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Living with an ICD

Share your story with other community members and offer advice and support.

Constant Head ache after ICD shock

By alswife · New reply September 4, 2009
1 reply
My husband was shocked 13 times a couple of weeks ago. He spent several days in ICU and the hospital. We have been home over a week but he complains of headaches. He says he feels like he has a hat on ...

5 Months after ICD, site very painful

By Imcre8ive · New reply September 1, 2009
10 replies
Hi! I have written before about my pain at the site. Not only does it feel like acid burning when even my clothing like a sweater touches it, I accidently tapped it with my hairbrush and I saw stars for ...

My experience with ICD implant

By Tch4fn · New reply August 31, 2009
4 replies
Hey everyone, I am home! I actually came home yesterday, but was having alot of pain with my right side and breathing. It was excruciating. Everything was fine untinl midnight after surgery and I started ...

Faulty lead

By Mary1 · New reply August 30, 2009
19 replies
Well, right now I am writing this from a hospital that is over 200 miles away from home... I was on the last 2 days of a 9 night cruise when I started hearing a strange beeping sound. It took me a day ...

can some one answer a long qt question for me

By mmuff · New reply August 19, 2009
3 replies
I am a mother of a now 15 year old daughter who a few years ago fainted because I was cleaning her ear that was infected bc of a piercing. She had fainted before that while at summer camp in a very hot ...

Aches and pain

By Tch4fn · New reply August 18, 2009
4 replies
Hi everyone, It has been awhile. I've been very busy with school starting back! I am so exhausted by the time I get home, I can do nothing but crash. I have a question that has been bothering me. It started ...

New ICD member

By Hamhawk · New reply August 10, 2009
2 replies
Is there a free clinic in Southern California that will check my ICD for me? I have no insurance and the doctors that implanted the ICD in May of this year refuse to check it out to see how it is working ...

Help me! If you know how to reprogram pace maker

By Tch4fn · New reply July 20, 2009
2 replies
Hello everyone! I had a great check-up Friday. ICD incision looks great. My ecg still shows qt of 470, this seems to be my magic number. I would love to see it lower. I am doing everything that I know ...

Life is terminal so enjoy it

By Greg2000 · New reply July 10, 2009
2 replies
Life is Terminal so enjoy it. To all of the SCA members. I would like to share what being 2 years new is like. Just two years ago a little after I turned 50. I had, 3 pretty bad heart attacks; fortunately ...

Driving with ICD

By Amindya · New reply July 7, 2009
14 replies
Hi, I am 39 Y mother of 02 kids 4/1 years. I fainted twice and Dr. decided me to have ICD implantation for trachycardia. I got it on 06.12.2008. I got my first shock on 30.03.2009 and today also i felt ...

It's a girl!

By ilisten2009 · Posted June 23, 2009
0 replies
As many of you say, my new birthday is June 17, 2009, the day I got my brand spanking new, St Jude Medical, Current RVVF ICD. The implantation, I was told by my Dr, was picture perfect! I was graced with ...

ICD and Pregnancy

By Amindya · Posted June 20, 2009
0 replies
Hi, I got my ICD implanted in December 2008. I am 40 years old and having 02 kids, 1 & 4. I just feel that I am pregnant again even though I took precautions to not to be... Can anyone tell me about some ...

Palpatations, pain, wierd feelings in chest

By socalfun64 · New reply June 15, 2009
6 replies
Okay, I'm going through some really tough times and need your feedback. It seems that you guys are the only ones who can understand what we feel and deal with. I'm on new meds, Metropol 200mg and I don't ...

Should I get an ICD for Cardiac Sarcoid?

By luv2fysh · New reply June 13, 2009
27 replies
Hi- I have sarcoids on my heart and my doctor is telling me I should get an ICD. I just came across this site looking for more information on living with an ICD. While this is a wonderful place to share ...

shortness of breath

By tvono1 · New reply June 8, 2009
3 replies
Hi I had my ICD implanted in December of 2008, since then I have had major shortness of breath, and a lot of anxiety, I understand the anxiety is normal, but has anyone else experenced the shortness of ...

Swimming in cold water

By blake76 · New reply June 2, 2009
2 replies
Hi Can I call on some of your experience on swimming in cold/cool water with your ICD. A few weeks ago I went waist height in the sea (Cornwall UK) it was far too cold (10oC - 50oF) to go in slowly but ...

Travelling around the world with a St Jude ICD

By blake76 · New reply May 29, 2009
3 replies
Hi I've been advised not to go travelling to places too remote or where hospitals could not support my ICD. I have a St Jude ICD but I'm struggling to find which countries they have follow-up clinics ...

AM I GOING TO DIE

By bingo · New reply April 1, 2009
10 replies
I have an icd but it doesn't stop me from being scared. I also have congestive heart failure. My cardiologist told me that it depended on my outlook on life as to how long I would live. Does anyone else ...

Travel after ablation...

By fabu · New reply November 16, 2008
5 replies
Pete is back in U penn hosp... big job yesterday he was airlifted here from jersey Shore... he had 4 zaps on the floor at target ... and 2 more in J.S. .. they went in and ablated 35 spots in lower r ...

anxiety at night

By formydad · New reply September 25, 2008
6 replies
Well my father was to have his ICD tested last Friday, but instead ended up having a hernia operation. While in the hospital he had some sleep, but I think it was because of the pain med for the hernia ...