Ihad 2 cardioversions in this year, May 16 and by May 20th back into afib. May 39th paramedics took me to hospital in v-tach with no bp. June 5th while in hospital had another cardio version. Since the I have had to wear a safety vest. Had a cardiac mri in Augus and have a date this month to implant an icd. The icd is needed because of the x-tach. I’m looking forward to it to get out of the vest. Originallly they had me on flecainode for the afib, which did no good. Since the v-tach I have been on amiodarone and love it. It is working wonders. I think my good lick with it is that I have never smoked. I am 76 years old. I truly think my doctors are awesome. Looking forward to my 80’s.
Hi Dan, I'm watching your video now because my wife is getting an ICD tonight. She has been diagnose with Arterial Flutter. She has had an ablation procedure done. She is back in the hospital this week for another high heart rhythm, which they had to shock her but this time she went into code blue. Long story short, she is getting this ICD procedure done tonight. I hope your doing well, thanks for sharing your story. God bless.
I've been on amiodarone for about 6 months after my heart went into AFib and Vtach . I got 6 shocks. Ended up in the hospital. The drug is dangerous but at the same time may be life saving.
I'm on amiodarone too. For atrial fibrillation. Not happy about it either. In about two weeks I will go through cardioversion again and find out what's next. Hopefully, I won't end up with a defib like yours but I'm tired of the merry-go-round all this cardiac stuff has been. It might not be so bad but it will wear everyone out taking me in and back to/from work. You are in my prayers, Dan.
Thank you for sharing your experiences so far with your ICD. My husband had one implanted about 10 days ago. He is on Sotolol. It all still seems a bit like a case of mistaken identity. 8 months ago, he was told his heart was in great shape. Then 2 weeks ago, I am told how weak his heart is and that he will die without this device. No time to pause, research or regroup. His is a dual chamber with a pacemaker and defibulator. He had been having some dizzy spells. They put a 24 hour monitor on him and diagnosed him with ventricular tachycardia. Less than 24 hours later, he was getting this device implanted. One really bizarre thing was that they told us in the dr office how serious and life threatening this condition was, yet they let me drive him to the hospital. Hoping things are still going well for you and that you are feeling well.
Ruthe, hope your husband is doing ok. I've had a couple minor episodes of vtach since the video but no shock. the device pacing function was able to bring my heart back to normal rhythm without a shock. as scary as it is I feel fortunate I have the icd. my implant wasn't rushed like your husband's. when I was first diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and low ef they had me take meds for 90 days then did another echocardiogram, my ef didn't improve much so they recommended an icd. I was first diagnosed in September and got my implant the following January. anyway good luck, I hope your husband does well. thanks for watching the video.
Amioderone can only be taken for 6 months....and a shock equals 6 months of no driving...the delivers differnt different amounts of electricity.. depending on the factors of said arrhythmia my VT shock... Didn't come close to the lightning shock of atrial fibrillation I suppose is different for everybody but I've had some doozies I've had a time where I went to my daughter said fill my heartbeat and she put her hand on my heart and right then it shocked her and threw her across the king-size bed and scared the hell out of her and then not had shocks where I've had six back-to-back in the middle of home goods right after putting my 6-month-old granddaughter in a buggy thank God because it threw me to the ground and that was a hard time that was a hard day I've had mine since 2003 Thanksgiving Day 2003 and I had to trilogy a flow it's a birth defect of the heart That's where my issues stem from I went 20 years and didn't know what it was I thought it was just stress because I had a very very stressful life at home and and after I got married off so I just assumed it was stress and just had a 20-year streak of luck so I hope this finds you in good health today be well
They almost had me with this device, and when I went to see the doctor about it, he was all ready to go with installing, but, big question was the percentage for needing one, and the doctor didnt tell me this, he just said lets get it done, but i backed out last minute, and then found another doctor, whom after reading my bible, said that i was only border line and most likely would not need it. There are so many things about todays products that they are not being up front on, and we are basically the white mice of the lab. Im not interested in loosing my liscense or spinning around on the floor at some indescript time, be wary and carefull, also stay away from magnetic things.
