upgrade to dual chamber ICD and lead removal

• by islandgirl
• 2016-09-29 23:55:33
• General Posting
• 1103 views
• 0 comments

I had my dual chamber pacemaker implanted for SSS in February 2015.  My atrium is paced at 100%.  I had sudden cardiac arrest caused by vtach/vfib/asystolet due to hereditary arrhythmias In July, fortunately in the EP's waiting room.  My EP is still amazed I survived 10 minutes of asystole and 10 minutes of vfib and 5 shocks before I regained a sustainable rhythm.  I have recovered with no deficits or damage to any organs.  Obviously the EP did perfect CPR and it was immediate.  It wasn't my time to leave this earth.  I have sudden death including my mom's brother and father and numerous hereditary arrhythmias that have been alleviated by ablations over the last 16 years.  My heart's plumbing is excellent and should never be a problem....just the electrical.  My EF dropped from 55 to 50 after the cardiac arrest and the EP is hoping it will increase again.  I had been wearing the Zoll Life Vest for the last 2 months.  

I had my dual chamber Medtronic ICD implanted Monday.  They had to change out the the ventricular lead.  My EP wanted to put in an MRI compatible defibrillator (I also had an MRI compatible pm).  I have a burning sensation in my left breast area, and of course sore from the upgrade from pm to ICD.  I've had no complications.  It is more sore than I remembered, but he also revised my pocket more meidally, and it's also under the muscle so it won't interfer with backpacking and other activities.  I'm restricted from driving for 2 weeks or longer if I'm taking any pain meds.