Already a member? Sign in
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
Hello:
My father has to have his ICD tested. He had one implanted 4 weeks ago, and after the procedure they were not able to test it.
Can anyone tell me what exactly they do? I'm assuming they have to have his heart go into defib. I'm very worried about that and so is my father. How much should we worry about this? They don't have to open up do they? What do they do?
Thank you for your help.
Formydad
"Donna"
Basicly what they do is place a mouse type device over the ICD and interigate it. They also sometime put EKG pads on the chest to get a reading on the heart. They only annoying thing is, when they pace the heart to make sure the device is functioning normally. I have learned to schedule these visits at the end of the day, as it does wear me out. It's like my heart had just done some aerobic excersize and is tired after. Hard to explain, but the ICD check really does not hurt and it is good to no things are working properly. There is a HUGE period of adjustment after the device is placed, but a heart patient has to do what they gotta do to be here and stay here !! Ask questions when he goes in and that should help.
Best Reguards, Mary Corinne
Hi Donna,
I had mentioned earlier that I had gone through this. I am not sure now, after reading Mary Corrine's reply, if you mean a typical check-up or when they actually test the device to make sure it is working. Mary Corrine described a typical check-up. I have that done every 3 months. They do this to read information from the device and to make sure it is working the way it should.
Last summer, however, I had the device fully checked . I had to spend several hours at the hospital. Much of that time was waiting, of course! The actual procedure didn't take long at all. Basically they gave me a quick acting anesthesia that put me out for a short time. During that time, they brought me into the surgery room, caused my heart to go into V-fib, and waited to make sure my device kicked in. It did! :-)
Before all this, however, they made sure they had the shock pads (I don't know what they are called) on me and they were ready to use paddles if necessary. It's a very scary thought, but it went really well and I guess it's a very common procedure. I woke up feeling absolutely fine! I stayed at the hospital a little while longer to be monitored and then went home. I was tired, but otherwise, no ill effects.
I hope this helps.
Mary
Thank you both...
Yes my father will be going in for the defib. He will be there, they told him for about 6 hrs. I'm really worried about the whole thing. God forbid he goes into defib and they can't help him... his heart the dr said was weak and that's what is concerning me the most.
I just pray all goes well, he of course, is very worried too. I'm hoping that once this is done and the machine is adjusted he may start to feel better.
I just pray!!!
Thank you, both again!
And God Bless!
Donna,
When does he have this done? Please let us know how it goes.
Mary
Hi Mary:
My father is going on Friday, Sept 5 @ 7:00 am.
Thank you, I will let everyone know.
Donna
hmm. I've never had this done. I've had my ICD for 4 1/2 years. All I've ever had done was the interrogation in the doc's office every three months. I hope everything goes well.
Donna:
Please don't worry, ok?
Your Dad will be in the best possible setting for this test. There is very little risk and both you and he will be comforted by learning that the ICD is up to par and ready to "go the distance."
If "anything" serious were to happen, your Dad is in the perfect environment for 100% recovery. Remember - he has made it this far and in more difficult circumstances than having a SCA in a hospital surrounded by cardiac specialists.
In any event we all will be thinking of you & will want to hear how he sailed through and how much better you will feel after it's over. It's great to know the ICD works.
Best wishes!
Thank you, Debra for your reply.
I'm sure everything will be okay, but it is nerve racking, to say the least.
I will let you all know how things go on Friday.
Appreciate all your wishes!
Donna
Donna, your dad will be fine as the previous posting indicate and he will be in the right place for any complications. Think positive and keep smiling...he will be OK !!
Please do let us no how it goes for him. :)
Huggs...Mary Corinne
Donna,
How did the test go for your dad?!
Mary
Hi Mary:
Well he ended up not having the test done. Thursday afternoon he started to get some really bad stomach pains, he is so darn stuborn, and ended up suffering all day, and finally was brought to the ER at 10:30 at night, they did an xray and found out his hurnia, which he has had, has wrapped around his intestins, so they had to schedule he for surgery. With the pain med, he ended up sleeping most of the time because they did not end up operating until 6:30 pm on Sat. I think that was more sleep then he has had in the past month. The operation went well, he is still in the hospital, and will probably be there until tomorrow. Of course, he is in some pain.
So for the ICD test, who knows now, probably have to go back to the hospital sometime during the week.
But maybe if he is feeling okay tomorrow while he is at the hospital he may get it done.
I spoke to the dr who did the ICD and she said it is a simple. I hope so...
My father has been through so much, what else...
Hopefully this will be it for a LONG time!
THANK SO, VERY MUCH FOR ASKING, SO THOUGHTFUL OF YOU TO REMEMBER ME & MY DAD!!!!
I will let you know if when I find out about the ICD procedure.
God Bless!
Donna
Add to the discussion