Itchy ICD area after 4 years

[YogaAtHeart]

I had my ICD fitted 4 years ago now and recently the area of skin directly over the ICD has gotten really itchy.

It's sometimes on the surface but when it's under the surface it drives me mad!

Has anyone else experienced this before?

[Alison_L]

Hello, YAH! Mine’s 6 years old now and I haven’t had any itching. It might be worth getting in touch with the pacing clinic to see what they can suggest. Hope they can help xx

[Mandntong]

Hi, my hubby has this too but only had his fitted in December last year and it drives him crazy. We were told it was his Keloid scar and scar tissue. We were advised to get some silicone dressings and they have worked. It might not be the same type of itch but it may help. They are just like a plaster which you can use a few hours in the day. Hope this helps a little xx

[EmmJayTea]

+1 for itching here, and my ICD was fitted almost a year ago. I am sorry that you are suffering with the chronic itch. Does your degree of itching vary from day to day? The intensity of mine varies from mildly acceptable to wanting to rip it out of my chest.

I was told that occasionaly itching and stabbing pains were part and parcel of having a device, especially if you do a funny movement or overstretch slightly. If you have experienced a sudden and unexplained change in how yours feels, then it might be worth a conversation with your device clinic.

In the interim, then I can offer a few tips to calm the itch. Instead of scratching, I press the skin adjacent to the itchy area or pinch it (very shallow pinching so as not to damage anything inside). I do this to stimulate the nerves, but not irritate or move the skin too much. I can't vouch that this will work for everyone as we are all different, but it certainly helps me.

I have had eczema since birth and have experienced chronic itching for most of my life. I've found that slapping my skin works wonders instead of scratching. That said, I would NEVER slap my ICD area or insertion wound, hence the pinching technique. Scratching makes eczema far worse and even more itchy (and sore). So, I equate itching with "do not touch", which is often easier said than done. In a wierd twisted sort of way, eczema has been good preparation for having an itchy ICD site.

Who knew that eczema could actually be useful? 🤪 That's something I never thought I'd ever say.

[YogaAtHeart in reply to EmmJayTea]

Yes mine is the same, some days I don't have any itching or its very mild, then other days, like you said, is so itchy it makes me want to rip it out! It's nice to hear im not alone in this, the complications never seem to end though do they 😅 I had a feeling it could have something to do with me stretching and it having moved around a little bit. What a pain! I will try the pinching technique and also bring it up at my next appointment. Thank you for the tips!