I May Need a Defibrillator....

[JerseyHarold]

I had a heart attack nearly 12 years ago and have been seeing a cardiologist ever since then.  I saw the doctor again  yesterday and he thinks I should get a defibrillator installed.   He said they first do an electrical test on my heart and if the test confirms the need, they proceed with the installation.   Needless to say, I'm not happy to hear this news and have some concerns.   The biggest one is how it will affect day-to-day living.

 

Do any of you have experience with this?  Any thoughts appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Harold

[greg g]

No experience with one but my heart doc is trying to talk me into one.  I am 15 years out from my original cardiac event.  Says I need to protect myself from arrhythmia, as my heart function rate has declined slightly, but since I have never had an incidence of irregular fast heart beat,  I have decided at this point to protect myself from lithium ion batteries, so as not to spontaneously burst into flames.

She never said anything about electrical test, but I am sure it involves more than a circuit test lamp, so I am disinclined to go there also.

 

As far as day to day stuff, I would imagine it would cause a hassle with the folks doing scans at the airport.  And then there is the concern of another surgery when the batteries need changing.

[P15-D24]

ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

[mattimuss]

Hey Harold,

 

My uncle got one last year.  According to him the surgery wasn't all that bad, but the recovery sucked because you are not allowed to do much for 4-6 weeks afterward.

[1940plymouth]

Good luck with what you decide, I am thinking an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure also

 

Google it and you will find some great information/

 

I tried to copy and paste, but the forum wouldn't let me paste the information

 

You will be added to my prayer list if that is ok with you

Bob

Edited January 5, 2016 by 1940plymouth

[Labrauer]

Harold I have three uncles that have defibrillators installed and other than having to not do anything for the first three to four weeks after the surgery they have had no complaints nor did it change their life style. Heck one of them still makes hay every summer and does darn well what he pleases and has had his for about 10 years. He is a hard working man on his farm and goes constantly seven days a week 52 weeks a year. I can't say I have seen any change in life style for all three of them except having to go for check ups at the doctors office a couple time a year. I think you will not see a change in your life after. I wish you luck and God Bless you.

[whtbaron]

I assume that's different than a pacemaker? I have an aquantaince on another board that farms with a pacemaker. He avoids electronic welding equipment, but other than that he still leads a very active lifestyle.

[Dan Hiebert]

Same difference, I think.  Those things are to keep heartbeats regular, they sense a change (arrhythmia?) in your heartbeat and give your heart a jolt or two to get it back where it's supposed to be.  Microwaves used to be the scourge of pacemakers, I'm sure some of you remember seeing warning signs in break rooms and convenience stores until the technology outpaced the danger.  I don't have any relatives with them, but I know a few active folks that have one.  I'd echo the same thing others have, only downside is the initial period of relative inactivity until everything heals up.   

[RobertKB]

Pacemakers and defibrillators are not the same, similar but different. We have all seen paddles used to restart someone's heart on a variety of TV shows. Those are defibrillators used for emergencies but implantable defibrillators work on the same principle. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/cardiovascular_diseases/overview_of_pacemakers_and_implantable_cardioverter_defibrillators_icds_85,P00234/

My cousin's wife in England has an implanted defibrillator and she would likely be dead without it. She lives a very normal life now, however.

Edited January 11, 2016 by RobertKB

[JerseyHarold]

Thanks for your responses so far.  My wife was gung-ho about getting this done and spoke to the doctor's office about getting me in a few weeks from now.  I'm cautious by nature and have a lot of questions, so I have another appointment with the doctor where I will try to get them answered.  

 

In retrospect, the way he left off with us was 'come back and we'll talk again in about six weeks', so I don't think it's an immediate need.  One thing that I didn't like is that he casually mentioned I will get a monitoring box for my night stand, which is surprising because nobody I've spoken to has one.  Amazingly enough, the cardiology practice has a monitoring division....hmmm?   Even my wife doesn't like the way he snuck-in the monitoring comment;  she has also calmed down and can see my perspective more clearly.  

 

I'm also going to get a second opinion.  Just like carpentry, measure twice and cut once.

 

I appreciate your responses and support.  Please don't hesitate to comment.

 

Harold

[Niel Hoback]

     Maybe I'm a sucker, but I have enough confidence in my doctor that I do whatever he says, within reason.  I have something called Bradycardia  that he knows about. My normal heart rate is from 48-52.  It has been for as long as I can remember. Also a very irregular heart beat, sometimes it stops for 8 or 10 seconds and them restarts with a great thumping. He has calmed it a lot telling me someday I too, will have something like what you are looking at. I will not hesitate to do what is called for since everyone knows more about it than me.

    I am sure you will do what is right,  trusting you doctor and your God. 

[1940plymouth]

I was told two years ago this past November that I was going to need a new heart valve, so far so good, but like Niel says, I have all the faith in my Dr's both heart and cancer that I do what I am told,, well close, I eat too much of the wrong foods, but when it comes time to have the valve replaced, I will do so

[Frank Elder]

Two weeks ago I was admitted to the horsepistol with Afib.....200 standing heartbeats a minute and only 83 percent of my breathing capabilities. I was a mess, sleeping at the kitchen table because I was afraid I would die if I laid down to sleep.

