Getting ICD

I'll be getting an ICD in two weeks. I just found out about having heart problems in February. I'm kind of nervous about the surgery.


3 Comments

Surgery

by AgentX86 - 2020-07-09 13:46:09

The surgery is really quick and easy. Nothing to worry about at all. Recovery varies greatly from person to person but is generally easy relative to other surgeries. Mine was one of the easier recoveries. I didn't need any pain medication after I was released at all.  Most, I'd say, get away with NSAIDs and perhaps some ice. A few will have more pain. One the scale of 1 to 1o, id give it a 1 or 2, at worst.

It’s not bad at all

by Impala67 - 2020-07-10 02:35:57

The surgery is very quick and really easy to recover from- number one thing is just to keep the incision site clean and dry throughout the healing process. The pain is extremely minimal. Just relax and give your body plenty of time to heal. 

Not worth worrying about

by Protimenow - 2020-07-10 04:33:03

I have a PM, rather than an ICD, but the procedures for implanting both are about the same. 

I had the good fortune of not having to worry about the implantation - my operation wasn't technically an emergency, but on a Saturday afternoon, I called my EP's office and he answered the phone. I made what was probably my tenth complaint about my heart rate being sub-40 and he said 'let's fix this, man.' 

I went to the hospital, and about 45 minutes later, I was in the O.R., getting it done. 

For me, there was no pain -- the thing was iced for a while. Perhaps there was a bit of really minimal sensitivity, but I didn't need anything for pain. 

Aside from having to be careful about raising or using my left arm for a while, this was really not a big deal. I think that I had a bit more trouble with a dental extraction than I did with this PM. 

Waiting for a  minor procedure like this - probably done hundreds, if not thousands, of times by your doctor, creates more stress than just having the thing done. For many people, it's just an outpatient surgery - go in, get prepped, have the surgery, then go home a few hours later. For others, it may involve more time in the hospital, but it's not something to worry much about. 

Give your mind a rest. Imagine how much better you'll be doing after your miraculous device has been implanted. 

You should be fine. 

 

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