Well, my ICD is now 9 months old and I finally decided on a nickname for it (been calling it "this thing".) It's now officially named Thumper! lol I told the group at our church prayer meeting about it Monday and they all loved it. The preacher came up with a good one, too..........."Stimulus Package!!" We about fell out of our chairs.
Thumper got the 3 mo. check yesterday and all's well. My attitude's getting better. I know I'm blessed to be here and this is something I have to live with for the rest of my life; there are a lot of other people who are a whole lot worse off than me. So, I'm going to live every day as best I can, enjoy all I can, help others as much as possible, and quit sweatin' the small stuff. Life's too short!
This site has been a God-send. I've learned so much and gotten so much inspiration from the posts. Thank you, everybody!!!!
Deb
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ICD/PM Nicknames
- By DebBar
- Posted April 15, 2009 at 10:25 am · 23 replies
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- Edited April 24, 2009 at 10:36 am
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- By grace5
- Posted April 15, 2009 at 10:47 am
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Hi Deb and Thumper,
Deb, you certainly haven't lost your sense of humour!
Wishing you and Thumper a very very long and happy life together!
Lidia xx
- By DebBar
- Posted April 15, 2009 at 3:40 pm
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Lidia,
Actually, I'm working on getting my sense of humor back in gear! Can't change things, so gotta make the best of it. I think it'd be fun for those who have given their "internal devices" a nickname to write and tell what it is. How many other crazy people are out there?!
- By Nancy-in-KC
- Posted April 15, 2009 at 8:27 pm
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Deb, my ICD is 9 days old. I haven't named it yet, but I am sure something will come to mind eventually. Very strange this new thing in my chest. It certainly does take some getting used to.
Nancy
- By martzj
- Posted April 15, 2009 at 8:39 pm
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Ladies....does it make any audible sounds that can be heard from outside? Or is it something you find yourself mostly forgetting about over time.
Jaynie
- By martzj
- Posted April 15, 2009 at 8:40 pm
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"..........."Stimulus Package!!" "
hahhahaha!! Props to preacher! LOL
- By Gammacygnus
- Posted April 15, 2009 at 9:16 pm
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My device's name is Sparkles, fourth one. We are now one, I do forget it resides within me. Thank goodness it is there. Does have audible alarm when batteries are low. Humor is the best medcine. I wish people while they are in clinic or hospital settings to keep their blackberries and pdas OFF!!! Sorry I had to vent that. May interfere with ICDs', pacemaker/defibrillators.
- By nanamo
- Posted April 16, 2009 at 8:50 am
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wow i dont have aname for mine and it will be 1 year on april 25th i got my icd i just call it icd but think i will think of a name for it.............
i dont hear it but i do feel it. they say if you hear ticking then the battery is to go.i have the moniter in my home any one else have the moniter makes it easy i just hook up every three months and send info
wow name it now its got me thinking
god bless
surviving heart disease one day at a time
for 10 years now
nanamo
- By DebBar
- Posted April 16, 2009 at 9:06 am
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Think I had a "blonde attack" yesterday......I wrote "ICD/PC" instead of "ICD/PM!" Oh, well.
I don't hear mine and wish I could forget it's there. My problem is I don't have enough meat on my bones there and it aches 99.9% of the time. I can feel the leads that come out of the left side and when I extend my arm straight out or to the right, it's really uncomfortable. Just something I've got to put up with.
Sparkles....that's good! I agree, people should have enough consideration for others to turn their blackberries, pdas, phones, etc. off while in doc offices or hospitals. There's no reason to have to be talking to someone ALL the time! How did these people survive before cell phones?
Deb
- By martzj
- Posted April 16, 2009 at 11:20 am
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Deb & nanamo,
If you're bored and irritated next time someone whips out a cell phone and blathers into it.....grab your chest and say "oh my gosh, your cell phone just shut down my pacemaker!" Pretend you are about to faint!!! : )
Kidding!! Don't do that. Bet they would NEVER whip out a cell phone mindlessly again though (smile)
Jaynie
- By DebBar
- Posted April 16, 2009 at 11:31 am
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Jaynie,
What a great idea! I've got an appointment with my cardiologist next week............. ;-) hehehee
Nancy, how are you doing with your new ICD? It DOES take a lot of getting used to. Clothes fit differently, bras are a real hassle, and be sure you get one of those pads to put on the shoulder strap of your seatbelt.