Now after 1 week in there and one week at home  I have a regular sinus rythmn and a regular boatload of pills......they shocked me twic to try and establish rythmn but to no avail. Lasiks...p pills have drained off the fluid in my lungs and medicine has given me a regular heart beat.

If I revert to Afib I will take that surgery and gladly......I collapsed at work in July with numb lips and tongue, I thought it was just dehydration or heat stroke but thats when they think the Afib started. Never been so tired in my life, it's like running a marathon 24/7/365.....fell asleep at the wheel once. 6 months later I gave up fighting the wife and let her take me in.....what a wake up call its been. Take care of yourself Harold and do whats best for your family.

Edited January 26, 2016 by Frank Elder

[Frank Elder]

Paddle burn...it arced, bad connection

 

no star washers...lol!

[Frank Elder]

I looked and felt miserable.......

 

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

hey..take care of yourself...glad you getting back up to speed

[JerseyHarold]

Frank,

 

Sorry to hear about this.  Good to hear you're feeling better.  My thoughts are with you.

 

Harold

[Frank Elder]

Right back at ya Harold...no pity party here, I'm breathing and moving around better than I have in years!

Edited January 23, 2016 by Frank Elder

[Desotodav]

Good health wishes to you Frank.

I had 2 unexplained Afib incidents last year and the specialist can't tell me where they came from. I was a real mess with the first one with a heart rate of 211 and I had to have a paddle shock, but I was a little better on the second one (177 beats per minute) and they quickly brought my beat back with 2 tablets. I passed the stress test on the treadmill with flying colors and have proved "very fit" in all tests and ECG's since then. I found that it took a week or so to build my energy back up, so you may be best to take it easy for a week or two. They joys of getting older hey!

[Frank Elder]

Thanks, it is something to be experienced.........

[48Dodger]

_{I've been working in Radiology for 31 years.....I work primarily in the Emergency Room, but over the years I've worked with Cardiologist as well. We help them place the wires for the pacemaker, defibrillators, etc.}

_{So I've been reading with great interest about how you guys are doing and hearing the results. It puts me in a mindset like I have at work and the stoic feel I need to have to understand a problem.....then I read Frank's signature line, and get reminded "these are my car buddies I'm reading about". My friends.} 

 

_{I hope you guys continue to help each other in more then just cars and trucks.....it really is a great thing to build a friendship base on a hobby, to build trust to the point where you can share a "fear" or concern. Its important, because I never know why my turn is coming, and I know I'll be talking with you guys.}  

 

_{I wish all of you great health!}

 

_48D

 

_{p.s. Frank, this sig line made feel like a real motor head...lol..thank you.}

 

_{"At 2:18 I feel a little flat, at 2:25 my thinking gets slanted, at 2:30 it's all inline again.}

_{At 2:51 I feel more robust, at 3:18 my thinking is opposed, at 3:40 I start to feel a little wedged.}

_{At 3:60 it's actually 4:00, at 4:26 that wedged feeling has maxed out, leaving nothing but}

_{elephants on my mind. At 4:40 I feel raised up, at 4:46 even higher........then 5:00 hits me like a} 

_{ton of bricks......and that leaves me spent!"}

 

Edited January 26, 2016 by 48dodger

[1940plymouth]

48dodger,

 

Thanks to people in your profession, I under went 35 intense, and I do mean intense radiation treatments on my throat in Cooperstown NY for throat cancer,   The two men and one lady were so caring and just made me feel so much at ease.  I am sure you have seen that mask that is put on your head and neck to keep you from moving either while getting the radiation treatments.  That is a very unnerving experience but one they got me through 35 times.

 

Thankfully that is over with, I had my last treatment in Sept of '12 for that cancer

 

Again, thank you and old car people are great people aren't they

Bob

[Frank Elder]

Thanks Tim, I think the worst part was becoming dependent on oxygen while they waited for my fluid level in my lungs to drop,

they had me up to 4 and wanted to take it down to 1 in one day.....talk about panic, but they walked me through it.

Edited January 26, 2016 by Frank Elder

[JerseyHarold]

I appreciate the thoughts and comments so far.  I had a second appointment with my electro-cardiologist and had him answer a number of questions.  I also have an appointment with another electro-cardiologist in a few weeks for a second opinion.

 

The biggest thing that flips me out is that the doctor says I shouldn't be near an open hood with the engine running because of the magnetic field from the alternator.  As a car guy, this puts a big crimp in my activities and also contradicts other things I have read and heard.  Even my other cardiologist (same group, different specialty) said he has patients who are truck mechanics with implanted defibrillators.  Also, I would think there is some kind of shield you can wear (like the thing the dentist puts over you when taking X-rays).

 

Keep the dialogue going.  I'm all ears.

 

Harold

[Frank Elder]

https://www.uihealthcare.org/health-library/pacemakers-and-defibrillators-frequently-asked-questions/

 

 

 

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Devices-that-may-Interfere-with-Implantable-Cardioverter-Defibrillators-ICDs_UCM_448464_Article.jsp#.Vqg4KBgrKRw