Pacemaker Club: head pain with ICD firing

head pain with ICD firing

by northshore
2013-12-10 12:12:00
Complications
1121 views
2 comments

I'm writing for my dad. He is 85 and has congestive heart failure with an ejection fraction of 20% He has had a PM/ICD for 4 years. His ICD has fired several times during the last year. He describes the pain as, "feeling like my head exploded". He did not feel any pain in his chest. He has mentioned this to the doctors and they seem to dismiss it. My dad now has post traumatic stress from the ICD firing. He is convinced that he has a brain injury from this, he can't find anyone who can logically explain this to him.
By the way he does have phrenic nerve stimulation to his diaphragm.
Has anyone had a similar experience? ...Thanks

2 Comments

PTSD is a very real situation...

by donr - 2013-12-10 02:12:28

...for people in his boat.

I've been saying it for a couple yrs. Found a real shrink in SC who now says it. Google "SSears@ecu.edu."

(Read my bio for my background w/ PTSD)

He is a shrink in a CARDIO Dept. Read about him & look up his list of publications. You might find something that supports your Dad's situation & some help at how for a family to help him.

You will NOT get him to do anything w/o addressing his PTSD issue.

If I can help in any way, send me a question (or two).

Don

F/U Head Pain with ICD firing

by northshore - 2013-12-11 01:12:52

Thank you HURTHEART for the welcome. My dad had an interrogation done and the ICD did fire, his heart was tachy,just can't figure out why he would feel the pain in his head instead of his chest. I like your suggestions and will talk to my dad about them.

Also, thank you, Don. I did not know there was a specialty for cardiac psychology. I am going to do some digging into the publications by Dr Sears. You are totally right about not getting him to do anything... He cancelled an ablation that was scheduled for today because he said he did not feel well.