Hey Uncle dan, How you doing, any more shocks yet?? Hope your doing alls~well since our last talk. My doctors visit went well, no difib. installed for me.just got to keep up with diet and exercise.I'm on a load of meds. (amiodarone, furosemide, diltiazem, metoprolol, digoxin, potasium chloride, & Altorvastatin) another visit in 6 months. I was really concerned if they were going to install a difib. After listening to your story on the toilet, I would be afraid to drive my friend. Happy New Year too you and your family!
Hey Joe, hope you're having a nice holiday season. thanks for checking in. I haven't had any more full blown shocks since. Had an echocardiogram in November and my ef was up to 40 so I feel good about that. I'm also on the highest dose of Entresto twice a day. I need to watch my weight and eat better too. I'm not a fat slob but I need to lose a few lbs. and there's really not much more medicine can do for me. Glad you didn't have to get the implant although it really was a simple procedure. Hope you continue to get better! looking forward to 2019!
I've been on it about 8 months now, had baseline and a couple follow blood tests and so far ok. had a follow up chest xr in November ok too. keeping my fingers crossed.
@@uncledan8320 But, the things you guys are worried about damaging will take the rest of your life to kill you. If your heart stops beating you are gone regardless of the condition of your other organs. Truth is most of your organs will last the next 30 years, but only if your heart is still beating and supplying them blood. You gotta look at the big picture here, not get focused in on 1 or 2 possible problems.
Hello there Dan. I came across your video because I wanted to know what the shock felt like to you but I read all the comments first and found the answer. My question for you is, do u notice if your VT gets triggered from any environmental or emotional settings? Is there something now that you completely avoid doing so that it doesn't upset your VT? Or, hopefully not, is it just one of those kind of VTs that come on whenever they want? I'm researching Pacemakers and AICDs so every little bit of information I come across helps me. It must've felt very disturbing for you when doctor 1 tells you you're completely fine then doctor 2 tells you you were dancing with the Grim reaper. And I do hope that u don't experience anymore odd feeling side effects.
Hello, I cant put my finger on any one condition that triggers the VT. I had one more episode late this summer while I was walking my dog. The device was able to pace me out of the VT without delivering a shock. I only know the device did the pacing because the device reported it to the hospital electronically. I got very light headed for several seconds then it passed. Since that time the cardio docs have increased my dose of carvadilol to 25mg twice a day. Haven't had any episodes since. I have a routine device clinic appt. Monday so they will fully interrogate my ICD, I'll post if there is anything significant to report. Thanks for watching!
@@uncledan8320 question popped up again! When the device records an episode and sends it to the techs who read what you're experiencing, do they ever call you immediately to like, inform u that your having an infarction and need to get to a hospital immediately? I'm pretty sure before u had the device installed the answered all your questions and informed u what to do in case of emergency surgery. I can understand going in on a weekly basis to have the device checked but will they contact u if they notice the hearts electrical activity is severely off?
@@keresma4824 the implant (ICD) links via wireless to a small home monitoring unit that sits on my night stand. Once a month on the 1st. the implant sends data to the home monitor unit which sends it to the hospital via cell phone wireless technology. This typically happens overnight when you're sleeping. The data that is sent monthly is basically a device health check (battery life, lead integrity, etc). If the ICD detects any abnormal heart rhythm and delivers any type of therapy (shock, pacing) it will send that information (abnormal rhythm data, type of therapy delivered, etc) to the hospital via wireless that same night. Usually get a call from the hospital the next morning to see whats going on. I make a visit to the cardio doc every 6 months for a more comprehensive interrogation of the implant data by a technician mostly to be sure everything is working correctly. It's really quite amazing the technology we have. I hope that helps answer your question.
fyi, I did challenge him my last appt. and I think he was a little surprised that I did, he knows I'm the type to research so I'm surprised he was surprised when I raised my concern. I'm still on the shit for now. My PFT test uncovered a new surprise, I have mild COPD, not surprised as I smoked for 40 years before quitting 4 yrs ago. Now I'm really freaked out about my lungs getting damaged from the drug since they are already somewhat fucked. Anyway, have another appt. on July 30th. to see if I can get released to drive. I'll bring it up again and post something after my visit. Tnx for commenting!
