I have had an ICD implanted.
This was done as an outpatient at Worcester On the appointed day, there was initially a
long wait as the patient before me proved “tricky” and had to be kept in
overnight. When my turn came, it was
done under local anaesthetic. All done
very efficiently and painlessly, the procedure lasting less than an hour, then
recovery, checks that all was well and X-ray to confirm the wires were in the
correct place It was not nearly as scary
as the letter to my GP, copied to me, by the Arrhythmia Consultant. My ambulatory monitoring showed: “Narrow QRS
complexes and a high burden of ventricular ectopy.” Not really sure what that means, but I am
definitely at risk of something nasty such as ventricular tachycardia or
fibrillation, hence the need for the ICD.
I am not
allowed to drive for a month, not just for medical reasons, but by law.
I have informed the DVLA and my motor insurance company. This is a nuisance as now I feel fine. I have, for four to six weeks, to avoid
lifting or carrying anything heavy in my left arm (not vacuuming or lawn mowing
for example) and should not raise my left arm above shoulder height. I have studiously observed these requirements,
but have had to check myself once or twice from doing something as simple as
putting both arms behind the neck when relaxing in bed.
Still the six week check up is getting
closer, though it seems tediously slowly, while garden jobs are piling up, in spite of Lorraine nobly doing many of them. I just have to hope that the check up will
show the electrodes have not become displaced and that the device is working
properly. Then I can go full speed to
catch up on gardening and wall press-ups etc.
Not to mentioning vacuuming. Dear
Lorraine has
undertaken extra work brilliantly, including driving me. I’ll take her for a celebratory meal when the
check-up is over.
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