ICD shocks once a week

[Rudy777]

I have an ICD from June 08 and have been shocked 11 times. Lately, I have been getting shocked every week. Meds are coreg, sotalol and this week mexilitene. I had the test for Pheo but negative. I have been told to see a neurologist? Warning signs (hours) before shocks are feeling of fullness (tight) around abdomen, "crawling" on my upper back usually the left side. These have been dismissed by the EP but I get them.
Sometimes I get a "rush" as if I am going to get shocked but it subsides and my pressure is up but pulse down (measured). Within seconds, heart is back to normal except last night, I could feel my heart beating through my chest. Is it meds, heat, diet? I eat pretty healthy but I have been less active because of the unpredictable nature of my heart now. I had EP study but no ablation because the hospital is not equipped to deal with Ventricular and epicardial origins of V-Tach. The bright side of this is, I do not lose consciousness during the shocks. Last night there was one almost shock and I thught I had avoided it but then about one hour later, I got a strong one. Now is it a charge that formes somewhere in the heart and the herart has to get risk of it to get back to functioning normally? What is going on?
Thanks for your comments in advance. I appreciate it.

[Rudy777]

No heart attack. Cardiac arrest. No enlargement but lots of PVC's. Age 52. Done an EP study and could see/comfirm I have V-Tach.  Problem is nobody knows why some PVC's lead to V-Tach and others don't. Prior to SCA was considered a specimen of good health and now we are searching for answers. The source of my arrythmia is epicardial and that is all we know know after the EP study. One more study and an ablation (if possible) is planned. As to why every week? We could stop it with amiodarone (sp?) but it makes further investigations very difficult as it takes long to get of off and I hear it has cumulative toxicity with significant side effects. I will know more next week after being on the mexilitene for a week.
Thanks for the info, I think that is where I looked but could not get in. I'll try again.

[Jerry_NJ]

The Doctor support forum, along with a list of all Communities, such as this one, are listed under "Forums" at the top of this page.... Up in the MedHelp header.

There is a charge, cost, to using the doctor supported forum.  I don't know exactly how that works, but it must be explained therein.

[Mohan945]

Your history is important to discuss your issues. Diagnostics prior to ICD installation? I see you are taking, coreg, sotalol and mexilitene. Did you ever have a heart attack? Is your heart enlarged? What is your age? Have you discussed with your Dr. Why ICD is firing every week?

[Rudy777]

Thanks Jerry. I am concerned too but I have not heard from anybody. I forgot how to post a question for the Doctors too. Is it done here or somewhere else on the site. I used it once but can't get to it this time now that I need it most!

[Jerry_NJ]

It doesn't sound good to me for you to have so many defibs... but it seems it may be a good thing you have the automatic ICD.  Is there any possibility the device is malfunctioning.

Sorry I don't recall an answer already in your post, I read it some time back and seeing you haven't gotten any response from an ICD user I decided to post without reading again.