Sharon Mercer I saw my cardiologist yesterday, been on amiodarone for about 6 weeks now and now I'll effects yet. also no cardio episode's since taking the drug. tell your dad to hang in there and keep me posted on his progress.
I've worked in mechanical maintenance and HVAC all of my working life so I've been shocked on several occasions from being careless or stupid around electricity. fortunately I've never been badly hurt but I do know the feeling of an electric shock and that's just what the ICD firing felt like, my ICD only fired once during that episode and it was very brief, blink of an eye brief is how I would put it but I knew I got shocked. if you've never received an electric shock it's kind of a sensation like hitting your funny bone but with ICD shock it was over in a split second. interestingly I felt fine after the shock, a little unnerved but physically fine. I hope that helps you. fyi in follow appointments with both my cardiologists they tell me it saved my life that morning. kind of sobering.
Thank you so much for your answers! And I hope all is well :) Have you ever heard of anyone fainting from a shock? Or is that a myth? Can I ask if you take medication as well?
@@line112 I think you faint before the shock not because of it. when you have a life threatening arythmia you usually faint or black out from loss of blood flow to the brain. hopefully the icd shock restores a normal heartbeat. as far as medications I take Entresto, Carvadilol, Xeralto, Lasix and Amiodarone. also take some vitamins. Hope that helps! thanks for watching!
@@uncledan8320 thank you so much, it really helps to get a better understanding it. Read about hcm online is one thing, but hearing people talk about experiences is more saying. If you know what i mean? Anyway, hope you have a great day, and thank you again :)
Ihad 2 cardioversions in this year, May 16 and by May 20th back into afib. May 39th paramedics took me to hospital in v-tach with no bp. June 5th while in hospital had another cardio version. Since the I have had to wear a safety vest. Had a cardiac mri in Augus and have a date this month to implant an icd. The icd is needed because of the x-tach. I’m looking forward to it to get out of the vest. Originallly they had me on flecainode for the afib, which did no good. Since the v-tach I have been on amiodarone and love it. It is working wonders. I think my good lick with it is that I have never smoked. I am 76 years old. I truly think my doctors are awesome. Looking forward to my 80’s.
Hi Dan, I'm watching your video now because my wife is getting an ICD tonight. She has been diagnose with Arterial Flutter. She has had an ablation procedure done. She is back in the hospital this week for another high heart rhythm, which they had to shock her but this time she went into code blue. Long story short, she is getting this ICD procedure done tonight. I hope your doing well, thanks for sharing your story. God bless.
I've been on amiodarone for about 6 months after my heart went into AFib and Vtach . I got 6 shocks. Ended up in the hospital. The drug is dangerous but at the same time may be life saving.
Frickin same!!!
I had an ICD implant almost 4 weeks ago and came across your video. Hope you are doing well. Thank you for your video.
Dan, I noticed your last video is 5 years old. I hope you are doing OK. Farewell.
I'm on amiodarone too. For atrial fibrillation. Not happy about it either. In about two weeks I will go through cardioversion again and find out what's next. Hopefully, I won't end up with a defib like yours but I'm tired of the merry-go-round all this cardiac stuff has been. It might not be so
bad but it will wear everyone out taking me in and back to/from work. You are in my prayers, Dan.
Im getting ready to do everything you talked about
Thank you for sharing your experiences so far with your ICD. My husband had one implanted about 10 days ago. He is on Sotolol. It all still seems a bit like a case of mistaken identity. 8 months ago, he was told his heart was in great shape. Then 2 weeks ago, I am told how weak his heart is and that he will die without this device. No time to pause, research or regroup. His is a dual chamber with a pacemaker and defibulator. He had been having some dizzy spells. They put a 24 hour monitor on him and diagnosed him with ventricular tachycardia. Less than 24 hours later, he was getting this device implanted. One really bizarre thing was that they told us in the dr office how serious and life threatening this condition was, yet they let me drive him to the hospital. Hoping things are still going well for you and that you are feeling well.
