Anyone have a Pacemaker or ICD fitted?

DampDog

DampDog

DampDog

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After having had an appointment with my cardiologist, he's suggested that having an ICD may be the best way forwards for me. He has now referred me on to another specialist for further investigations.

Obviously "we don't do medical threads" but just wondered if anyone has and experiences on having them fitted and living with them day to day? Just general stuff, nothing specific.
 
I meet quite a few patients that have ICD's fitted who apparently have never had them fire and who haven't had any change to their lives.
 
Luke said:
I meet quite a few patients that have ICD's fitted who apparently have never had them fire and who haven't had any change to their lives.
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Anecdotally, I've heard the same, with folk having had them for years and never had them do their stuff. I think the newer S-ICD's don't even have wires implanted into the heart, just placed close to the midline of the sternum.

Early days yet, need to hear what the consultant has to say. I had a heart MRI a few weeks back and apparently that highlighted something, though my current cardiologist wasn't very forthcoming.
 
Jonnycoupe said:
I've got an ICD. Diagnosed with Brugada and fitted in Jan 2006.
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How is it to live with? I don't mean when it's doing it's stuff. Just daily life, is it obtrusive or does it limit your mobility?

I'm not clear why I'm being considered for one as yet. I do know following a number of MI's I have a QRS interval that is <120ms and I have something going on with my left bundle branch due the damage from the heart attacks. It may also be due to my ejection fraction falling away, or a combination of all those things. Dunno until I've had a better conversation with the specialist.
 
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I have a subcutaneous ICD to stop occurrences of Ventricular tachycardia.

My heart condition restricts my lifestyle, but my ICD does not. They are incredibly advanced and mine has never gone off as I have never had an attack since I had it fitted.

If you have to have one, don't worry about it. It's a one day procedure in most cases and personally, I don't think they restrict lifestyle at all. In fact, many people who have them have an improved lifestyle as psychologically, they feel much safer when doing things, knowing that if anything goes wrong, they have a built in lifesaver.

And they don't go off every five minutes for nothing. That's just an unfounded fear for most people.
 
Cheers, I'm not really worried about the procedure, I've had several angiograms and triple bypass. While not on my Xmas list were manageable. Just can't put my finger on it, but having something implanted is freaking me out a little. I'm not a particularly big chap and I don't relish having something buried in my chest permanently.

Anyway, early days yet and it may not come to be, so I'll try not to cross any bridges before I get to them.
 
father in law has them fitted, once they got it all settled it has no impact on his life at all and it's sorted his problems

he just has to have the data read every so often
 
In the nicest terms the icd is there to prevent sudden death via arrhythmia, if your cardiologist deems that you have relevant risk to have one then you can only view it as a good thing.

I work within a cardiac rehabilitation department where we see individuals fitted with ICD's and ppm's on a regular basis. The icd should have no affect on your day to day life, just think of it as a safety switch should it be required. If it's affecting your psychologically speak to your consultant and ask for a referral to cardiac rehabilitation, it would be beneficial :)
 
For me it's been a bit of a pain with driving permits at work and I avoid contact sports now. Still play football once a week and it's never really done anything. Ironically getting Heath insurance proved a pain even though I was 24 when it was implanted. Finally sorted with no real evidence of a higher premium.

Next one is due soon, I have a potential faulty lead so have been going to clinic once every 3 months rather than 6 and each time they do a tester shock... That's fun. Hopefully next ICD will be wireless for diag. So will reduce clinic trips.

Only real issue I've had is waking up some times with palpitations. Seems the thing was pacing me as I was dropping below the 40 BPM during sleep, they have since recal'd to 35BPM threshold.

trouble is my three kids carry the same gene and making the called for an ICD will a lot harder.
 
Goodie said:
In the nicest terms the icd is there to prevent sudden death via arrhythmia, if your cardiologist deems that you have relevant risk to have one then you can only view it as a good thing.

I work within a cardiac rehabilitation department where we see individuals fitted with ICD's and ppm's on a regular basis. The icd should have no affect on your day to day life, just think of it as a safety switch should it be required. If it's affecting your psychologically speak to your consultant and ask for a referral to cardiac rehabilitation, it would be beneficial :)
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I've been to cardiac rehab relatively recently following two small heart attacks 2013-14. I think I've heard you mention the UHNS/Royal Stoke before, so our paths may well have unknowingly crossed. They are indeed a great bunch of people and the support and information the program offers is very welcome and does help build confidence to a point. All the team are far more approachable than the majority of consultants. I enjoyed it and felt I got a lot out of it. I would recommend it to anyone who has the need/opportunity to go.

I've had some fantastic care over the years but the last appointment with the consultant was the most disappointing I've experienced in almost 20 years of heart problems. Apart from running over 2 hours late (I do understand these things happen, so it's an observation not a complaint) The whole consultation lasted 10 mins max and felt rushed. He pretty much asked me two questions, how are you feeling and how do you feel about having an ICD fitted? He then sent me for an ECG and on my way. What I was hoping for was an explanation of the results obtained from the cardiac MRI. When I asked if the MRI had highlighted any problems he ducked the question and said there had been a change in the protocols, which meant I may benefit from having a permanent device. I understand it can be difficult to translate medical findings into a form that the patient can easily understand, however I do expect some feedback. "A change in protocols" sounds suspiciously like access to a different funding stream and the possibility of new funding for the department. It's by the by now as he's referred me on to another consultant, who I believe is a specialist in cardiac pacing and intervention. (very nice chap from what little I've heard)

I had a quick look at the NICE guidelines re:- ICD & Cardiac pacing but don't really have enough knowledge about my condition to see which group I may or may not fall into. So none the wiser for looking.
 
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