ICD Firing

[ICdont]

I’ve recently (6 weeks ago) had a icd fitted for VT. I am also in stubborn AF. This was all very sudden. I’m a 46 year old who has been active and fit previously.

Last Wednesday I was out for a light run, and the ICD fired as my AF triggered it. I felt absolutely fine so the shock came as quite a, well you know.

I’m waiting to do a treadmill test this week, to see if I end up getting shocked again, and then a possible ablation.

Since the defib fired I’ve been incredibly nervous about doing anything strenuous, so I don’t set it off again.

I wanted to know if anyone else had felt similar, and how they got over this.

[DaveTR]

Hi ICDon’t (Love the name by the way)

I’m a 54 year old with an ICD and after the first shock became very conscious of what my heart was doing.

I recently underwent a stress test on an exercise bike and my heart didn’t go above 110 BPM because of the beta blockers I’m taking.

My device is set to react (Therapy or shock) when my heart beat reaches 160 BPM. With this information I have been told I can exercise without worry (Easier said than done). In theory, I will only receive a shock if I am in a dangerous heart rhythm as my heart struggles to get above 110 with exercise.

If they can get your medication right and configure your ICD accordingly (with or without an Ablation) hopefully you won’t experience exercise induced shocks. Not to say you won’t receive a shock if your heart chooses to ignore the meds and ICD therapy.

I wish you all the best.

[ICdont in reply to DaveTR]

thanks for replying, I’m hoping the stress test goes ok, but I’ve got a feeling I’m going to get shocked.

You’re right about suddenly being very aware of each change in heartbeat. I’ve also found myself nervous about walking up a few flights of stairs.

[DW4019]

hi, I have had an ICD for 25 yrs for the first 24 years it has gone off 3 times, pretty scary and anyone says it doesn’t hurt is a bloody liar. Last year I had what the call a storm and it went off 45 times in 2 months. I have now had 5 ablations and am waiting for a heart transplant at Papworth.

I feel for you my friend as it is incredibly nerve racking and any slight beat charge can turn you into a nervous wreck. People do not understand what this does to your mental health and to be honest I wouldn’t expect them to. Sometimes you can feel so alone even in a crowded room.

Being honest with your feelings is a very hard thing to do just remember you can speak your mind in here without being judged, so make sure you keep communicating and stay strong my friend.

[ICdont in reply to DW4019]

Thanks for replying. I’m hoping the stress test goes ok in a few days, and I don’t get shocked. I agree and there is a definite affect on my mental health. I’ve found it’s really affected my sleep, and I’m nervous about any exertion.

If you don’t mind me asking, why have you had 5 ablations. Are they not guaranteed to work or do they wear off? I’m new to this so don’t know much about it all.

[DW4019]

ablation’s are not a cure it is just a stop gap, the scaring in our heart effects the electrical current that tells each chamber to pump next. If the that electrical current get stuck by a scar then it will just loop in the same chamber which them confuses the heart and it goes into VT or AV. As we get older scaring inside the heart will natural happen. Please don’t take this the wrong way but if you go into VT you can’t stop it, from my experience it is more of your mental health that gets effected as it terrifying and people just don’t understand. Seek someone to help as you quite clearly suffer with PTSD exactly like I do.

Stay strong my friend