or a combination of both!
Hi Lesley. Nice to hear from you, I'm well, hope you are both doing well.
Cardio Rehab got me using weights when I went back after my ICD, When I started at Stage 4 in the big gym 😊 I was also put on weights with the proviso that I shouldn't be doing anything that involved straining, so basically within a sensible limit
Thanks Russell, that makes sense. Kevin was told years ago no lifting & his nurse told him no weights a couple of years ago. I do wonder sometimes if they're over cautious with him, maybe because they can't optimise his meds? Keep well.
Hi. Welcome to the forum. You must still be in shock after your experience and it will take time to recover, both physically and mentally.
My husband had a cardiac arrest two years ago. He has long QT syndrome, and this can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Like you he had an ICD implanted; In his case it was an S-ICD. He was in hospital for three weeks and has had a couple of other short overnight stays since. It took us both a few months to get over the trauma of the experience. At first, I would never leave him alone and he was extremely nervous of crowded places.
We are now two years on, and life has returned to normal (well it had until COVID-19 struck). We loved to travel and in the last two years have continued to travel including a trip to Japan at the end of last year. Airport security take a little getting through but even that is no problem now. Of course, no one is travelling right now but hopefully we will be able to in the future.
So, to answer your question. There is no reason why you should not slowly be able to return to your life as it was before. You don’t say what the cause of your SCA was, but it is always good to chat to your own doctor about what to do and if there are any limits. You can also go to this web site which has some useful patient information.
The whole point of an ICD is that you can live life to the full without worrying about another cardiac arrest as you have your very own paramedic with you 24/7.
My cardiac arrest also happened when I was out jogging. It resulted in my having an ICD fitted a few weeks later. Following a short recovery period I was able to get back to normal activity, although I now tend to walk and cycle rather than run.
All that was in 2012. I’m now onto my second ICD and still exercising quite hard.
Out of interest did they just replace the battery or the whole ICD - I have read conflicting stories over the past few days ? I am already dreading the next op albeit I will be more prepared mentally for it next time
It comes as a pack. Tesco have a special offer on at the moment!😀
Please excuse my sense of humour. The wires all remain in place. They disconnect them from the top of the ICD, stick another one in and zip you up. It airs 30 minutes or so for the procedure. I checked in at 13.30 and was home for tea at 16.30 It would have been earlier but my temperature went up slightly. All in all I had excellent service and they gave me a sandwich as well.
Once the initial bit of soreness wears off you can lift your arms straightaway, always useful when I do my pirouettes in the morning. 😉
I hope my experience has reassured you. You know where you can get in touch if you think I might be able to help further.
My hubby had his first ICD implanted in Germany in early 1989 just before he was 39.
He was exceptionally fit and had he not been would have not survived the collapse, although he did not have a heart attack.
The devices were then huge, larger than a pack of 20 cigarettes and very heavy and were implanted in the abdomen.
He was in hospital for quite some time. How things have moved on. The advice that he received from an eminent professor who actually did the implant was to live his life without constantly looking over his shoulder.
However he was also encouraged by him to give up playing squash which he had played competitively prior to this. He never played again.
The biggest fear for most new ICD recipients is when will it first 'fire'. My hubby was on his second device before we experienced this. It was five years later, we were making love and a blue flash shot between us - he said he was glad it had not happened a minute sooner and laughed, I burst into tears, he jumped up and went and got us both a drink while I wept.
I have written this so that you are not in fear of it 'firing'.
Hopefully you will now live your life to the full and enjoy it.
Both myself & a friend had ICD’s fitted 27/3 he was used to running marathons previously & is late fifties & is out running again now and the doctors have told him he will run marathons again. Personally I have 2 horses & was told to wait 8 weeks before getting back on but plan to do so this week.
Not sure about weight lifting but when I was first diagnosed with heart failure & came out of hospital I went to cardio rehab where you use weights. I am currently using resistance bands following my op but potentially in the future may buy some weights for home.
I guess my advice would be to take baby steps your body will let you know when you have done too much.
Hi you should be able to get back to a normal life but it will just take time. It sounds like you are already making good progress, I was in intensive care for 2 weeks before I came round after mine. You have to accept that what you are going through has been very serious and there will be good days and not so good days. You need to focus on the fact that you are still here , look for the positives and go for it
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