Defibrillator vs. Anti-arrhythmia Drugs and Exercise

[thezop]

I had my heart attack back in August and I do 24 minutes on the treadmill  and 12 minutes on the stationary bike with  a 15% ejection fraction.  My Doctor said I needed a defibrillator even though I don't have any Arrhythmia.  I am not short of breath, no chest pains, no selling in the hands or feet and I can do all the things I did before my hear attack except lifting on the advice of my Doctor.  

I was hoping that my rigorous exercise program to keep my heart strong and perhaps anti-arrhythmia drugs could be used in place of a defibrillator to counter any dangerous arrhythmia which might present itself as I wanted to take a little more time, keep exercising and try to improve my ejection fraction.  

[thezop]

Thank you so much for responding to my question!  I have an appointment with a Doctor to discuss implanting a new device called the S-ICS which goes in under the skin below the arm pit, and then a wire is run along the breast bone and up the rib cage. I heard that the new device is supposed to have less misfires and that no wires go into the heart which sound like this is the option I will have to choose.  Thanks again for writing and for your advice.  God bless...

[Flycaster305]

I'm not a health professional, but as long as you can work out as you are doing, I'd continue.  I'd add a caveat that I recently lost a best friend with a similar heart diagnosis while on the stationary bike, please don't work it too hard.
EF levels vary from test to test.  The gold standard, I believe, is an echocardiogram, but a angioplasty will give lots of information.  I've had a long hx of heart issues, this is simply my suggestion:  have an angiography and echo as you can within your means, get as much information as you can.  Always ask for a procedure report afterwards.
Regarding your question:  I have a defib device.  Some of the drugs that control goofy heart beats, in my experience Amiodarone, can have some very nasty side effects... nasty meaning in my case serious vision issues.  Given what you have posted, I'd go with a device before drugs.