Heart defibrillator anyone?

[Toledo Mark]

Been having some odd heart issues happening in my family (siblings and cousins) and it seems we have a heriditary problem and a heart defibrillator can help a lot.  Some are just not waking up in the morning.  Odds are I may be getting one in the next few months.

Anyone have any experience getting one? Has it changed your riding habits?

If you want to PM me instead of posting here I understand.

Thanks,  Mark

[Patrick]

My father-in-law had the first heart defibrillator installed by the VA many years ago.. It turned that man into a monster.. That damn thing would start firing for no reason and we could not get an extra magnetic key to turn the damn thing off.. He would bounce around in the car every time we had to run him to the hospital.. This quite a while ago so I'm going to assume they now have that little problem fixed..

[fudgie]

Well, most I know that have defib are not allowed to ride anymore.  I'm of the younger club members so most of my friends dont have heart problems but ones I talk to on the street (back of the ambulance) had to give up riding. We use to haul in a 1%'er all the time for stuff. I asked him about how hard it was to having to give up his scoot. He said it was bad but the 1st time his defib shocked him, he woke up on the sidewalk, he was glad he was not riding.

No offense but that would be a tough call to make and I hope I dont ever have to. 

[fudgie]

This quite a while ago so I'm going to assume they now have that little problem fixed..

No, it still happens......

[cookiedough]

I know a guy around 60ish who still drives here in WI.  Don't know if he drives legally or not, but he has on several occassions been shocked while driving down the major crowded hwys. in his vehicle and woke up a few seconds later without killing someone else in the process.  Pretty scary if you ask me.  Personally, I wouldn't want to be riding a cycle nor driving a car if you loose it and have to be shocked to get the old pumper working again. 

[f6gal]

A couple of things are troubling in your post.  You state your family members have had problems; are you having issues, as well?  If not, why are they considering an ICD for you?  

If you do have one implanted, it does not necessarily end your riding... unless you live in a state that prohibits driving with one.

Before taking precautions, you need to understand why you have the ICD, the different things it does, and what they feel like:
•  Anti-tachycardia (fast heart) pacing (ATP): ICD sends out pulses to override the rhythm. Feels like fluttering or may not be felt at all.
•  Cardioversion: If ATP is unsuccessful, ICD gives one or more small shocks to interrupt the rhythm.  Feels like thumps in your chest.
•  Defibrillation: If ICD senses fibrillation (fast, irregular), it gives a strong shock to interrupt the rhythm. Feels like a kick in the chest.
•  Bradycardia (slow heart) Pacing: ICD's main purpose is to slow a fast heart.  But if you do have a slow rate (after a shock or b/c of another condition), most ICDs will send out mild pulses to speed the heart back up.

If your state does permit driving/riiding with an ICD, it would be wise to wait several months before attempting to ride.  During this time, pay attention to how you feel when your heart first begins to act up.  Your symptoms may be mild or severe, but if you learn to recognize the early symptoms, you can pull off the road before a big shock comes... preferably as soon as you feel palpitations, heart racing, or fluttering; before you get woozy (yeah, you'll likely get woozy before a big shock).  

When they implant the ICD, they sedate you before testing it, so you don't really know how it's going to feel for you, until you get your first unsedated shock.  It would be good to experience that first shock while sitting at home in your recliner.  

[f6gal]

This quite a while ago so I'm going to assume they now have that little problem fixed..

No, it still happens......

It shouldn't... If it does occur, the settings need to be adjusted.

[fudgie]

This quite a while ago so I'm going to assume they now have that little problem fixed..

No, it still happens......

It shouldn't... If it does occur, the settings need to be adjusted.

Your correct. We pick up maybe 4 a year with something malfuntioning.


Have you seen or read anything on the Zoll Life vest? Pretty cool. 

[Buda]

My mother had one put in about a year ago....after a massive heart attack.  The Doc says it has been doing its thing around 30% of the time.  From what my Ma says.....she doesn't even know its happening. I'll ask her again this evening and pass on the info

[f6gal]

Have you seen or read anything on the Zoll Life vest? Pretty cool.  

I saw a presentation about it.  Seems pretty cool for a short term issue... which is it's purpose.  I like that it warns the person that a shock is coming.

I can't help but wonder though, what if a guy goes into a lethal rhythm when he takes it off... say to take a shower?  Bummer!    

[fudgie]

Have you seen or read anything on the Zoll Life vest? Pretty cool.  

I saw a presentation about it.  Seems pretty cool for a short term issue... which is it's purpose.  I like that it warns the person that a shock is coming.

I can't help but wonder though, what if a guy goes into a lethal rhythm when he takes it off... say to take a shower?  Bummer!    

'Our' hospital was one of the trial hospitals in the US. We didnt know about these till late last year, even tho they have been doing them for a few yrs.    I guess their is about 50 pts in our area with them on. We have to look out for the 'blue goo!'  They told us that when the pt does take it off, they need to have a 'baby sitter' with them to watch them incase they do go down.

[Challenger]

My wife had a Three lead, Bi Ventricular, Cardioverter, Debibrillator implanted in March. Dr. told her she could not ride for three months. the new ones are not effected by microwave ovens as once thought, She is supposed to stay away from welders, small engines with unshielded spark plugs and all metal detectors (like air ports and court houses) She was also told to pass through the antitheft scanners like at Walmart quickly. We have a wireless monitor at home that keeps track of all activity and sends it automaticly to the Dr. So far, it sounds like she will be able to drive and ride in June.   

