ICD Anniversary 4 Years Today!!!

• by Grateful Heart
• 2012-12-05 06:12:49
• General Posting
• 695 views
• 2 comments

What have I learned about living with an ICD?

First…Knowledge is truly power!!

I found this site two and a half years after my implant when, like most of us who stumbled here, I was having issues in connection with my device. I was having scar eruptions after a lead revision and was seeking some answers for it as none of my doctors knew. To this day, no doctor I have seen knows what causes it.

Life does not end as you knew it. In fact, by the time you need a pacemaker/ ICD you are not feeling so well, so after it, you usually feel much better.

Listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right after your implant…it probably isn’t… so don’t give up on seeking answers, sometimes only an adjustment. Other times it may be a bigger issue to fix, but don’t give up. You must be your own advocate.

You need good, supportive doctors and medical staff who will listen to your questions or concerns and take you seriously when you have them, not dismiss them or you.

You may feel frightened at first (only natural), but then, you find this site and gain support and knowledge from so many wonderful, caring people with experience and empathy.

Seek support from your family and friends if possible. Teach them all you learn, at least in the beginning so they will also feel comfortable with your new device and all that it entails. The unknown can be scary for family and friends too.

Exercise if you’re able. Go to Cardiac Rehab!! Find a great one. The wonderful nurses will guide and monitor you until you feel confident and comfortable enough that you will be safe exercising. I can’t emphasize this enough…Cardiac Rehab and exercising was so important for me. Start slowly but move!

As a woman, you tend to take care of your family first and ignore your own health. Even though it is obvious, it needs to be stated; take care of yourself so you can take care of your family. So now I put myself first too. It took some getting used to for me.

It’s a man’s world! But really, I already knew that…LOL. I cook and eat healthier now and my husband reaped the benefits too…he has lost weight too. He is a great man so I am very happy he has gotten healthier. It took a little persuading but he also exercises now. That’s actually a great side effect as my whole family has gotten healthier (4 sons)…and that’s what it has always been about: Putting your family first and now I include myself in that mix.

Have a sense of humor…but I already knew this one too, living with 5 men in the house! 3 are away at College but they constantly keep in touch…I love it!

I am grateful for all of this and so much more. Oh, did I mention have a sense of humor?

So what have you learned since living with your pacemaker/ ICD?

Grateful Heart