How Will an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Affect My Lifestyle?
The low-energy electrical pulses your implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) gives aren t painful. You may not notice them, or you may feel a fluttering in your chest. The high-energy pulses or shocks your ICD gives last only a fraction of a second and feel like a thumping or painful kick in the chest, depending on their strength. Your doctor may give you medicine to decrease the number of irregular heartbeats you have. This will reduce the number of high-energy pulses sent to your heart. Such medicines include amiodarone or sotalol and beta blockers. Your doctor may want you to call his or her office or come in within 24 hours of getting a strong shock from your ICD. See your doctor or go to an emergency room right away if you get many strong shocks within a short time.