[The Anvil]

I'm gonna need one if the Bruins are gonna do this throughout the playoffs.

[98valk]

increase your magnesium levels. research has shown that 90% of heart attacks are the result of super low magnesium levels, the heart muscle and all muscles cannot contract without magnesium.

a place to start research,  www.mgwater.com

"According to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (1977) there have been more than 50 studies, in nine countries, that have indicated an inverse relationship between water hardness and mortality from cardiovascular disease. That is, people who drink water that is deficient in magnesium and calcium generally appear more susceptible to this disease. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences has estimated that a nation-wide initiative to add calcium and magnesium to soft water might reduce the annual cardiovascular death rate by 150,000 in the United States." ( Dr. Harold D. Foster , " Groundwater and Human Health," Groundwater Resources of British Columbia, Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks and Environment Canada, pp 6.1-6.3 (reprint), 1994.

[The Anvil]

So is this the same as a pacemaker? Or are they different?

[Patrick]

'Fiberlaters' are different animals than pace-makers..

[Toledo Mark]

A couple of things are troubling in your post.  You state your family members have had problems; are you having issues, as well?  If not, why are they considering an ICD for you?  

They are considering it because they can not predict when my heart may stop.  Three of my siblings are doctors (MD's), two have ICD's because they have been tested and are candidates of what 4 others in my family have already died from.  In the four I am including aunts, uncles, and cousins on my fathers side.  

[f6gal]

So is this the same as a pacemaker? Or are they different?

Pacemakers are placed to keep the heart from pumping too slowly... they give very mild shocks to pace the heart.
ICDs, OTOH, deliver shocks to interrupt either a fast heart rate or a lethal rhythm; basically they "reset" the heart.  Although they will also act as a pacer, if the heart rate drops below that which is safe.

[f6gal]

A couple of things are troubling in your post.  You state your family members have had problems; are you having issues, as well?  If not, why are they considering an ICD for you?  

They are considering it because they can not predict when my heart may stop.  Three of my siblings are doctors (MD's), two have ICD's because they have been tested and are candidates of what 4 others in my family have already died from.  In the four I am including aunts, uncles, and cousins on my fathers side.  

I still say keep riding.  If they test you and you have the genetic trait, you may still never have an "event."  So they place the ICD, just in case, but you may never even need a shock.  Just be aware of the symptoms of the heart rhythm (mentioned previoiusly), and if you start feel that way, get off the road ASAP.

[98valk]

So is this the same as a pacemaker? Or are they different?

Pacemakers are placed to keep the heart from pumping too slowly... they give mild shocks to pace the heart.
ICDs. OTOH, deliver shocks to interrupt either a fast heart rate or a lethal rhythm; basically they "reset" the heart.  Although they will also act as a pacer, if the heart rate drops below that which is safe.

mild shocks equals electrical impluses the body will and does make IF it has the proper mineral balance. the amercian diet does not always provide the proper minerals. High fuctose corn syrup (HFCS) depletes the body of essential minerals esp the ones the heart needs to beat/function. this basic workings of the human body.  HFCS is in just about every package good out there including most breads on the shelf.

[f6gal]

mild shocks equals electrical impluses the body will and does make IF it has the proper mineral balance.

Not necessarily.  While a mineral imbalance may cause cardiac dysfunction, there are many other causes.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

Have had one for over 6 years. Had my 2nd one put in in Dec. ! Just got back from over 4,000 mile ride to Ca. on Sat. There is no problem ridding with one. The comments from people that don't have one, have no clue, like some of the comments on the tech board !  

[TomT]

My son found out he has HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) back in 2008 when he was just 24 years old. This is a condition that you usually only hear about when an athlete collapses and dies with now prior problems. Luckily, he was working at a hospital when he started to experience some problems and I told him to get to the ER. The next morning, he was diagnosed with HCM. The DR's here in town said he would be ok if he waited until he was 30 to get a pace maker. We took him to Cleavland Clinic on a Friday, and before we knew what was happening, they were scheduling him for surgery on Monday! They said that if he didn't get it, he wouldn't live to his 25th birthday!!! That was in May and this was in February!
Anyway, All went well, and Paul is doing well now. He has gone though Med School and is getting ready to take the his big exam to get ready for his Clinical Rotations!
Sorry to be so long winded, but the defibrillater/ pacemaker is not a big deal. Go for it. It is a wonderful thing!!
Tom T
Lynchburg, VA

[98valk]

PRENATAL AND GENETIC MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY IN CARDIOMYOPATHY; POSSIBLE VITAMIN AND TRACE MINERAL INTERACTIONS
MILDRED S. SEELIG, M.D., M.P.H.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, North Carolina University Medical Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York

96. R.G. Weintraub, M.J. Swinburn and L. Lee. Neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a case report and family study. Austral. Paediat. J. 23, 249-251 (1987).

97. M.D. Reller and S. Kaplan. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in infants of diabetic mothers: an update. Am. J. Perinatol. 5, 353-358 (1988).

98. J.N. McMahon, P.J. Berry and H.S. Joffe. Fatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an infant of a diabetic mother. Pediat. Cardiol. 11, 211-212 (1990).


http://www.mgwater.com/genetic.shtml#DISEASES

this all leads to the poor american diet, but don't worry they have antidotes and devices to barely keep people alive while they make a fortune.

www.westonaprice.org  one way to eat.