:-(

I just got shocked for the first time last night. I've had my ICD for about a year and a half and was doing some cardio type stuff and felt winded. I just stopped to rest a bit, I didn't feel like I was going to pass out or anything and within 5 seconds BAM it hit me. It didn't feel anything like others have said on here though. I just remember hearing a loud POP! sound in my head and seeing a flash but I don't remember any sort of pain involved with the shock. I was pretty freaked out by it though, maybe I had so much adrenaline I just didn't feel the shock. Anyway, I'm pretty upset that I had this happen, I was hoping I'd go through this ICD with no shocks and my heart would be ok where I may have it taken out. Now I'm afraid to do anything because I wasn't even that tired when I got shocked.

11 Comments

Shock

by Katielou - 2008-11-18 04:11:07

Hi Kyle,

I don't know if Cabg Patch has an ICD but do I tend to agree with him here. I have an ICD and have been shocked. In my experience there was no doubt that I'd been zapped as it does give you a heck of a hit. Mine gives me a 16 joule shock and when I come around my arms and legs are shaking as though I've had an epileptic fit, so there is no doubt in my mind - I know I've had a shock. I must admit that until I'd had a shock I couldn't imagine what it would be like but know i know I don't want to have too many!!! I suggest that you get it checked out asap. When an ICD fires it can upset the settings and should be checked by the technicians. I would never hesitate if I thought mine had fired - better to know than not.
I hope you didn't have a shock - would like to know the outcome if you do get it checked.

Good luck

Lesley

Zapped

by lb151 - 2008-11-18 05:11:21

Everything said here is true..get to the doctors and have your device interrogated right away. It doesnt sound like a shock,,but somethings going on and you need it checked out.
take care

So Sorry

by LindaScarberry - 2008-11-18 12:11:26

Kyle

I am so sorry that happened to you; I got my ICD last May and I do live in fear of that first zap, what could bring it on. I'm afraid to do much that this thing will go off. The good news is though, is that it went off and you obviously needed it.

Why did you get an ICD? I have left bundle bridge block with an EF of 20 to 25.

Do you have a home interrogator? I just got mine last week; if you have one you could probably call the manufacturer and have them do an interrogation. If not, call your doctor today so you can put your mind to rest.

Take care,
Linda

Sorry to hear about that

by Angelie - 2008-11-18 12:11:39

Sorry to hear the shocking news. Just kidding.
All kidding aside, I really feel for ya'll with ICDs. I would hate just knowing that I had something inside of me that at any moment could shock the living crap out of me. Granted, I know it's a good thing and is necessary for survival, but ya'll really do have a life adjustment with them. I consider myself very lucky to have just a pacemaker. Although I've had ventricular arrhythmias in the past, I haven't had any in a long time. I hope it stays that way.
I know there's really no comparison, but I was upset to learn after a week post implant of my pacemaker that i was pacing at 37%. I just knew they would implant this thing and me not need it afterall. Hearing that it actually was pacing me was a bit of a surprise.
I have a great respect and compassion for you ICD'rs out there. I don't know how ya'll do it.

Blessings,
Angelie

So...

by kyle0816 - 2008-11-19 08:11:12

I went in for my interrogation and it seems my heart rate got up to 250 beats per minute for 9 seconds and I was in a dangerous rhythm, that's when my ICD decided to shock me. My doctor said my adrenaline was probably very very high and that's why I didn't feel the shock. He said that it's very common for a person with an ICD to not feel the shock if they are exercising or in some cardio activity. Well I guess that's it. I'm going to be put on toprol so hopefully that helps keep my heart rate down when I'm at the gym or doing other things. Thanks for your responses :-).

It was a shock

by kyle0816 - 2008-11-19 12:11:43

It was definitely a shock. I talked to my Dr's office the next morning and they had me upload the info to them through my carelink device. They called me back and told me I had in fact been shocked and are having me come in the office today to get a more detailed readout. I was really shaking for quite a while afterward like one of the posters said.
A week and a half before this incident happened I was in the office for my yearly checkup and the Dr. uploaded new software to my ICD. I'm starting to wonder if that had something to do with me getting shocked. LIke I said, I didn't really feel like I was passing out, I just felt really winded and was trying to catch my breath before it shocked me.

