REMOVAL OF ICD

[lenon]

I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ATRIAL FIB AND V-TACH ALONG WITH VENTRICULAR FIBRILATION. I ALSO HAVE CHF. WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF SURVIVAL IF I HAVE MY ICD REMOVED?

[Pacemakertechcanada]

I'm a pacemaker/ICD technician and I'm not sure if it was explained to you but...being around things like a lawn mower, chain saw, or a running car motor can trick your device into thinking your heart is going fast and therefore deliver therapy aka a "shock". Because of the electrical vibrations emitted from the mower...the device picks it up and thinks it's your hearts electrical impulses. Stay away from large running motors and this will not happen. ICD's have come along way since 2008 when this thread started, but you need to be aware of things that can cause unessesary shocks. Ask the company who made your device for more information. It's rare at my clinic to see inappropriate shocks, but these are the reasons they happen. If they are not programmed correctly there may be a problem. Leads can break down and also cause this. Having a care link monitor at home can send info to your clinic to avoid problems before they happen.

[dsanborn]

im 52 years old and my lifestyle cant get any healthier. when i was 38 and working out on our new bowflex i collasped, was in a coma for 4 days and the doc and my family decided to let them implant the defibrillator, well i have had a total of 3 and didnt have any issues until abt 3 weeks ago i was mowing my lawn and it shocked me 4 times and it hurt very bad and i was taken to the hospital and stayed overnite for observation. apparently my rate to set off the icd was set to 172 which for me is too low, i dont know if someone set it to that or it just went there by itself i too think of it constantly and keep thinking about getting it removed and maybe i can control my heart rate with medication i have a doc appt may 7th i hope we can figure it out......i use to be fearless because of the difibrillator but now i am fearful..............

[Teachers_Pet]

I have had  ICDs since 2002, the 1st a single lead was recalled by Medtronic after it had administered 3 needed shocks, it wasn't faulty on later examination. The 2nd single lead was removed after another 3 shocks in late 2009 in mid 2010 for a 3 lead upgrade due to the onset of congestive heart failure. The 3 lead unit I have now has only "charged" one time that has shown on downloading by a Pacer Nurse. It hasn't ever "shocked" me.  I feel much better than before 2009 due to constant pacing  which now gives a regular heart rhythm.  
Background. I had 3 heart attacks in one week in 1998 at 48, basically lost the lower third of my heart.  At one point while in the CICU my wife was told she might want to contact our kids since I might just have 72 hours. I'm very happy to be here and don't grudge the device the occasional ZAP.  To me  the shock is no worse than the one you get changing out an electrical outlet, after having turned off the wrong circuit breaker. Except it's in your chest instead of at your fingers. Afterwards I have cold sweats and feel light headed for about 10 minutes. The sweats and light headiness happen also if it charges and doesn't give therapy (shock), so at least I have a warning it's about to happen, if awake . Then it passes.  Don't worry about the shock, worry about your future without an ICD.  My father died of sudden cardiac arrest at 66, on his daily 5 mile walk,  2 years before my heart attacks. Looking back, an ICD would have probably kept him going a lot longer.

[Me4ever]

Don't reply if u don't have n ICD implant, I'm about to have one implanted in less then one week, I'm scared after hearing about these shocks, please talk to me

[Heartwisper]

I had my ID implant 3 years ago and in that time it went off twice approximately 1.5 years apart . My advice is learn what the symptoms are if you get dizzy sit down fast you only have 1 second before you find out the pain you will have after you hit the pavement. In my two cases I past out and didn't feel the shock but the first time I felt the ground learned my lesson fast . GOOD LUCK AND DO WHAT THE DOC SAYS TELL HIM EVERYTHING

[Me4ever]

I have no idea what anyone is talking about, except I'm about to have an ICD implanted in two weeks,I have heart failure,non-congestive heart desease,mitral valve regurgitation and reading about these shocks is scary, I don't know what to do help me

[2atfortyseven]

Hello to all, I have one also (3rd device so far) my first one was installed over 10 yrs ago. the first time I ever got a shock was 2 yrs ago. and it only shocked me due to the fact that I was dead before I hit the ground. restrictions in life? I was a log home builder, father of 2,and no health issues ever. when I was diagnosed with IHSS (idiopathic hypertrophic sub aortic stenosis) now know as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it pulled the rug out from under me. I was a beast of a man,strong as a bull. and couldn't accept that I was told to stop all sports and physical work.(no insurance and no income if I was to stop working. so I kept working..every place I have ever worked has found ways of getting rid of me when they find out I have this disorder and icd in me. I can still work as hard as any 21 yr old... and I am still walking this earth because of my icd. you guys better rethink all of these excuses each and every day before having your icd removed or even shut off.  as far as I know Doctors don't go putting these in for stupid reasons? if anyone is having shock storms? they should get the device checked immediately at a pace-clinic. the programing must be wrong or the device has some sort of defect (ie bad wires that are causing noise that makes the unit think there is a problem, thus shocking you for the wrong reasons)
my disorder has now been traced back to a genetic mutation and with the data recorded from my last (death event) my daughter now has her own icd and one of my sisters (family of 7) has one also. we are all safer with the icd than without. yes for many yrs with icd and no shocks, I was often wondering if it was a necessity? but now that I had this unit bring me back to life, there is no question in my mind.
keep your chin up and carry on as best you can with your loved ones close to you, tell them you love them, and be careful what you wish for.