Ruthe, hope your husband is doing ok. I've had a couple minor episodes of vtach since the video but no shock. the device pacing function was able to bring my heart back to normal rhythm without a shock. as scary as it is I feel fortunate I have the icd. my implant wasn't rushed like your husband's. when I was first diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and low ef they had me take meds for 90 days then did another echocardiogram, my ef didn't improve much so they recommended an icd. I was first diagnosed in September and got my implant the following January. anyway good luck, I hope your husband does well. thanks for watching the video.
Amioderone can only be taken for 6 months....and a shock equals 6 months of no driving...the delivers differnt different amounts of electricity.. depending on the factors of said arrhythmia my VT shock... Didn't come close to the lightning shock of atrial fibrillation I suppose is different for everybody but I've had some doozies I've had a time where I went to my daughter said fill my heartbeat and she put her hand on my heart and right then it shocked her and threw her across the king-size bed and scared the hell out of her and then not had shocks where I've had six back-to-back in the middle of home goods right after putting my 6-month-old granddaughter in a buggy thank God because it threw me to the ground and that was a hard time that was a hard day I've had mine since 2003 Thanksgiving Day 2003 and I had to trilogy a flow it's a birth defect of the heart That's where my issues stem from I went 20 years and didn't know what it was I thought it was just stress because I had a very very stressful life at home and and after I got married off so I just assumed it was stress and just had a 20-year streak of luck so I hope this finds you in good health today be well
Hi Dan I hope you are doing well.
Sorry about your new meds. Hope you are doing ok
Dan are you still with us?
They almost had me with this device, and when I went to see the doctor about it, he was all ready to go with installing, but, big question was the percentage for needing one, and the doctor didnt tell me this, he just said lets get it done, but i backed out last minute, and then found another doctor, whom after reading my bible, said that i was only border line and most likely would not need it. There are so many things about todays products that they are not being up front on, and we are basically the white mice of the lab. Im not interested in loosing my liscense or spinning around on the floor at some indescript time, be wary and carefull, also stay away from magnetic things.
You ok bro
Hey Uncle dan, How you doing, any more shocks yet?? Hope your doing alls~well since our last talk. My doctors visit went well, no difib. installed for me.just got to keep up with diet and exercise.I'm on a load of meds. (amiodarone, furosemide, diltiazem, metoprolol, digoxin, potasium chloride, & Altorvastatin) another visit in 6 months. I was really concerned if they were going to install a difib. After listening to your story on the toilet, I would be afraid to drive my friend. Happy New Year too you and your family!
Hey Joe,
hope you're having a nice holiday season. thanks for checking in. I haven't had any more full blown shocks since. Had an echocardiogram in November and my ef was up to 40 so I feel good about that. I'm also on the highest dose of Entresto twice a day. I need to watch my weight and eat better too. I'm not a fat slob but I need to lose a few lbs. and there's really not much more medicine can do for me. Glad you didn't have to get the implant although it really was a simple procedure. Hope you continue to get better! looking forward to 2019!
i was in amiodarone also almost killed me set my icd off. that quite the jolt and destroyed thyroid
same here
I was on amiodarone for bout a year. They had take me off it because it was damaging my thyroid. Now it something else.
I've been on it about 8 months now, had baseline and a couple follow blood tests and so far ok. had a follow up chest xr in November ok too. keeping my fingers crossed.
@@uncledan8320 But, the things you guys are worried about damaging will take the rest of your life to kill you. If your heart stops beating you are gone regardless of the condition of your other organs. Truth is most of your organs will last the next 30 years, but only if your heart is still beating and supplying them blood. You gotta look at the big picture here, not get focused in on 1 or 2 possible problems.
Hello there Dan. I came across your video because I wanted to know what the shock felt like to you but I read all the comments first and found the answer. My question for you is, do u notice if your VT gets triggered from any environmental or emotional settings? Is there something now that you completely avoid doing so that it doesn't upset your VT? Or, hopefully not, is it just one of those kind of VTs that come on whenever they want? I'm researching Pacemakers and AICDs so every little bit of information I come across helps me. It must've felt very disturbing for you when doctor 1 tells you you're completely fine then doctor 2 tells you you were dancing with the Grim reaper. And I do hope that u don't experience anymore odd feeling side effects.
