Digest Number 216

[Guest guest]

Hi Theo,

I'm on my third abdominal ICD and had my last replacement 4 months ago, they can deffinately knock you out for the shock, it's actually alot easier than the first surgery and alot less complicated. Unfortunately our anxiety takes us over. Just take it easy after the surgery, my mistake is I got on with life, work etc. too soon after the surgery and did too much which in turn I think, made me get shocked and of course set me back emotionally. You are in my thoughts.

Re: Digest Number 216

Good morning. I've been in the group for a while, and mercifully have minimal heart problems. My ICD has not fired off. I have a Guidant two chamber one with both defib and pace. Perhaps the psychological barrier was the most important for me to overcome and I seem to have accomplished that. My implant was in 97, so now they have to open me up and replace my battery. I have had this horrible bronchial bug that's going around and certainly do not feel up to going through a battery change at this point. So, they are postponing my scheduled implant for next Tuesday until I get on my feet. I am going to find out if they can put me out when they test the shock. I think they can. I'll keep you posted. After it is over, if any of you have any questions about that procedure which I can answer, I will be only to glad to do so. They say it's a snap and no big deal, but of course, I am a little anxious about it. Good luck to all of you. Theo1415 Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org

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Birthdays and 3-word sentences, what a nice bunch of messages!! Eli (3 1/2)

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> Fay

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Debbie do you know what state Dr.Hilda Lives

[Guest guest]

Good morning. I've been in the group for a while, and mercifully have minimal heart problems. My ICD has not fired off. I have a Guidant two chamber one with both defib and pace. Perhaps the psychological barrier was the most important for me to overcome and I seem to have accomplished that.

My implant was in 97, so now they have to open me up and replace my battery.

I have had this horrible bronchial bug that's going around and certainly do not feel up to going through a battery change at this point. So, they are postponing my scheduled implant for next Tuesday until I get on my feet. I am going to find out if they can put me out when they test the shock. I think they can. I'll keep you posted. After it is over, if any of you have any questions about that procedure which I can answer, I will be only to glad to do so. They say it's a snap and no big deal, but of course, I am a little anxious about it. Good luck to all of you. Theo1415

[Guest guest]

I had to have my ICD replaced last Sept. and went in, in the

morning and was on my way home by 2PM that afternoon.

It was a snap! The first ICD lasted about 4 years.

Hank

THEO1415@... wrote:

Good morning.

I've been in the group for a while, and mercifully have

minimal heart problems.

My ICD has not fired off. I have a Guidant two

chamber one with both defib

and pace. Perhaps the psychological barrier was

the most important for me

to overcome and I seem to have accomplished that.

My implant was in 97, so

now they have to open me up and replace my battery.

I have had this horrible

bronchial bug that's going around and certainly do

not feel up to going through

a battery change at this point. So, they are

postponing my scheduled

implant for next Tuesday until I get on my feet. I

am going to find out if

they can put me out when they test the shock. I

think they can. I'll

keep you posted. After it is over, if any of you have

any questions about that

procedure which I can answer, I will be only to glad

to do so. They say

it's a snap and no big deal, but of course, I am a little

anxious about it.

Good luck to all of you. Theo1415

Please visit the Zapper homepage at

http://www.ZapLife.org

[Guest guest]

Theo... I had my ICD replaced 11/98... was a piece o' cake, honest...

and that's from the world's biggest chicken... my ICD is located in

abdomin and that's where they placed new one as well so as not to

require lead replacement... they just opened me up, " tailored " pocket

to fit new/smaller unit... and I was home following morning...

surgery was after 3:30 PM and I was thankful for the overnight stay

as 90 min ride home following morning was still a tad

uncomfortable ... But I know of many that have come home same day ...

I was on vacation w/in 2 wks... replacement is

nothing like original implant... I couldn't believe how quickly I

returned to 100% ... but, even tho I wasn't " scared " I

did find I had that all too familiar anxiety over the surgery... go

figure... I think if we could only come up w/cure for anxiety then

we'd have it made... not to mention being rich... I'm sure there's a

market for anxiety cure Good luck to you and let us know how

replacement goes... Oh, BTW... ask if you can keep old ICD... they

make great conversation pieces... and g'kids love taking them for

show and tell

> Good morning. I've been in the group for a while, and mercifully

have

> minimal heart problems. My ICD has not fired off. I have a

Guidant two

> chamber one with both defib and pace. Perhaps the psychological

barrier was

> the most important for me to overcome and I seem to have

accomplished that.

> My implant was in 97, so now they have to open me up and replace my

battery.

