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Andrew’s ICD fired twice this morning. He was sledding with friends and walking up a hill when it shocked him twice. He told me his heart had been “racing” for a couple days even though he never said anything to me about it.
We called his heart clinic and they had us do a transmission with the CareLink Heart Monitor. They called us back a short time later. Naturally Andrew’s cardiologist is out of town until next week, so the only person I have talked to is the electrophysiologist. I am not sure I understand this all completely but here is what he told me…….
He said Andrew’s ICD is set to detect and try a burst pacing at 188 bpm. If that doesn’t work it then goes to the next level at 190 bpm and gives a medium shock. He said Andrew received this level shock twice before his heart went back to normal. He said he did not receive the full level shock because it responded to the medium therapy on the second attempt. He told me Andrew was in what is called “normal” sinus tachacardia at 190 bpm. He told me this was not a fatal type rhythm, but his ICD is not able to detect the difference between the “normal” sinus tach and a fatal rhythm. Did I hear and understand that right? Does that mean he was not in danger from that sinus tach but was shocked anyway?
I am also wondering if he could have been in this sinus tach for several days. He said his heart has been feeling like it was racing for a couple days, long before he started sledding this morning. He even said his heart didn’t feel like it was beating any faster at that moment of the shock then it has been the past two days.
Anyway, for now I was told to just keep Andrew on a low key activity level, (nothing more then walking) until his cardiologist gets back next week. We then will need to call him. The electro. said his cardiologist might want to increase or change his meds. Right now Andrew takes 50mg of atenolol per day, which is the same dose he started on 7 years ago!
We called his heart clinic and they had us do a transmission with the CareLink Heart Monitor. They called us back a short time later. Naturally Andrew’s cardiologist is out of town until next week, so the only person I have talked to is the electrophysiologist. I am not sure I understand this all completely but here is what he told me…….
He said Andrew’s ICD is set to detect and try a burst pacing at 188 bpm. If that doesn’t work it then goes to the next level at 190 bpm and gives a medium shock. He said Andrew received this level shock twice before his heart went back to normal. He said he did not receive the full level shock because it responded to the medium therapy on the second attempt. He told me Andrew was in what is called “normal” sinus tachacardia at 190 bpm. He told me this was not a fatal type rhythm, but his ICD is not able to detect the difference between the “normal” sinus tach and a fatal rhythm. Did I hear and understand that right? Does that mean he was not in danger from that sinus tach but was shocked anyway?
I am also wondering if he could have been in this sinus tach for several days. He said his heart has been feeling like it was racing for a couple days, long before he started sledding this morning. He even said his heart didn’t feel like it was beating any faster at that moment of the shock then it has been the past two days.
Anyway, for now I was told to just keep Andrew on a low key activity level, (nothing more then walking) until his cardiologist gets back next week. We then will need to call him. The electro. said his cardiologist might want to increase or change his meds. Right now Andrew takes 50mg of atenolol per day, which is the same dose he started on 7 years ago!
and this event is not helping, but I know you have many powers 
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