Breathe Easily: Becoming a great ICD manager

Once your ICD is in place, it is very important to make friends with it. You are about to take back your own body. All too often, ICDs are in place; however, the information or the patient education is not standardized. Recognition of psychosocial aspects of recovery and rehabilitation has been shown to sigificantly affect outcome and longevity. As the brain, works on the principal of flight or fight, anytime the functions of our bodies are changed from bio medical devices or coronory incidents (for example, the chnage in cardiac beats or arrythmias) , people often report and anxious feeling, panic and depression. As the ICD detects changes in the heart, a highly devised system of software is alerted and the ICD may deliver a shock to reset the heart rate. Allow yourself to learn that this is part of the process. Breath in and out and allow yourself to affirm that his is part of the process of maintaining your cardiac system. Immediately report these occurrences to your doctor. (See below for relaxation strategy)

Your physician will direct you on procedures to follow. An examination of you and the device may be ordered. Immediate reporting of any occurrance is necessary as ICDs may need setting adjustments, power checks and determination of proper functioning. Most people will know more about their Televisions or ipods. Allow yourself to become a great manager of your ICD. Reporting any incidents ( Shocks, light-headedness, or anything that feels different ) to your physician is very impotant. Most people are underreporters due to fear or simply feeling stupid.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has developed in a percentage of patients . Symptoms include: flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts that may repeatedly focus on the time a shock was delivered, what activies are safe, isolating from this type of trauma may lead to people or things . If you or somebody in your life notices a change in your personality, anxiety, anger, sleep disturbance, hopelessness, concentration decreased, please report these to you phsyician. Often people are unable to tallk about iit. It is very important to communicate these symptoms. Studies have shown PTSD, depression and anxiety can significantly impact your health and longevity. Education and Brief therapy can positively affect your experience. Sometime, a medication is prescribed to balance the system. Inquire about Cardiac Rehabillitation , as these specialized physical therapists have programs specially designed to increase a sense of safety and resilience along with valuable physical and emotional benefits. Speaking with other ICD recipients may also increase a sense of support. You are a medical wonder, experiencing something that most people may not be able to relate to.
Allow yourself to be kind and patient within.

ICD Relaxation Excercise.

An exercise I have used with ICD recipients allows us to positively set our internal self to trigger a relaxation । Self talk and affirmations override automatic negative thoughts. Reassuring oneself that the shock is the reason we had the need for the ICD। This is protecting my life. I report this immediately to my physician, and I can breathe in allowing my breath to travel down my spine and breathing out any tension or discomfort. Picture your heart as healthy and shiny Breathe in through your mouth taking in safety and peace; breathing out tension or discomfort. Now allow your breath to release all tension coming out of the area of your heart. You are safe.