Feel your pain

by Bruce Martin - 2008-11-20 10:11:40

Kyle:

I received my third shock about one week ago. Like you, my experience has been a loud pop in my ears, and I do not feel pain with the shock. It appears that my ICD reacts after physical exertion. I have had my device for two years, and am having difficulty knowing what my physical limitations are. Pre-ICD I was a very physical person, so this has been difficult for me to accept. I am glad you went for your interrogation, it is reassuring to know it fired for a valid reason.

Bruce

Life after your first SHOCK

by shocked - 2008-11-21 05:11:35

Hey Kyle,

Just eight months ago I was the new kid on the block crying out for an understanding as well as a safe zone and what I found out was that this is a good place to come to and speak with people that know your pain.

Three days after my first shock I didnt want to live with the uncertainty or apprehension of when it would happen again. I had only been in this un-asked-for club for three months.

My experience was exactly the same as yours. No warning just BOOM, FLASH and 1 million questions. What I did was browse through the testimonies of hundreds of ICD recipients and I learned that my one shock though traumatic for me was a nothing compared to some of the things I read about.

One persons ICD malfunctioned and he recieved 20 shocks a minute until he passed out and the paramedics arrived. It was March 17,2008 that I was shocked today is November 21 and I am still walking on egg shells, asking questions but most of trying to prepare myself mentally because at the end of the day it was the shock that saved my life that day. I still get to watch my 14 year old pout, eat pizza with pepperoni and bacon and my list goes on.

I could not find a group therapy is my area so all I had was this website. Two compassionate and wise people listened and stayed online with me for hours.

I couldnt sleep and they talked with me until I was sleepy. I wanted to die and they talked with me untilI changed my mind. Do all of the things on the list.
See your DR, Get some therapy and most of all brace yourself because you are more powerful than you know
:-) Then do everything on the other list. Embrace your ICD and trust that it knows best for you and when it fires it is to help you and not hurt you. Feel free to reach out to me, I struggle daily, some days I am excited, some days I am mad but The best is that I am alive to do so.

Good luck and saty focused for that first shock is like a 800 pound gorilla in the room. Its to take your focus off of living life after an implant.

my sign on is shocked

Bruce...

by kyle0816 - 2008-11-21 11:11:27

Yeah it must be that our adrenaline is so high when we are physically active that we don't feel the pain oh the shock. My Dr. said that they think they are discovering that people with vtach (what I am prone to) have hearts that have trouble regulating adrenaline. Hopefully the toprol xl helps keep my heart rate down, he said it should. Are you on that? If not maybe you should look into going on it so it will decrease the chance of you getting shocked. I usually wear a heart rate monitor (the thing you strap around your chest and it relays your heart rate to a digital watch) when I'm at the gym to make sure I'm not getting way up there. Like you I've always been active, I played sports throughout my entire young life and have always considered myself athletic, so it's pretty hard to swallow that I have some defect. Good luck in the future to you, hopefully you figure out your limitations.

Kyle

by Bruce Martin - 2008-11-22 09:11:35

Yes I am on Toprol XL. My problem is with V-fib. I suffered sudden cardiac arrest, February of 06, fortunately my wife was able to start CPR with my 14 year old grandson, until EMT's could arrive for the transport. I had completed a cardiac work up the fall prior, and was told all was good. They didn't share that I had had a previous heart attack that had gone undiagnosised, thus the v-fib when electrical currents hit the old scar tissue. With all of my shocks there was the possibility that I wasn't fully hydrated. I am trying to pay closer attention to make sure I am well hydrated during physical activity. Stay positive and I will try to do the same.

Shocks

by W1LL14D - 2008-12-30 01:12:05

I have been shocked twice since I've had mine. The feeling has been the same as ya'll are describing. Both times have been while running. My Doc upped my rate to 190 and put me on the Beta blocker medicine. The medicine just made me feel real bad when I ran so I quit taking it and told my Doc if I get shocked again I will start taking it again. Now when I run I use a heart rate monitor and don't let my heart rate get above 160. I have been running 5-6 miles 3 or 4 times a week for about 2 months now with no problems.

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