Living with an ICD

[Faunce]

Just joined. Fitted with ICD last month and going through some anxiety following SCD’s.

[sturon]

Hi Faunce.

Firstly welcome to the forum. The most natural thing in the world is to feel anxiety after any major event in your life. So what you are feeling is to be expected. My husband had two sudden cardiac arrests nearly 4 years ago. He was in hospital for around three weeks including a period in ITU and CCU. The end result was he was implanted with an S-ICD.

The first few months after his implant we both felt anxious and afraid. I was a bag of nerves always watch him and he was afraid to even go out of the same room as me. He hated crowded places and was nervous even doing the smallest bit of exercise.

After a couple of months we took control of the situation we spend a few days away and started to plan holidays again. We are now 4 years on and the ICD is almost forgotten. It is his insurance policy and his constant reassurance - like having his very own paramedic with him. Airport security was an interesting experience at first but he soon realised that the security staff deal with hundreds of implanted passengers each week. Just before Covid we toured Japan. Once we can travel again we intend to get back to our trips away.

If we have one bit of advise - just enjoy life and try to see your ICD as a friend, always there to look after you.

Our very best wishes.

[Driver11]

Hi ICD fitted 3 yrs ago following CA. Felt very nervous for a while but things definitely do get better. Its like any problem that you live with, bad back etc, you learn to live with it and make some compensations. It is your insurance policy and the bedside monitor gives you piece of mind. Harefield have called me twice re issues so they do keep an eye on you. I got back to playing golf after 4 months, don't overdo it just pace yourself. Good luck

[jowalk6]

It's natural to feel that way hun. After my SCA it hit me a few years later. I finally found EMDR therapy really helped. If you can talk to people about it. You're bound to have all kinds of emotions. You will get there. Please take care x

[Rolo99]

Hi, I have had my ICD for 5 years now and it takes a while to get your head around it. I found the Facebook ICD Support group very helpful and you feel like you are part of a special group of people who understand what you are going through. You can post any worries or questions you have. Good luck it will definitely get easier as time passes.