Arrhythmias Support Group

I'll be honest with you. I had an ICD implanted on May 9th of this year, after having actually died twice on May 7th. My heart stopped and all that saved my life was the fact that I was at church and not home alone. Getting an ICD scared me to death, and after it was implanted I was really scared. Just wondering when it's going to shock me and how it was going to feel or hurt. I was a nervous wreck.

After I had the device for 28 days it finally happened. I got the feeling that I was going to pass out, just like what happened when I died and didn't have the ICD. I knew I was getting ready to fall out once again, but this time just seconds after that feeling hit, so did the shock. I felt instantly better. I know everybody has a different experience with the shock, but I have to tell you, it was so quick that it didn't feel anything other than like someone kicked me in the chest. No pain really, it was just too fast to really realize what was happening. It just lasts for a split second. All I can tell you is that it wasn't nearly as bad as my expectations had been. I wished of course then that I hadn't spent so much time worrying about how it would feel if it ever happened.

They give you something for the surgery that pretty much makes you forget what has happened, or that's how it was with me. You have to be awake, but you won't really know it. Surgery wasn't tough at all for me. The difference is I had just been revived two days before, so I had a lot of broken ribs and burns from the three times the EMT's shocked me. HOpe this helps you some.

Getting the AICD is the most crucial thing for you to do. When you ejection fraction is low it means the your heart muscle is weaker and can not pump as hard as it is used to The pace maker part the of AICD will send tiny electrical pulse to the ventricals causing them to pump a little harder this helps improve blood flow to all organs. The AICD will only fire in an extreme rapid rate and that is a short but strong shock. the pace maker some don't even feel it is on. I hope you are seeing an EPS doctor and not a reg. cardiologist.

Hi
I just had my fifth device implanted on may 29 2009. It is pretty normal to have a lot of anxiety at first, But it will get better. Here is a great web site for people with ICD`s icdsupportgroup.org . Good luck and if I can help with any questions please email .