ICD

[TrustingGod247]

Hello..I am 44 years old and Dr tells me I may need an ICD..Has anyone gotten an ICD and if so how was and are you emotionally and mentally after getting it? Please be honest..Mentally I dont feel I can have it implanted in me..

[Wodney1966]

If I can have one fitted anyone can the worst part of having it done is waiting for your date to have it fitted went in early Tues morning out wed afternoon 6 weeks of work a bit sore for a bout a week lol

[BG2017]

Hi, I am the same age as you and had my pacemaker fitted 18 months ago. I am appreciative of the benefits (for me it stopped long pauses that had stopped me driving, and stopping prolonged dizzy spells and syncope) but in all honesty I feel even 18 months on I am still adjusting to it. Many people have had big improvements in health, quality of life and piece of mind and these benefits can’t be underestimated. I think for some people it just takes longer to get ‘your head around it’ - does that make sense?

Good luck with yours.

[TrustingGod247 in reply to BG2017]

What are you still adjusting to? And how has it been for you emotionally or mentally? Also what about the pain of having it done? I will admit I am a wee bit scared to get it

[BG2017 in reply to TrustingGod247]

The procedure itself wasn’t too painful and recovery was relatively quick- I was back in work a few days later. I think to me it still feels slightly ‘alien’ - maybe mentally I haven’t fully adjusted. They struggled to get mine very deep under the muscle so it does protrude a bit and sometimes it feels as if someone has left a badge on the inside of me.

I don’t want to portray a biased picture as I know many people neither see or feel theirs. Also, they are always there for an important reason.

Will yours be permanent- or is it the one just for recording what is happening?

[TrustingGod247 in reply to BG2017]

It will be permanent

[austinaustin79]

Hi, I'm 43 and have a internal loop recorder fitted. It took a few weeks to get over the soreness and my body to get used to it being there. Mentally, for me took a little longer. It takes time for you to adjust, and to stop thinking about it.

The decision to fit an ICD is not taken lightly by the Dr, so perhaps this would out weigh any anxious feelings you have.

[LindaDaisy]

I had mine 4 years ago and I felt like you beforehand. But it was the best decision I made. It didn’t hurt, but I had a general anaesthetic. I would press for a general or at least sedation. I was afraid it would feel alien and it did for a while but 4 years on, its part of me. ICDs are not cheap, and as austinaustin79 says, doctors don’t take these decisions lightly.

[TrustingGod247 in reply to LindaDaisy]

How alien did it feel? I just have severe anxiety and am afraid it will literally drive me nuts being in me

[LindaDaisy]

I was quite stressed in the run up to the op and the doctor put me on a mild anti depressant. When I mentioned it to the nurse at Papworth, she said “don’t worry, lots of people that come in here are on them. The alien feeling didn’t last long. You know when you have a filling at the dentist and for a short while it feels like you have something in your mouth that’s not part of you and then after a while it’s like it’s like it has always been there. Obviously it’s more than a filling and it took a few weeks to settle down but after that I was fine. If you are on Facebook there is a really good group called ICD Support UK. That group was there for me day and night and no question was too trivial.

[Pikaia]

Hi there. I had a dual chamber ICD (i.e. one with a pacemaker function) fitted about 5 weeks ago. No one wants to hear their doctor say that they need one, but if you're in that grey zone it's better to have one than not. As others have mentioned, doctors don't take these decisions lightly so if they're talking about it then you need to consider it seriously.

The operation itself was a doddle, you can read more about it and my circumstances on this recent post - healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

A few weeks on and I'm getting used to it. The wound is not so sore and, while I can't get back to exercising just yet, I'm positive about the future. I can still feel it occasionally, mainly when lying down, but I'm noticing it less and less. The very fact it's there, watching my heart and ready to spring into action if necessary has greatly reduced my anxiety. An ICD is an amazing piece of kit and I'm just thankful we live in an age when we can get one. As my cardiologist said 'We're giving you one as it's a lifesaver'. Quite a convincing argument.

Let us know what you decide and how you get on.