> I have had this horrible bronchial bug that's going around and

certainly do

> not feel up to going through a battery change at this point. So,

they are

> postponing my scheduled implant for next Tuesday until I get on my

feet. I

> am going to find out if they can put me out when they test the

shock. I

> think they can. I'll keep you posted. After it is over, if any of

you have

> any questions about that procedure which I can answer, I will be

only to glad

> to do so. They say it's a snap and no big deal, but of course, I

am a little

> anxious about it. Good luck to all of you. Theo1415

[Guest guest]

Hi Theo, I have gone through what you are getting ready for...It's a piece of cake for your conscious system, they put you under for the ZAP...You may want to check with your electrician to be sure he is on the same page...The part of you that takes the HIT is your sub-conscious immune system!..It took me two weeks to get over it...

Best wishes, Your Bionic Brother, Dudley

Re: Digest Number 216Good morning. I've been in the group for a while, and mercifully have minimal heart problems. My ICD has not fired off. I have a Guidant two chamber one with both defib and pace. Perhaps the psychological barrier was the most important for me to overcome and I seem to have accomplished that. My implant was in 97, so now they have to open me up and replace my battery. I have had this horrible bronchial bug that's going around and certainly do not feel up to going through a battery change at this point. So, they are postponing my scheduled implant for next Tuesday until I get on my feet. I am going to find out if they can put me out when they test the shock. I think they can. I'll keep you posted. After it is over, if any of you have any questions about that procedure which I can answer, I will be only to glad to do so. They say it's a snap and no big deal, but of course, I am a little anxious about it. Good luck to all of you. Theo1415 Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org

[Guest guest]

HANK ..

> I had to have my ICD replaced last Sept. and went in, in the

> morning and was on my way home by 2PM that afternoon.

> It was a snap! The first ICD lasted about 4 years.

That's good news. Was wondering how long they last. The

literature that came with my husband's said less long, if you

'use' them a lot.

He got sedation for the testing of the device when it was

originally implanted, in Jan. Just to ease your mind, Theo.

He doesn't remember a thing about it.

Sue

[Guest guest]

Theo-

I am on my third icd. I thought the replacements were easy (my original required

open heart surgery as transvenous leads were not yet FDA approved). They do put

you out when they test it. Good luck.

Fran

[Guest guest]

-

I participated in a special study to see if V-Tach is hereditary. I was

told after months of their research " NO " it is not hereditary. I was very

relieved to hear this news. I like to believe they are correct. I've been

very concerned that my 15-yr old son might have a related problem & this

V-Tach problem (that I have)is nowhere else in the family. My son has

fainted 3X in a year and has excessive palpitations at times along with

skipped beats. He failed a tilt-table test in seconds. I also have second

degree heartblock (so we watch for this too) There is no V-Tach that has

presented & the Dr. has him drinking a LOT of Gatorade. Dr. said Gatorade or

Beta-Blocker (no thank you!)

I'm a fainter too, so we have to keep the BP up. But I'll let you know if I

can find related info & a link for you. Since I've gone thru the testing

already, I'm glad I could pass this on to you & hopefully it helps! As you

can see, I have great cause to keep on top of this. I have 3 children.

E-mail me if you like about the study.

--Make sure you are completely aware of all cardiac conditions that

your Dad has so you can keep keenly aware of things to watch for for both you

& your family.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

I am a daughter of a man with an ICD unit due to VTach ----> Question...Is this

probelm hereditary?? It sounds like alot of people on the Zapperlist have

children who are afflicted with the same

problems....let me know, Thanks!!!

FLesicko@... wrote:

> Theo-

> I am on my third icd. I thought the replacements were easy (my original

required open heart surgery as transvenous leads were not yet FDA approved).

They do put you out when they test it. Good luck.

> Fran

>

>

> Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> http://www.ZapLife.org

>

>

[Guest guest]

Although my brothers and sisters do not have one, we all have irregular heart beats. so does my mother. The others have not gone to check themselves. They just live with their irregular heart beats. They feel it is natural. I had mine all my life, I thought it was natural also, until I had an examination by a specialist heart Dr. and he made an appointment with the electrophisiologist. I obviously "failed" the test and was told to get one immediately but I wanted to find out more about it before getting it.

[Guest guest]

...

In my case, heredity doesn't play into the picture... I had so many

tests it wasn't funny and all found that my V-tach/bradycardia and CM

stemmed from a virus and not anything in my family hx... (family hx

is full of heart disease and MI)... I also have MVP, and have been

told that probably is from birth although only dx in '94... but I

know of no other family members w/MVP. As someone in another reply

stated... it is important to keep record of all you family's heart

problems and inform your medical personel of same when having exams

or problems. Good luck to you and your father.

