Odd feeling that may be from my ICD

Hi all,

I'm an extremely active 52 year old male with acute systolic heart failure (EF = >18%) so I ended up with an ICD implanted on my left shoulder 6 days ago.

Since night one I've experienced what feels like an intense electrically induced hiccup. The odd thing is, that it only happens when I am either laying on my left side or slouching to my left side. If it matters, per my Fitbit HR, my heart rate is always right around 60 bpm which is where the device tries to pace my heart. Is this normal or should I say something to my doctor?

I don't feel an intense shock/impact just an uncomfortable intense contraction that is reminiscent of a 110 volt shock (I was an electrician so I know how it feels : )

2 Comments

Me too!

by judebee - 2015-12-21 01:12:58

Hi,

I have a similar thing. I don't have and ICD just a duel pacing pacemaker. When my pacer 'goes off' I get an intense shock, kind of like touching an electric fence, in my right shoulder (where my pacer is). When I spoke to my cardiologist they said it was because the voltage was set a little high. It can be turned down, but I like the sensation as it reminds me that my pacer is working. If you want it sorting you just need to return to he cardiologist and they can adjust it easily.

High voltage

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-21 03:12:02

Right after I got the PM and with the voltage set high I'd occasionally get a tickle followed by the hard thump of the heartbeat. They had the voltage set high for the first 90 days and I was one of the rare individuals that could feel it.

Was sitting in the chair watching the tech when they reduced the voltage. No big deal. Everything just kept on working.

Since you are an electrician.... I was helping my son trace a problem with an electrical circuit after I had my pacemaker. All sorts of warnings about pacemakers and electricity. Anyway... Asked if he'd turned off the circuit breaker in the box. Said he had. He hadn't. So I grabbed a live 110 volt line. Got some sore fingers but my pacemaker just kept on working. Current didn't go through me but just the same it was a live 110 volt line.

Went down in the basement to check the 220 volt water heater. Got my pacemaker within six inches of a live 220 volt line. No reaction. Granted it wasn't like starting a 220 volt industrial electric motor but it still was a live 220 volt line. Thought you'd like to know about the electrical experiences.

Hope everything else continues to go well for you.

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

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