lightning and icd

hi, I have a bizarre question has anyone experienced problems with their icd after a lightning storm? We had a nasty one that hit a house two doors from mine and caused a huge explosion then fire. Since then my chest has been tight and the icd site has been very painful as if it sending out little electric shocksevery twenty mins or so they only last a second. I went to the hospital and they found nothing on the ekg or blood work. I still feel the pain is icd related not heart but they never looked at the icd. Am I being overly sensitive or has it happened to anyone else?

3 Comments

ICD

by SMITTY - 2007-07-28 07:07:40

Never underestimate what can happen with a pacemaker/ICD. You are the best judge if there has been a change and I say have someone check out your ICD. After all it is a very sophisticated electronic device and the electromagnetic field generated by a lightening bolt is awesome and could very possibly alter the settings of an ICD.

While an EKG should pick up a signal from the ICD to your heart, you say the shocks come at about 20 min. intervals. Since I have never seen and EKG machine hooked up that long unless you are on continuous monitoring I can rationalize how it could have missed an output from the ICD. So again, have it checked out.

Also, please let us know what you learn as here we learn from the experiences of others.

Good luck,

Smitty

ICD and lightening

by JohnS - 2007-07-28 10:07:43

I have not have any trouble, but a fellow pacer in my home town was driving past a local sports field, when lightening struck in the field. His pacemaker failed, but as he is only about 70 % paced he was able to make it to the local hospital.
They had to replace the pacemaker.
Makes me nervous every time there's a storm.
JohnS

wow

by jessie - 2007-07-29 01:07:56

i will certainly keep this info in mind. i am usually at home before a storm so shouldn't be a problem but good to know thanks for the info

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