Is my device shocking me unnecessarily??

I’m 36 years old. I was implanted 3 years ago after an illness caused my heart to enlarge. Until that time I had no permanent health issues. I was generally very healthy, if slightly overweight.

since my implantation, my ICD has delivered shocks on multiple occasions. I’ve never lost consciousness. I’ve never left my feet. I’ve never felt “bad” either immediately before or after. The only common denominator was activity. Once in an argument that had me worked up. Other incidents were all involving some sort of physical activity.

its gotten to the point where I know it’s about to deliver a shock before it does. I can tell because the unit tries to “pace” me first. When it does this, I get light headed for a second as it begins to “pace” me... then... POW! By that time, I’m usually not even breathing hard anymore. 

I don’t feel this is the way these things are supposed to work. I feel I’m being inappropriately popped, and it has a negative affect on me. I’m tentative. Overly so. It causes me to swallow my emotions and prevents me from trying things I don’t think would be too much for me otherwise. But getting shocked doesn’t feel good, and it’s scary, and I don’t like it, so I hold back for fear of a shock. At times I feel held hostage by this thing. They told me when I got it, that it would ease my mind, but it has done only the opposite. I feel like the settings MUST need adjustment. Anyone out there, please let me hear from you.

10 Comments

call your doctor

by Tracey_E - 2018-04-04 08:38:29

You should be seen asap any time it shocks you. They can tell if your heart was going dangerously fast or if perhaps the settings are too sensitive and it's shocking you needlessly. For sure call them! It should know the difference between danger and adrenaline/exercise. 

Definitely Call

by Grateful Heart - 2018-04-04 09:35:36

Something isn't right.  Get checked out.

Grateful Heart

inappropriate shocks...

by The real Patch - 2018-04-04 15:50:22

Actually sounds like you are a type A personality and can get very angry creating adrenalin and stress to your system likely causing your heart rate to accelerate to a point of therapy. I must say I suspect they have your therapy set at too low rate. You should find out at what heart rate they set your device for ATP and what rate a full Jesus Jolt as well as all the details that go with that such as how many attempts at ATP before applying full force.

That being said, I must say and I've heard the same from several doctors that unless you get more than 1 jolt within 24 hours there's no real reason to run to the Dr or hospital. What're they gonna do, read it out and tell you what you already know...congratulations your device did it's job and saved your life, don't waste it go live it.

Of Course

by Grateful Heart - 2018-04-04 17:58:05

I just spoke about ATP in another comment yesterday.  duh

Have a conversation with your doc.

Grateful Heart

I had the similar type of problem and it was a faulty wire

by jtaheri - 2018-04-05 00:30:33

On my third implant finally doctor implanted another wire and left the faulty wire inside since it is more dangerouse to remove a wire than to leave it there.

Actually the technician who was interogating my 2nd pacemaker implant/ a routine check and heard my complaint that my arm would jump all of a sudden while sitting, she performed couple of checks and found out that one of the wires had distortion. The doctor wa notified, they disconnected that wire so my pacemaker was left with one wire to jolt my hearth. On my third implant, they implanted another wire. Hope this is helpfull.

 

Speak to Doc soon!

by RachaelDuffy - 2018-04-05 19:49:56

You’ve probably rang your Doc by now but in case you haven’t defo do it soon! I had similar symptomsabout 4 years ago, and it turned out one of my wires was loose.  

ICD shocks

by islandgirl - 2018-04-08 13:18:13

My EP gets an alert when I get paced out of 'lethal' arrhythmias (happens about 1x month) and (I have not been shocked) also if I were to be shocked.

Can you send a recording to him?  Mine is also programmed to send a report if there are any events between midnight and 4 am.  I have a Medtronic ICD and a Carelink device for transmitting, which uses cell signal anywhere in the world (I travel quite often).  

shocks

by Devapriya - 2018-04-09 05:00:18

I ha e received Shocks at times too,,,,I have just accepted it as they are keeping my poor old heart beating,  but the6 Di fri strange like a prickling sensation 

my main worry is my left arm pain,   Saw Dr todsy he’s sending me for ultrasound  echocardiography on Thursday to see if clots have formed inside the veins where the leads are inserted 

shocks

by Devapriya - 2018-04-09 05:00:19

I ha e received Shocks at times too,,,,I have just accepted it as they are keeping my poor old heart beating,  but the6 Di fri strange like a prickling sensation 

my main worry is my left arm pain,   Saw Dr todsy he’s sending me for ultrasound  echocardiography on Thursday to see if clots have formed inside the veins where the leads are inserted 

Medtronic pacemaker

by Devapriya - 2018-04-09 09:10:41

   I was told two weeks ago by cardiologist I don’t need to return for six months,,,,

but,,,my left arm pain is really bad and I cannot stand I think much longer,,,

i will see see what happens after having the ultrasound echocardiogram on Thursday 12 th  ,,,

that will  elucidate if there is a clot in the veins ,,,     

 

 

 

You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.