ICD Devise

[Mcilvain]

Hi, I am a 49 female who just had an ICD put in. I have CHF, Cardiomyopathy, and unstable Angina, Ventricular Tachycardia. Will the ICD cure or help these things, or is it just to help prevent a Heart Attack?

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

An ICD can treat ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation if they occur and prevent sudden cardiac death.  The device does nothing to treat the underlying cardiomyopathy.

[Squarewheel]

I am able to answere your question as I also have Cardiomyopathy & VT, I have recently been told I may need an ICD.
My Cardiologist has said that the device does not change anything & generally will not prevent the VT from happening, but it provides piece of mind, in that it can either pace your heart in the event that that it beats to rappid or too slow & it can intervene in the case of VT attacks.
The ICD also has a memory which stores info about your hearts rythms which they decipher when they down load every few months.

Good Luck, I hope the device works out for you
Kind regards
Tara

[Mcilvain]

Thank you, I got somemany differant answers. You and the doctor answered my question...in english! I did have an episode a week after I had it put in. I got shocked 7 times. One of the leads had come loose, so evert time I moved it thought something was wrong and kicked me in the chest. I ended up going to the hospital in a ambulance and had it redone. That is something I never want to happen again!