Guest guest Posted October 20, 1998 Report Share Posted October 20, 1998 Pat raised some familiar questions... Issues most ICD patients have experienced. > His device was implanted almost four weeks ago, > and he is still experiencing a great deal of > discomfort at the site, although the bruising > has disappeared. Is this common? I would say it is NOT uncommon. Now on my second ICD... four years after implant... I STILL have considerable discomfort. In my case, that is mostly around the lead as it passes under the breast... (I have an abdominal placement) > The seizures were caused by ventricular > fibrillations. As a result, his doctor has > notified the DMV to withhold driving privileges. > Does this happen to everyone? It depends on the state. Here in Florida, we are (supposedly) not to drive for 6-months after the implant. It is not so much to determine what we do when the ICD delivers therapy... but WHAT CAUSES the delivery of therapy. For example: The potential of shock while driving is not extremely dangerous... but episodes of V-Tach (my situation) or seizures (your husbands') does present a significant risk. > He is on many medications, even after the ICD: > hytrin, digoxin, capoten, isosorbide, dilantin, > lasix, potassium, aspirin, pepcid... Pretty routine complement... I think I can match one for one... with most of your Rx matching mine for reason: Examples: for Aspirin's anti-clot action, I take Coumadin. For lasix, I am on dyazide, etc. Bring your medication questions to our weekly ZapChat... 8PM EST Thursday. That is a major topic of our " online *realtime* support group... we may have a pharmacist on lione with us this week! Stay well.... Duff ----- See the original message at list//?start=109 -- Free e-mail group hosting at http://www.eGroups.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 1998 Report Share Posted October 20, 1998 Hi Pat...and all... Read your post and please tell your husband to " hang in there... " I had an ICD implanted August 8, 1998 and am just feeling better the last few weeks. Sometimes I think it has to do with how much skin there is to put it under--I'm a female and 5'4-1/2 " and weight 120, so the whole darn " box " sticks out, but the pain eventually lessens but I doubt it completely goes away. My arm also gave me trouble and sometimes I still feel pain in it. I think this happened during the transplant because I was a bit black and blue. I don't know much about seizures or the resultant coma, but I know that having the ICD is like having an emergency room in your chest, and should he go into V-tach or V-Fib the device will shock him out of it. You didn't mention your husband's diagnosis. Is it CHF? It almost sounds that way with the meds. I have cardiomyopathy and am on Aspirin, Prinivil, and Lanoxin, but since I have no fluid build up, I am not on potassium or lasix. Sometimes these drugs are necessary. I would like to point you both to another wonderful heart site on the web...it is called Jon's Place and here is the URL: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/2571/heartforum.htm. It is a great place to learn a lot about heart medicines, nutrition, diet, etc. Jon is a patient himself and I have been corresponding with the group there for over a year. I, too, cannot drive. The device was put in and tested in August and then retested in September--all seems to be well. It has not discharged. In December I go for a routine checkup and reading of the device and think that perhaps then the doctor will permit me to drive. I really never passed out, or blacked out, but felt like I might. I do drive locally to the supermarket, but that's about it until I get his OK. Are you both happy with your Cardiologist and your husband's care? That is very important. Altho it sounds like he is being well taken care of. There is another web site that my doc has, it is called " arrhythmia.com " and it is on the web. He is from St. Luke's Roosevelt in NYC. There is some nice info there, too. And Guidant also has a web site that you can probably get from a search engine or from Zappers (Duffy's Place). (Guidant is a mfg of these ICD's). Pat ...I want to wish you and your husband well. Thank goodness he was in the doctor's office. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Take care, Lee Roush from northern NJ. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 1998 Report Share Posted October 20, 1998 Patty S Pulasky wrote: > > Jon: > Thank you for encouraging our questions. Mine concerns my > husband's post-ICD recovery. His device was implanted almost four > weeks ago, and he is still experiencing a great deal of discomfort > at the site, although the bruising has disappeared. Is this common? > Also, his ICD was necessary due to seizures in the > doctor's office, resulting in cardiac/respiratory arrest,culminating > in a four day coma. The seizures were caused by ventricular > fibrillations. As a result, his doctor has notified the DMV to > withhold driving privileges. Does this happen to everyone? (This was > the only time he had had seizures.) Are seizures still to be > expected? > He is on many medications, even after the ICD: hytrin, > digoxin, capoten, isosorbide, dilantin, lasix, potassium, aspirin, > pepcid...I haven't noticed communications mentioning this many > drugs. Thanking you in advance for your assistance. > Pat Pulasky > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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