New ICD, 4 shocks in 2 days

Hello everyone! Just found this forum and have a few questions. My husband had a St. Jude defibrilator implated last Thursday and came home Friday. Yesterday morning soon after he got up he received his first shock. He said he thought he was dying or that his heart had burst. Today he had three more shocks soon after he got up--one that almost knocked him off his feet and two more slightly milder ones. Both he and I are so scared. The only symptoms he had before the implantation was a little shortness of breath upon exertion and a little fatigue. He was dx with V tach, A fib and enlarged heart. He had a panic attack after the second shock...he's a tough guy but I've never seen him so scared. No one told us what to expect--the St Jude rep was supposed to meet with us at the hospital but never did. I guess we thought he'd never have a shock??? We called the nurse after the first shock and she said the device was doing what it was designed to do, and to go to the ER if he had anymore. However, he said he'd rather wait at home than sit in the hospital all weekend waiting to see his doctor. We'll call the doc tomorrow and he hasn't had anymore shocks since the 3 this morning, but this is scary stuff. He taking Lisinipril and Coreg. Someone please tell us that this is not going to continue on a daily basis!

9 Comments

ICD

by Hope - 2012-08-05 11:08:28

Hi! You and your husband need some quality advice about the device, danger signs, what to expect in the future and how to handle situations. Please get him in to the doctor, get needed help or new care. On my second ICD since 2004 heart virus. I am in Birmingham and will be happy to give you a referral for quality care if you need it. Life with an ICD can be so much easier and safer than what your husband is enduring. Please don't delay. Hopeful Heart

Not right

by ElectricFrank - 2012-08-05 11:08:29

There is one of two things happening:

1. The defib is not adjusted correctly and it is shocking him unnecessarily. It is not only uncomfortable, but could also result in it not providing the necessary therapy when needed. Another side effect is that each shock depleats the battery.

2. He is actually having cardiac events and the defib is doing its job. The problem here is that an implanted defib is not intended to correct a heart problem. Its intended purpose is to provide emergency response to a serious situation so that the patient survives to get medical help.

It needs to be checked out immediately rather than when it is convenient for the doc or your husband.

frank

Please keep us posted

by Laben - 2012-08-06 02:08:35

I agree with Hope and ElectricFrank. I too was not giving enough info at the time as you said. Please try to stay strong for your husband's sake. My wife has been my supporter and it does affect her too. Hopefully only an adjustment is/was needed. Best of luck to you both.........Laben

new but poistive

by mrnwwtbone - 2012-08-06 05:08:56

implant on may 18 2012 3 wire st.jude(stay active up not down)yes my wife is 15 years my jr and have a 29 month little girl i must stay up and poistive no shocks hope not to find out what it feels like .on my meds my fluid restricktion and salt as well as my heart helthly food

private maessage

by Hope - 2012-08-06 12:08:06

Hi! Please let me know if you did not get my private message. Hopeful Heart

Thanks so much and add. into

by pkhend - 2012-08-07 03:08:02

Thanks so much for the information and encouragement! We got up yesterday (Mon.) morning to go to the doc. As my husband was getting ready to go he began receiving repeated shocks. He received 8 before we got to the doctor's office. These were not little shocks--Needless to say, both he and I were frantic and traumatized. We met with the St. Jude techs and asked to have the device turned off immediately before we spoke with them They agreed and looked at his device data and said that he should not have been recieving ANY shocks. Seems the normal parameters (?) they used in setting the device are not applicable for my husband. Everytime I remember seeing him shocked repeatedly I feel scared all over again. We left the docs office with an script for an increase in his heart med and were told to continue the Lisinopril, heart healthy diet, and to monitor pulse and blood pressure daily. His EKG still showed A Fib. He goes back next Monday for another EKG. We are plannin to see another doc soon. He is so scared I'm not sure he'll ever have the device reactivated. Here's some more info about his condition. We are trying to figure out how he got in this condition without any obvious symptoms. He was dx with enlarged heart, V Fib, and V tach. Arteries were clear. He goes to pain management for epidurals (no cortisone) for extreme back pain. I think he gets Fentyl in his caudals. He takes Oxcycodone, and a muscle relaxant for back pain. Do you think any of the back procedures or the pain meds could have messed up the heart rhythms? I feel like the enlarged heart may be hereditory, or caused by a virus, but the heart rhythm issues are relatively new. When he first began getting epidurals about 4 years ago, his pulse always ran about 60-65. Sorry to be so wordy, but any help we can get is greatly appreciated. Blessings...Pat

You both need a better doc!

by cbaker - 2012-08-10 11:08:23

Your husband's doc sounds less than the best, and I wish you good luck finding a doc who can explain things more clearly. Your husband should not have to suffer constant inappropriate shocks -- nobody should. Hold out for a doc who can make clear whether or not it's worth the risk for your husband to turn the device back on. He does have options. For example, he can have the ATP (pacing, not shocks) turned on without turning on the shock function. If he DOES turn the shock function back on, he should definitely ask for a magnet, to stop an inappropriate shock storm.

Sorry it's been so hard on both of you, and good luck! luck.

Eye-Opening

by baronvont25 - 2012-08-23 02:08:26

I am having a defibrillator (ICD) installed on September 5th and this post has me nervous. I am so sorry your husband has had to deal with this and I hope everything works out. Are there any questions that you think I should take with me to ask prior to my surgery that might mitigate the possibility of me having the same experience? Take care and thank you for your post.

Wanting To Know

by Cherokee5 - 2012-12-23 01:12:34

Hi everyone this is the first time for me to post anything, so here goes. I have had my pacemaker/defib for about a year and a half. No problems, it is a St.Jude model. On Thurs afternoon I was driving and became real dizzy and then felt an eruption in my chest that I have never felt before. Went to the hospital and had the info from device downloaded and it had shocked me. What I want to know from others is how long if any did you feel the affects of it? I am still quite sore and still feel pain in that area today. Still a little anxious about it. Doctors said everything was ok heart wise. Please could someone help me on this question? Thank you.

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

Member Quotes

Your anxiety is normal. It takes some of us a little time to adjust to the new friend. As much as they love you, family and friends without a device just cannot understand the adjustment we go through. That is why this site is so valuable.