Hello, I cant put my finger on any one condition that triggers the VT. I had one more episode late this summer while I was walking my dog. The device was able to pace me out of the VT without delivering a shock. I only know the device did the pacing because the device reported it to the hospital electronically. I got very light headed for several seconds then it passed. Since that time the cardio docs have increased my dose of carvadilol to 25mg twice a day. Haven't had any episodes since. I have a routine device clinic appt. Monday so they will fully interrogate my ICD, I'll post if there is anything significant to report. Thanks for watching!
@@uncledan8320 question popped up again! When the device records an episode and sends it to the techs who read what you're experiencing, do they ever call you immediately to like, inform u that your having an infarction and need to get to a hospital immediately? I'm pretty sure before u had the device installed the answered all your questions and informed u what to do in case of emergency surgery. I can understand going in on a weekly basis to have the device checked but will they contact u if they notice the hearts electrical activity is severely off?
@@keresma4824 the implant (ICD) links via wireless to a small home monitoring unit that sits on my night stand. Once a month on the 1st. the implant sends data to the home monitor unit which sends it to the hospital via cell phone wireless technology. This typically happens overnight when you're sleeping. The data that is sent monthly is basically a device health check (battery life, lead integrity, etc). If the ICD detects any abnormal heart rhythm and delivers any type of therapy (shock, pacing) it will send that information (abnormal rhythm data, type of therapy delivered, etc) to the hospital via wireless that same night. Usually get a call from the hospital the next morning to see whats going on. I make a visit to the cardio doc every 6 months for a more comprehensive interrogation of the implant data by a technician mostly to be sure everything is working correctly. It's really quite amazing the technology we have. I hope that helps answer your question.
It is nasty. Stand your ground. There are other meds.
fyi, I did challenge him my last appt. and I think he was a little surprised that I did, he knows I'm the type to research so I'm surprised he was surprised when I raised my concern. I'm still on the shit for now. My PFT test uncovered a new surprise, I have mild COPD, not surprised as I smoked for 40 years before quitting 4 yrs ago. Now I'm really freaked out about my lungs getting damaged from the drug since they are already somewhat fucked. Anyway, have another appt. on July 30th. to see if I can get released to drive. I'll bring it up again and post something after my visit. Tnx for commenting!
Thank you for posting your experience. My father just had the device implanted July 20th now he has the appointment to start the amiodarone too. 🙄
free1dom what are the other meds as a option? Definitely want one with less side effects.
Amiodarone clinic tomorrow
Sharon Mercer I saw my cardiologist yesterday, been on amiodarone for about 6 weeks now and now I'll effects yet. also no cardio episode's since taking the drug. tell your dad to hang in there and keep me posted on his progress.
Hi, I'm doing some research for a book. Can I ask you how the shock felt? And for how long the shock progressed? like, was it one zap, or several?
I've worked in mechanical maintenance and HVAC all of my working life so I've been shocked on several occasions from being careless or stupid around electricity. fortunately I've never been badly hurt but I do know the feeling of an electric shock and that's just what the ICD firing felt like, my ICD only fired once during that episode and it was very brief, blink of an eye brief is how I would put it but I knew I got shocked. if you've never received an electric shock it's kind of a sensation like hitting your funny bone but with ICD shock it was over in a split second. interestingly I felt fine after the shock, a little unnerved but physically fine. I hope that helps you. fyi in follow appointments with both my cardiologists they tell me it saved my life that morning. kind of sobering.
mine went off also it was quite the jolt
Thank you so much for your answers! And I hope all is well :) Have you ever heard of anyone fainting from a shock? Or is that a myth? Can I ask if you take medication as well?
@@line112 I think you faint before the shock not because of it. when you have a life threatening arythmia you usually faint or black out from loss of blood flow to the brain. hopefully the icd shock restores a normal heartbeat. as far as medications I take Entresto, Carvadilol, Xeralto, Lasix and Amiodarone. also take some vitamins. Hope that helps! thanks for watching!
@@uncledan8320 thank you so much, it really helps to get a better understanding it. Read about hcm online is one thing, but hearing people talk about experiences is more saying. If you know what i mean? Anyway, hope you have a great day, and thank you again :)
Yeah Amiodarone. it is some nasty shit. Not recommended for long term use. Lung scarring. Thyroid issues. There have to be other options.