I had two shocks within 30 seconds . It's not that bad. I thought someone hit me with something like a basketball upside the head. Pain isn't the exact word to describe it. You WILL know when it happens, you just might not know what it is. The second one that hit was more in the chest area, and it dropped me to one knee. I knew it was the ICD. Called 911. The thing is, I felt fine when it happened. No shortness of breath or dizziness. I had had a couple of alcoholic beverages that I hadn't done in years and I was dehydrated. Make sure you keep up with your DR. appointments, and live a consistently healthy lifestyle. Have fun, we all have to check out some day.
My 16 sequential shocks were caused by high thyroid, low potassium, & the heat. Was in sinus rhythm but HR was so fast my ICD thought I was in vfib. After the 2nd shock they really start to hurt! Thankfully EMS arrived quickly!! Now I'm terrified.
@@cindot2520I had a ‘zap’ when I returned to cycling after my CA & ICD had been fitted. Was 12 days beyond the start date suggested by my cardiologist and had been extremely fit before my CA, so I wasn’t someone just jumping on my bike after 20 years. Sure it was a fright and a 6 month driving ban, but I didn’t see any flashes or white light, just sat down, didn’t faint, loose consciousness, feel sick or any lasting effects. 💯 now.
Years ago when they first came out my brother in law's malfunctioned and he died. So I was afraid to get one. I have had it seven years. I only have one carotid and live in a rural area so it is comforting to me. Also the readings are invaluable. I moved from Ohio to Missouri and can say your monitoring service is all important.
I know what to expect when and if mine happens again. I had my attack at home and didn't even realize it. there was no pain and it was like fading to black. Luckily the EMS got there just in time to bring me back. I remember the Paramedic asking If you code on the way to the hospital, to you want us to bring you back.I think you know what my answer was. Next full coded in the hospital ICU 3 times, and was shocked several times. The very last shock I received was like being kicked in the chest. It lasted only monetarily but it hurt for that instance. Now I pay attention to everything, how I breathe, any little sign something is coming on, and sit down or lay down. I have a hard time believing that my 58 year old heart is giving out, and even harder to get affairs in order just in case. I am a 3 time survivor by pure luck. Like many people, I have seen both sides of the spectrum. I have lived life and had my hand on deaths door knob, hoping not visit again for a long time! I know someday we will ALL be called and hear it's your time.
It's an outpatient procedure. Does your device beep or vibrate when something is wrong like low battery. My first one beeped & it took me 2 weeks to figure out it was coming from me. I took batteries out of everything before I realized what it was. Now I have a St. Jude & it vibrates so there's no confusion now.
I had my defibrillator implant a week ago, and u can keep updated using an app on your mobile phone via Bluetooth. The app is called my merlin Pulse. It's a pretty neat program that has all the info for the hospital phone number etc
I had SIXTEEN sequential inappropriate shocks 2 days ago. Like the lady i was screaming! It was the worst pain ever! Like being kicked in the chest by Bruce Lee 16 times! Looking forward to the new technology! Anxiety is crazy high right now & when i think about the experience i start crying. Had nightmares last night & immediately upon awakening i put my hand on my device without thinking about it. Seriously concerned about PTSD. Was in sinus rhythm but HR was 200+ BPM. My EP was horrified not only about the 16 shocks but also because I was conscious through it all! My anxiety was so high she kept me overnight.
Yes yes yes, totally get this. But wow yours were INAPPROPRIATE shocks? I had similar, except mine were all APPROPRIATE shocks : it was in hospital 3 days after major abdominal operation to take out cancerous intestine, maybe I hadn't been administered the heart meds but I had a massive run of tachycardia and received maybe 20 shocks. It was not only painful but also totally horrifying and after 6 or 7 when it just kept going it seemed like it would be my last day on earth. Staff whacked some IV potassium Chloride in to restore electrolytes and it calmed down the heart rate that same day they put me on Amiodarone. This was great for 6 weeks but last Friday again I had a shock while out shopping. The knowledge your life will be saved is balanced against knowing you might get a shock as this massively increases anxiety and reduces confidence - am now in hospital under observation and praying the medics get my treatment just right - trouble is a lot of the drugs come with side effects. One of the worst aspects is if you keep getting shocks it is almost impossible to relax or do deep breathing, you are properly terrified.
