Defib Discharge (Shock)

[smitty8332]

Is their a support group I can turn to for my fear of my defib going off again.  It has discharged twice in 6 months, each time in excess of 30 joles.  They were extremely painful and disturbing.  Now I find it impossible to sleep or to be in a quiet place, all I hear and think about is my heartbeats and when is it going to shock me again.  I have had congestive heart failure, a heart attack and was shot in 1980.  I have been through a lot but nothing has bothered me like my last shock.  I need to discuss this with someone that has had this terrible experience.
Thank you,
Smitty

[Momto3]

Smitty,

I'm sorry to hear that your ICD shocked you.  I don't have an ICD, but from what I hear, I can deliver quite a kick in the chest.  Despite the kick, I'm glad that the ICD was there when you needed it.  

Please keep posting.  Don't give up because I'll bet there are other members that can offer you support regarding the ICD shocks.  If you don't get responses this time around, try changing the subject line.  Maybe something to indicated you're looking for support...."HELP!  Looking for ICD support"  Wish I could help more.  Hang int here Smitty.

[anandbharti]

Sorry to read about your shocks. Here is a group dealing specifically with being zapped by the defibrillator, http://www.zaplife.org/.
Here is my experience:
I was fitted with the device 4 months ago. A month later the device gave me 13 shocks in a  space of  3-5 minutes. I was fully awake and helpless but since this happened in a public place, I was able to call an ambulance.immediately. I have been OK since then except for the device being recalled by the manufacturer !! Currently I  am working ,driving 100 miles a day daily and also dealing with severe diabetes, mild heart failure and thyroid disorder.

I would advice you to try to put this incident behind you otherwise it will be difficult to lead a "normal" life. Please schedule an appointment with your electrophysiologist. who  can reprogram your device if you had an "inappropriate" shock.

Good luck

[smitty8332]

Thank you for your commets and concerns!  Just hearing of your dreadful experience makes my attack so minor, you obviously are a strong willed person.  I am surprised to hear you are driving.  In Oklahoma, once the defib discharges, you cannot drive for 6 months.  I have had my device reprogramed and I too have one of the recalled leads.

Thanks for responding!!

[smitty8332]

Thank you for your support, I will  contine to reach out at this web.  I think your words and those of "anandbharti", another respondant, are of great comfort.
Thanks

[anandbharti]

Hang in there. My advice  is try to lead a normal life as much as you can but never get complacent. Do take your medications on time.
My EP originally prescribed a low dose of B-blocker which may have contributed to 13 shocks. Now he has drastically increased the dose The consequence of that is that I don't get signals when I am low on sugar (hypoglycemia). Previously I used to feel edgy when blood glucose went low but now the b-blockers keep me relaxed all the time. My solution to get around that problem (potentially life threatening)  is to do more frequent blood glucose testing even in the miiddle of the night.
Thanks.