>

> > Theo-

> > I am on my third icd. I thought the replacements were easy (my

original required open heart surgery as transvenous leads were not

yet FDA approved). They do put you out when they test it. Good luck.

> > Fran

> >

> >

> > Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> > http://www.ZapLife.org

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi, ,

> I am a daughter of a man with an ICD unit due to VTach ---->

> Question...Is this probelm hereditary?? It sounds like alot of people

> on the Zapperlist have children who are afflicted with the same

> problems....let me know,

I'm very new to the ICD/arrhythmia arena too. I've done some

research and reading

since my husband just got his ICD this past January, trying to learn

more. I am no science

person, but am somewhat able to digest the sci data and can answer a few

questions.

From what i've read, most cases of arrhythmia stem from an injury to

the heart muscle.

Usually from a heart attack or virus infection. However, there ARE some

that stem from

hereditary conditions such as Long QT Syndrome. And other even rare

hereditary conditions.

I'd suggest that you talk first to your dad and find out from him what

his cardio/EP drs.

are saying about his reasons for having the ICD. If that doesn't rest

your mind, talk to one

of them directly. They probably won't go into his particulars

(patient-doctor confidentiality),

but hopefully they'll set your mind at rest about his condition being a

hereditary one. Most

drs. are very sympathetic about these things, esp. if you yourself have

children who might

need future watching.

Hope this helps you. If you need in-depth medical articles, i'd be

happy to forward them

to you.

Sue

--

" She was not quite what you would call refined.

She was not quite what you would call unrefined.

She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot. "

-- Mark Twain

Rich and Sue Owens

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Meadows/7457/index3.html

[Guest guest]

It depends on the casue of the problem. Some are hereditary like Long QT

syndrome. Some arrhythmias are relatd to other heart problems (coronary

artery disease. My diagnosis is post-partum cardiomyopathy - which means I

got it from my son and he'll never get it! all kidding aside, an irregular

heartbeat can be caused by a number of things, some of which have ahereditary

component and some of which don't.

Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone;

i got my ICD 02/02/2001 and already got fired upon(therapy) 4 times due to

lack of potassium,anyway my question is is it the ICD they replace or is it

just the battery? I have Guidant Ventak Prizm ll and i thought that every 5

years they changed the battery rather than the AICD. Please let me know

Thanks. Gurhan G. Ozdemir (TURK)

>From: Naojeca@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: Digest Number 216

>Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 19:13:52 -0000

>

>Theo... I had my ICD replaced 11/98... was a piece o' cake, honest...

>and that's from the world's biggest chicken... my ICD is located in

>abdomin and that's where they placed new one as well so as not to

>require lead replacement... they just opened me up, " tailored " pocket

>to fit new/smaller unit... and I was home following morning...

>surgery was after 3:30 PM and I was thankful for the overnight stay

>as 90 min ride home following morning was still a tad

>uncomfortable ... But I know of many that have come home same day ...

>I was on vacation w/in 2 wks... replacement is

>nothing like original implant... I couldn't believe how quickly I

>returned to 100% ... but, even tho I wasn't " scared " I

>did find I had that all too familiar anxiety over the surgery... go

>figure... I think if we could only come up w/cure for anxiety then

>we'd have it made... not to mention being rich... I'm sure there's a

>market for anxiety cure Good luck to you and let us know how

>replacement goes... Oh, BTW... ask if you can keep old ICD... they

>make great conversation pieces... and g'kids love taking them for

>show and tell

>

>

> > Good morning. I've been in the group for a while, and mercifully

>have

> > minimal heart problems. My ICD has not fired off. I have a

>Guidant two

> > chamber one with both defib and pace. Perhaps the psychological

>barrier was

> > the most important for me to overcome and I seem to have

>accomplished that.

> > My implant was in 97, so now they have to open me up and replace my

>battery.

> > I have had this horrible bronchial bug that's going around and

>certainly do

> > not feel up to going through a battery change at this point. So,

>they are

> > postponing my scheduled implant for next Tuesday until I get on my

>feet. I

> > am going to find out if they can put me out when they test the

>shock. I

> > think they can. I'll keep you posted. After it is over, if any of

>you have

> > any questions about that procedure which I can answer, I will be

>only to glad

> > to do so. They say it's a snap and no big deal, but of course, I

>am a little

> > anxious about it. Good luck to all of you. Theo1415

>

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In a message dated 11/24/02 5:00:05 AM Eastern Standard Time,

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Margaret

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