@@Ken_oh545 Just FYI, after my shocks I had lactic acid build up which was so painful & uncomfortable. If all your muscles won't relax & ache alert your doctor.
i have declined the icd. the anxiety of inappropriate shocks and the possibility of additional heart damage causes more fear the sudden death from hcm.
So did you choose heart ablation instead, because I had an episode recently and doctors suggested me to implant the device. It would be a great help because I am quite nervous.
I have flat lined several times and been shocked back. This time I was alive and awake when hit with the paddles. Unlike anything in my life. Would not wish it on any living creature. ICD was installed without really good explanation and If I had known more I would not have had it done. Am terrified of this thing going off and the thought of multiple hits makes it worse. It's been a year and other issues now so will probably have it turned off in the spring and let mother nature do her thing. I'm in late 70's.
A friend of mine has the ICD and he hugged me and it went off and shocked him and myself and it hurts badly, and later a major bruise on my sternum and it's was there for 3weeks and yes it very painful 😖😣😩😣😮❤❤
30 times and your defib didn't try to reset and control your heart rate ..if it completely stopped shocking u after 5 seconds then the defib did it's job..
OMG 30 TIMES?! I was recently shocked back to back 16 times & that was horrific! Were they appropriate shocks? Mine weren't. I feel for you bcuz my experience is still fresh in my mind. When I think too long about it I burst out in tears. I hope it never happens to you again < hugs>
Agree with some of the others, it's generally more startling than painful. It still sucks and can cause a lot of anxiety. It's definitely uncomfortable, but it's very quick and it's over in an instant. Keep in mind there are different levels of shock. For example, my first ICD had some oversensing issues which I later got corrected, and the first shock happened when I was planting a bush in my front yard. Was a hot day but I was fine and felt fine. It was like a very pronounced thump that I wasn't expecting. The second one took the wind out of me, inside about 10 minutes later, and it did hurt a bit but was quickly over. The doctor later told me they were 25 and 35 joules, respectively. Both were inappropriate shocks, and I imagine if you were drifting out of consciousness due to a true fibrillation event, you might not feel it as intensely, if at all.
I am suppose to get one, but after reading a couple of reviews I may just stick with the Life Vest. At least it alerts you before it sends a shock and you can stop the shock from happening. Uncomfortable to ware but you have control.
I've had 2 shocks with mine within 2 years of having the icd, and yes, it does hurt. It went BANG!!! Right where it's implanted, and both times I 'saw' a white flash too. Very frightening. First was in Jan this year, and the 2nd just last Wednesday. Hope you are keeping well..... 🇬🇧💕
I had a lead repair that fell out of place the very next day. Was inappropriately shocked 5X because it misread my pulse (doubled it). Had third surgery that completely replaced the ICD & lead. I now have a magnet that can temporarily deactivate the device if necessary. All of this happened in less than 2 months of original implant after a month of wearing a life vest. Still healing ❤️🩹
The shock is beyond scary the first time u think someone punched u in the chest the second one u think someone hit u in the chest with a bat the 3 one will push u back off your feet.. it's not necessarily pain but a shock that last for a second or so ..when it happened to me I actually just called 911 got dressed went outside and waiting for the ambulance to come by the time I got in the ambulance it stopped shocking me ..the heart doctors say one shock u don't need to go to the er a second shock u should go in also all of this has to do with how your device is set it can go off if your rate goes up to 180 or 170 it All depends some people have it set over 200...trust me though the first time it happens it will change your Outlook about life ..in my case the doctor said it wasn't actually supposed to go off because the fast rate was coming from the top of the heart and it's way more dangerous when it comes from the bottom of the heart..he said that's why I didn't pass out or start losing my breath ..I only started sweating from the panic ...it took a few hours in the hospital for my rate to go down but I stayed for a few days for them to keep a eye on it ..I was missing a couple of doses in my medicine routine and they think that's what got me shocked some people can miss doses for months and nothing happens and someone can miss just one dose and bang... you're standing in the kitchen and bang ..
It’s not that bad, though some might not agree. More jarring than anything else. Definitely good to have the first one behind you
I had two shocks within 30 seconds . It's not that bad. I thought someone hit me with something like a basketball upside the head. Pain isn't the exact word to describe it. You WILL know when it happens, you just might not know what it is. The second one that hit was more in the chest area, and it dropped me to one knee. I knew it was the ICD. Called 911. The thing is, I felt fine when it happened. No shortness of breath or dizziness. I had had a couple of alcoholic beverages that I hadn't done in years and I was dehydrated. Make sure you keep up with your DR. appointments, and live a consistently healthy lifestyle. Have fun, we all have to check out some day.
