ICD fired during Dinner

Have been taking (2 x 2.5 =) 5mg bisoprolol every day for ten years after HA.

ICD fired recently whilst eating meal, and my GP is suggesting increase dose to 10mg daily but I am concerned about postural / post-prandial syncome low BP.

Is it wise to increase this dose?

[DaveTR]

Your GP thinks it's the right thing to do.

I'd ask your ICD / Heart team to see what they say.

I'm on 10 mg of Bisoprolol per day and reached that dose in 2.5mg increments.

[Alison_L]

Was it regarded as an inappropriate firing? I agree with Dave: speak to your heart team, or at least the Pacing Clinic before making changes.

[Hidden in reply to Alison_L]

Thanks Alison, my pacing clinic says it was appropriate inasmuch by saying "We wouldn't be having this conversation if it hadn't fired" They also mentioned increasing the bisoprolol dose. They suggested that a few years ago; I tried it for a while, but went back to 5mg - I can't remember why.

Looks like it's time to do it again.

[Alison_L in reply to Hidden]

Hm, you'd have had to talk to them whether it was appropriate or not, so I'm not sure their comment helps. However, if both they and the GP are suggesting you up the Biso, then it's probably worth doing.

[Heather1957]

What does it mean by 'fired'? I am a bypass & stent person but do take bisoprolol.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

Hi Heather, sorry for my use of the word fired. (can't remember the proper word)

My understanding is, basically, the ICD (or implantable cardiac defibrillator) is there to deliver a shock to the heart if it goes into fibrillation, and kickstarts it again.

Which it did to me.

Hope that's clear.

[DMC14]

Can i ask how it felt when the ICD defibrillates?

[Hidden in reply to DMC14]

Strange to say, but I didn't even know it had fired at all.

All I felt was an overwhelming desire to fall asleep, as I did, then went into syncope (fainting)

I woke up with a strange sort of whistling in my ears.

So I reported it to the GP, who sent me to the pacing clinic, where they told me I had had a cardiac arrest which caused the ICD to fire.

Like most people, I always assumed that the shock would be strongly felt, but apparently not in every case.