Icd shocks my heart 3 times but fails

Hi, has anyone every been socked by their ICD and never help to correct their heart rhythm. Three weeks ago I went out to snow blow my drive, (been doing for five years since implant no other shocks) and I started to feel funny, so I started going back to the garage and wham, I get hit three times in a row and on the ground each time. Made it to my garage and just told my self to clam down and bear down to stop VT. Got my son to come to garage and get my wife. Go to ER, they interrogate device the next day and tell me it did not save me, it really was a life ending arrhythmia. Now on new drug Amiodarone, see EPO for testing to find out why I did not do the job it was intend to do. I sure don't want to have this happen again. I thought I was protected, and it is not very reassuring to live like this now no matter what they tell me. So I am asking if I should go after the manufacture for failure or what, anybody have any advice.

7 Comments

me three

by Tracey_E - 2015-02-22 01:02:40

I'm confused. It was a life ending arrhythmia, it shocked you and you are still here. Sounds to me like it worked?

There are never guarantees. If your heart goes into a dangerous rhythm, it will shock you. If that doesn't work, it will shock again. There are not guarantees it will work, only that it will try. It's up to your heart to respond, there are no guarantees that it will. Same with pacing. The device can send out the signal to beat, but the heart muscle has to contract and beat.

The new meds are to prevent further episodes. I would expect that. It's better to have medication slow the heart and prevent episodes than to have the icd shock you out of it.

3 shocks

by bartz7007 - 2015-02-22 02:02:38

Ok It did not fire inappropriately. I was in a bad VT.The electro philologist said it fired three times but it did not stop the arrhythmia because my heart rate stayed in a dangerous level after the third shock. So when I reached my garage and landed on the floor I said to myself I need to clam down and bear down and squeeze my self real hard. I have done this in the past when I felt like I was having an attack. The DR. said it more than likely helped. So you can see why I am confused. This thing is supposed to save me, not me save myself. Now it's hard for me to trust this thing in me. I have never been bothered by it being in me from day one, but now how can I trust it, what can I say. I hope this clears up the confusion. I am not out to sue anyone I just wanted to see if anyone out their has experienced this to. Thanks for your replies.

wow

by Tracey_E - 2015-02-22 05:02:19

That is some super stubborn VT to keep it up through 3 shocks! Hopefully the new meds will prevent it happening again.

Stubborn indeed

by Grateful Heart - 2015-02-22 10:02:08


There may be a problem with the lead. I hope you are seeing your EP very soon. I'm sure he will get to the bottom of it and I hope the meds help.

I have a CRT-D also (6 years) and my HR has been going above 200 at times lately. My Nurse just told me recently about bearing down when I see it is that high. She said, like you, that it will take you out of VT. I had never heard of that before, in fact, I had always heard the opposite....not to let someone use the bathroom for example, if they have chest pains.......very interesting.

But now I'm more confused.

Please let us know what your EP finds.

I have not been shocked but I imagine it must be very upsetting. I hope you get some answers soon and it makes sense so you can get back to trusting your device. I truly empathize with you.

Grateful Heart

I'm confused

by Grateful Heart - 2015-02-22 10:02:31

Sorry you went through all of that but I'm confused.

How did it not save you if it was a life ending arrhythmia and you are still here?

I'm missing something.

Speak to your EP and get the full story.

Grateful Heart

It's a tough one Bartz...

by Grateful Heart - 2015-02-23 04:02:10

But you can do this. Easier said then done, I know but you will be in a controlled, safe environment when your Doctor does this testing. She will figure this out and fix it for you. I'm sure she'll check the shocking lead too. Talk to her about all the systems that will be in place to ease your mind. The other option is to live in constant fear now and you know that will not work.

It sounds like the drug is working so that's a good sign too.

At this point, hold off on exercising and losing weight for now...until this is all corrected unless your Doctor tells you otherwise on Thursday.

I know what you mean....I never smoked, very little occasional drinking and before children, I used to run. I was up to a half marathon when my babies came along. I had 4 in a little under 6 years. My husband worked crazy hours so I stopped running....Priorities.

Like Sparrow was implying, sometimes it's just luck or maybe genes. Some can go through life doing all the wrong things and live very long and mostly disease free.

We really are very lucky, we do have a fix for our condition. I'm keeping my eye on the 200+ HR....not happy about it.

I can tell you have a good attitude and that and your family will get you through this.

One of my Cardios told me Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy means "we're idiots....we don't know what caused it". I didn't expect that and I laughed so hard and loud. It was then I knew I would be ok because I hadn't laughed that hard since I was diagnosed 6 months earlier.

I'll say a prayer for you for Thursday's visit.

Grateful Heart

bartz7007

by bartz7007 - 2015-02-23 09:02:26

Thank you Grateful heart for your comments. I am seeing EP Thursday and will let you all know what happens and what he says. It is confusing when you think you have a life saver and it dose not do the job.

You said you have been getting above 200 at times, well that's how mine has been the last year or so, not 200 but 150's to 180 and I started to work out this last month and every time I do I fill my heart race at night when just sitting. This happens every time I stress my body.

They want me to lose weight , well! it's not that easy when you have your heart race or your EF goes down. I keep telling my Cardio Dr. and she did not want to put me on Amiodarone because I have copd, and it's side effects can be bad.

The thing is they are going to make my heart do what it did that night and see if my icd shocks me back out of it, (scary thought) if it does not. I have notice that being on this new drug that I have not felt any flutters or ill regular heart beats

. One more thing, I am not to scared about getting another shock as I am not knowing if it will work and do what it's suppose to do.

By the way just a little history, never smoked very little drinking and have always been active in sports, gardening. No block arteries, but end up with ido. cardiomyophy .

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