My 16 sequential shocks were caused by high thyroid, low potassium, & the heat. Was in sinus rhythm but HR was so fast my ICD thought I was in vfib. After the 2nd shock they really start to hurt! Thankfully EMS arrived quickly!! Now I'm terrified.
@@cindot2520I had a ‘zap’ when I returned to cycling after my CA & ICD had been fitted.
Was 12 days beyond the start date suggested by my cardiologist and had been extremely fit before my CA, so I wasn’t someone just jumping on my bike after 20 years.
Sure it was a fright and a 6 month driving ban, but I didn’t see any flashes or white light, just sat down, didn’t faint, loose consciousness, feel sick or any lasting effects.
💯 now.
Years ago when they first came out my brother in law's malfunctioned and he died. So I was afraid to get one. I have had it seven years. I only have one carotid and live in a rural area so it is comforting to me. Also the readings are invaluable. I moved from Ohio to Missouri and can say your monitoring service is all important.
I know what to expect when and if mine happens again. I had my attack at home and didn't even realize it. there was no pain and it was like fading to black. Luckily the EMS got there just in time to bring me back. I remember the Paramedic asking If you code on the way to the hospital, to you want us to bring you back.I think you know what my answer was. Next full coded in the hospital ICU 3 times, and was shocked several times. The very last shock I received was like being kicked in the chest. It lasted only monetarily but it hurt for that instance. Now I pay attention to everything, how I breathe, any little sign something is coming on, and sit down or lay down. I have a hard time believing that my 58 year old heart is giving out, and even harder to get affairs in order just in case. I am a 3 time survivor by pure luck. Like many people, I have seen both sides of the spectrum. I have lived life and had my hand on deaths door knob, hoping not visit again for a long time! I know someday we will ALL be called and hear it's your time.
So… how do you change the battery?
No change in battery, you will have another surgery when they change with a new device
It's an outpatient procedure. Does your device beep or vibrate when something is wrong like low battery. My first one beeped & it took me 2 weeks to figure out it was coming from me. I took batteries out of everything before I realized what it was. Now I have a St. Jude & it vibrates so there's no confusion now.
I had my defibrillator implant a week ago, and u can keep updated using an app on your mobile phone via Bluetooth. The app is called my merlin Pulse. It's a pretty neat program that has all the info for the hospital phone number etc
bro im so scared i hope mine doesnt shock me
Bro I had mine for 17 yrs never shocked me until one day it hit me 3 time in a 30 minutes...it's not a pain it's like something just bangs u back ..
I hope Mine don’t shock me
Got shocked 4 times so far in the span of a year
I had SIXTEEN sequential inappropriate shocks 2 days ago. Like the lady i was screaming! It was the worst pain ever! Like being kicked in the chest by Bruce Lee 16 times! Looking forward to the new technology! Anxiety is crazy high right now & when i think about the experience i start crying. Had nightmares last night & immediately upon awakening i put my hand on my device without thinking about it. Seriously concerned about PTSD. Was in sinus rhythm but HR was 200+ BPM. My EP was horrified not only about the 16 shocks but also because I was conscious through it all! My anxiety was so high she kept me overnight.
Yes yes yes, totally get this. But wow yours were INAPPROPRIATE shocks? I had similar, except mine were all APPROPRIATE shocks : it was in hospital 3 days after major abdominal operation to take out cancerous intestine, maybe I hadn't been administered the heart meds but I had a massive run of tachycardia and received maybe 20 shocks. It was not only painful but also totally horrifying and after 6 or 7 when it just kept going it seemed like it would be my last day on earth. Staff whacked some IV potassium Chloride in to restore electrolytes and it calmed down the heart rate that same day they put me on Amiodarone. This was great for 6 weeks but last Friday again I had a shock while out shopping. The knowledge your life will be saved is balanced against knowing you might get a shock as this massively increases anxiety and reduces confidence - am now in hospital under observation and praying the medics get my treatment just right - trouble is a lot of the drugs come with side effects. One of the worst aspects is if you keep getting shocks it is almost impossible to relax or do deep breathing, you are properly terrified.