Deb
- By Gammacygnus
- Posted April 16, 2009 at 11:50 am
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I have found bra's that the strap adjustments are on back instead of being in front, don't want anything to rub against the skin, the skin becomes very sensitive . Make sure the straps are soft
- By kardia
- Posted April 16, 2009 at 12:24 pm
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Ha....I love the humor!
I just call it "GOD", the ticker I have been called bionic...
When I go into get it read, I say I am going in to get checked under the hood.
When I first got it in...I was very aware of it, wanted to rip it out...visualized it ...gross. Now, it is just there, don't think about its physical presence otherwise I would probably still get grossed out...
Coming from a family full of women who were nurses when I was younger...weird I would be this way...can't watch bloody movies either...ha.
kardia
- By ckgoduto
- Posted April 16, 2009 at 5:51 pm
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Well I never thought of naming my implanted device at all. It will be a year on April 21st that mine was implanted. I really don't think about it much. Maybe because it has never gone off. At the healthclub they are always trying to get your heart rate up and some people do get theirs to 160-200, but I could never do that because my unit is scheduled to go off at 160. I'll be going in May for my first year checkup.
I do have a padded strap on my seat belt, but I've always had one there. I can't say that it bothers me in the bra area because I don't wear one, having had bi-lateral mastectomies and all.
Christine
- By nanamo
- Posted April 17, 2009 at 7:59 am
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i can only wear sports bra only thing that doesnt hurt me and yes i feel the lead too and it scares the heck out of me............wow april 21 st makes one year for you on teh 25th will make my 1st yera i have to make my yearly appt have put off not sure what all they do for the 1st year check up do you know as for cell phones and pda's i have really never seen a difference being around people using them i just make sure when i use my cell i keep to the right i bought and ear piece but that bothers the heck out of me even more
i would be lost without my cell
god bless
surviving heart disease one day at a time
for 10 years now
nanamo
- By nanamo
- Posted April 21, 2009 at 6:43 am
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well i finally came up with a name for my icd well my hubby did
its name is
trigger..........................
god bless surviving heart disease one day at a time
for 10 years now
nanamo
- By DebBar
- Posted April 21, 2009 at 11:42 am
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Trigger!! Love it! Your hubby did well. Know it sounds crazy, but naming the ICD is so much better than just calling it "this thing."
Tomorrow I see the cardiologist for a 4 mo. check-up. Hopefully, it'll go well like Thumper's check-up last week. It should, haven't had any real problems.
Let's see, so far we've got Trigger, Sparkles, God, and Thumper. What a lineup! lol
Deb
- By DebBar
- Posted April 22, 2009 at 4:28 pm
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Saw the cardiologist this morning and he said everything sounded good. Thank God! Having an ECHO done next Tuesday to see if there's been any improvement. Last ECHO was done last May and the EF was only about 10-12%. I'm curious to find out if Thumper's arrival in July has done any good.
Actually enjoyed going to the doc today, rode my trike! lol Here in East Texas it's a beautiful day: sunny, 87 degrees........perfect day for a ride. Naturally, had to take the LONG way home. ;-) Riding is the best therapy!!!
- By DebBar
- Posted April 23, 2009 at 9:04 am
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Oh, yeah, Gamma! Hwy 80 from Longview to Marshall (TX) is full of hills, curves, and big trees. The clover and bluebonnets are absolutely beautiful this year, too.
Today started out interesting. My big German Shepherd was barking & raising hell. Finally discovered there was a skunk under the edge of the shop (gift shop for our Christmas tree farm) right outside the backyard. Hubby's out of town working, so had to call a neighbor. He finally got it out, followed it out into the field and shot it. Man, it was a BIG polekitty!! Hope everybody else's day is going better! lol
- By Gammacygnus
- Posted April 23, 2009 at 12:44 pm
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You are amazing riding your tricycle up hills with a low EF. But looking at the beautiful scenary and nice sunny day that's worth it. You telling your Dr that you are able to pedal your tricycle and how far you are going? Way to go. I'm from Seattle, known for hills and 2 mountain ranges.
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