esp test March 4,  2017  6:27pm EST

Fore!! I am also an avid golfer since age 7 and am now 69. In 1993 I had a massive heart attack and soon after an ICD implant. The ICD's at that time were as big as a large cell phone and three times as thick and inserted below the rib cage. I have had six replacements due to the battery running low. It is now a small one under my clavicle. Sure, I have had many shocks, but very few in the last few years after some ablations and med changes. The shock does hurt, but only for a millisecond and there can be multiple shocks. But, the shocks saves your life and life goes on as normal afterwards. I do not like the shocks of course, but the alternative is a lot worse. It has saved me many times over all these years and I now know it is a gift from doctors, medical researchers and my higher power. Do not be concerned. If you have one, remember that it is a gift to wake up the next morning and see a loved one or watch a movie!! I do not golf much any more as I have had seven hip replacements and huge back surgeries among many other surgeries. I have come through each one with flying colors and no ICD problems. I wish I could hit the ball 300 yards like I used to and play to a 5 handicap AND play with my three sons who played college golf. But, I am just happy to watch them and chip around a little. Everything will get better and fall in place and please do not worry about the ICD. I have a home monitor that sends signals to Medtronics and if there is a problem starting, they call me which has only happened a few times. You can also send them a strip over the monitor for them to look at to see if you have a problem. The monitors are free. Go hit a few six irons and putt like a champ. LIVE STRONG and remember that it is a gift to be here and to have all the medical wonders save your life. Play 36 my friend!!!

That is a beautiful story...sorry you had to go through all that.. brave man...wishing you the best in the future...keep going..I have had nothing but one problem after another since my bypass...now I am having pain in the back of my neck and sides of my neck and upper back I did not hurt myself..I am nourish all the time..disgusted all I want to do is move on with my life..sad but do feel blessed and so very thankful. Dottie

Mingo thanks a lot . youre an inspiration for me and im sure countless others here. I know I might have to cut back on caffeine but reading your reply to my post is better than any fresh cup of coffee in the morning . thank you very much .

hi Mingo again I was being nosy and reading other posts here , this is a great site . I see you mention living in the phoenix area nice. im in New York most of the time but I have a condo in the oro valley area north of Tucson . Love it there peaceful and relaxing maybe I should swap coasts Take care Bob

Good morning, I am sharing the link to our patient education materials on Electrophysiology Stress testing for you. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/SymptomsDiagnosisMonitoringofArrhythmia/Electrophysiology-Studies-EPS_UCM_447319_Article.jsp#.WL1nuW8rLIU Please let us know how the test goes and how you are doing. Best Katie

thanks a lot Katie

xkro - I'm a 53 year old female who last year went into SCA. Luckily my family was home and my husband knew CPR and saved my life. He continued CPR for over 10 minutes while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. They had to shock me twice and I finally became alert. I had no health problems and was on no medicines. I had no blockages or anything. They found I had an irregular heartbeat along with an extra heartbeat. The dr. put in an ICD with pacemaker. That was 1 1/2 years ago and I have had no problems and no shocks. I go the the cardiologist's office every 3 months for an ICD check, and every time they tell me my battery still has 10 years left, as luckily it has not had to be used, but thankfully it's there if it's ever needed. Regarding golf, I am not an avid golfer like you, but do enjoy playing with my husband and sons. I had my ICD implanted in October of 2015. In the Midwest, we're not able to golf until about April, and by then I was able to swing a club, lift weights, whatever I wanted to do. 99% of the time I forget I even have the device. I have no problem taking a full swing with the club. Also, my husband is a high school wrestling coach, and he's had a young man on the team for 2 years now who has an ICD and he has not had a problem with it during the season. I would say if someone can do a contact sport like wrestling, there's no reason you cannot resume your golfing; may take a few months before dr. will let you swing the club though. Best of luck and happy being alive! Every time I touch my ICD, I smile and thank God for the technology and life.

hi kimk thank yiu very much for your post , im so thankful youre doing just fine. Its a scary thing , i know theres plenty of people suffering from disease of all sorts but the heart, i mean its the centre of our being. Yes im home now and ofcourse watching my golf on tv. Im trying to stay on an even keel and trying not get to feeling sorry for myself cause im so emotional. i like your idea about touching it and being grateful to it. Its only my first day at home recouping and all but i feel that it will be fine. It is feeling a bit tender but geez it was only implanted 30 hours ago so i guess thats normal. taking some time off from work for a bit . Kim again thanks for your words they are greatly appreciated at this time....regards xkro

hi kim again . mine is also icd combo with pacemaker . its a biotronic icd

HI xkro - mine is a Medtronic. I'm glad my post helped you a bit. I don't remember how long the tenderness lasted, but that did last for a few months. You just got yours 30 hours ago (as of March 11), so that tenderness will last awhile - sorry. Your dr. should've also told you not to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for a few weeks (I forget how many days/weeks). Please follow all your doctor's advice. There was a patient in my area who didn't listen. He tried to lift something much heavier than a gall of milk and pulled a wire out. He had to start all over with re-inserting the wires, and starting the time frame all over again regarding lifting, etc. That part does stink, but I just kept telling myself it's only for so long. A few months from now, a year from now, I'll barely remember the recovery part. And that is true; I really don't remember how long before you can lift; at the time it seemed like years, but in the long run, it's a very short time period. Good luck to you in golfing again soon! We just got another 1/2 foot of snow, so our golfing has been put off for another few weeks or so. Take care.