@@Ken_oh545 Just FYI, after my shocks I had lactic acid build up which was so painful & uncomfortable. If all your muscles won't relax & ache alert your doctor.
i have declined the icd. the anxiety of inappropriate shocks and the possibility of additional heart damage causes more fear the sudden death from hcm.
So did you choose heart ablation instead, because I had an episode recently and doctors suggested me to implant the device. It would be a great help because I am quite nervous.
I have flat lined several times and been shocked back. This time I was alive and awake when hit with the paddles. Unlike anything in my life. Would not wish it on any living creature. ICD was installed without really good explanation and If I had known more I would not have had it done. Am terrified of this thing going off and the thought of multiple hits makes it worse. It's been a year and other issues now so will probably have it turned off in the spring and let mother nature do her thing. I'm in late 70's.
A friend of mine has the ICD and he hugged me and it went off and shocked him and myself and it hurts badly, and later a major bruise on my sternum and it's was there for 3weeks and yes it very painful 😖😣😩😣😮❤❤
I have a defibrillator, last it fired off 30 time's 5 seconds apart Everytime the hits was unbearable 😰...
I won't pray this feeling on my worst enemy
30 times and your defib didn't try to reset and control your heart rate ..if it completely stopped shocking u after 5 seconds then the defib did it's job..
OMG 30 TIMES?! I was recently shocked back to back 16 times & that was horrific! Were they appropriate shocks? Mine weren't. I feel for you bcuz my experience is still fresh in my mind. When I think too long about it I burst out in tears. I hope it never happens to you again < hugs>
Agree with some of the others, it's generally more startling than painful. It still sucks and can cause a lot of anxiety. It's definitely uncomfortable, but it's very quick and it's over in an instant. Keep in mind there are different levels of shock. For example, my first ICD had some oversensing issues which I later got corrected, and the first shock happened when I was planting a bush in my front yard. Was a hot day but I was fine and felt fine. It was like a very pronounced thump that I wasn't expecting. The second one took the wind out of me, inside about 10 minutes later, and it did hurt a bit but was quickly over. The doctor later told me they were 25 and 35 joules, respectively. Both were inappropriate shocks, and I imagine if you were drifting out of consciousness due to a true fibrillation event, you might not feel it as intensely, if at all.
It's terrible.
I am suppose to get one, but after reading a couple of reviews I may just stick with the Life Vest. At least it alerts you before it sends a shock and you can stop the shock from happening. Uncomfortable to ware but you have control.
Something similar happened to me😢
I've had 2 shocks with mine within 2 years of having the icd, and yes, it does hurt. It went BANG!!! Right where it's implanted, and both times I 'saw' a white flash too. Very frightening. First was in Jan this year, and the 2nd just last Wednesday. Hope you are keeping well..... 🇬🇧💕
I had a lead repair that fell out of place the very next day. Was inappropriately shocked 5X because it misread my pulse (doubled it).
Had third surgery that completely replaced the ICD & lead. I now have a magnet that can temporarily deactivate the device if necessary.
All of this happened in less than 2 months of original implant after a month of wearing a life vest. Still healing ❤️🩹
The shock is beyond scary the first time u think someone punched u in the chest the second one u think someone hit u in the chest with a bat the 3 one will push u back off your feet.. it's not necessarily pain but a shock that last for a second or so ..when it happened to me I actually just called 911 got dressed went outside and waiting for the ambulance to come by the time I got in the ambulance it stopped shocking me ..the heart doctors say one shock u don't need to go to the er a second shock u should go in also all of this has to do with how your device is set it can go off if your rate goes up to 180 or 170 it All depends some people have it set over 200...trust me though the first time it happens it will change your Outlook about life ..in my case the doctor said it wasn't actually supposed to go off because the fast rate was coming from the top of the heart and it's way more dangerous when it comes from the bottom of the heart..he said that's why I didn't pass out or start losing my breath ..I only started sweating from the panic ...it took a few hours in the hospital for my rate to go down but I stayed for a few days for them to keep a eye on it ..I was missing a couple of doses in my medicine routine and they think that's what got me shocked some people can miss doses for months and nothing happens and someone can miss just one dose and bang... you're standing in the kitchen and bang ..
Omg I hope I don’t get shocked
I had my first one implanted in 2010. This is the first time I was shocked. It took 13 years. Unfortunately they were inappropriate shocks 😕😖
Yes, it hurt. Saved my life though.
Terrifying...