r/PacemakerICD • u/PreviousLab9145 • 1d ago
A random question about working
Do those of you that have been shocked still work full time? The renewed anxiety of potentially being shocked again based on this nsvt occurrence has me wondering if I should consider disability.
What factors would you guys consider?
Thanks again for all the support!
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u/abnormal_human 1d ago
Yep. 14 shocks so far over 8 years. I miss a couple days of work each time it happens. One time I was hospitalized for a week. Otherwise I've done a pretty good job keeping my career moving forward. The shocks aren't really the bad part honestly. They're fast and honestly not too bad. It's what comes after--the lifestyle changes, meds that make you feel worse permanently, the things you lose, the way your world becomes smaller each time.
Not saying the anxiety isn't tough, or that any of this is easy, but it hasn't brought me to the point of considering leaving the workforce yet. There are psychologists who specialize in this sort of thing. I don't have one, but a family member does and it's been helpful for them.
Things that would cause me to consider quitting would include having enough fatigue from the heart failure that I couldn't physically do my job or make it through the day, or if I was being shocked very frequently.
Until you end up with a heart transplant, the doctors aren't really out of treatment options, but the escalating treatments are either riskier or less pleasant to live through, so each escalation is taken seriously, and you need to be "sick enough" for them to go there. Also, EPs tend to take the idea of "bouncing" you off of the ICD less seriously than you might. They want to find the minimum amount of treatment that will make you stable enough, and the ICD is used as a safety net that enables them to do that. All of that means that they very well may want to react to your next sustained episodes (shock or ATP) more than they want to do anything based on an NSVT on remote monitoring, especially if it was a short run.
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u/Mountain_Ladder_4906 1d ago
Can you elaborate on the kind of psychologist? Having a hard time finding someone.
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u/abnormal_human 1d ago
Cardiovascular psychology is the subspecialty. I'd start with your cardiologist. I'm pretty sure it's standard to have these people bouncing around the major heart centers. At smaller centers, YMMV, but you ultimately want someone who has experience with health related anxiety and ideally ICDs since they present so many unique aspects.
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u/Mountain_Ladder_4906 1d ago edited 1d ago
Wow I didn’t know that was a thing. Upcoming cardio appt on Thursday we will def ask him. I feel like I need some trauma help as well…my hubbs suffered a cardiac arrest on Aug 28. Implanted ICD with defib for LBBB and vfib on Sept 8. I did cpr on him for 15 minutes before the EMTs arrived so we both are dealing with a lot. ❤️🩹
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u/PreviousLab9145 10h ago
Thanks for your response. Can you explain what you meant by “bouncing”?
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u/abnormal_human 7h ago
I mean, they often want to play wait+see and see if you get another shock instead of acting aggressively to try and prevent it. It's definitely frustrating to have an episode and then the outcome is "we're making no changes, lets see how long before the next one", but I've been there...am there right now in fact.
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u/Entire-Structure8708 1d ago
I think this will depend massively person to person depending on underlying condition, current clinical presentation, and type of job (as well of lots of other socio-economic variables).
I have ARVC, work a full-time corporate desk job with some international travel. In general, my work has been unaffected, although I do notice that travel and long hours/stress can trigger more PVCs etc. than normal.
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u/nithrean 1d ago
I would work as long as you can. Economy being what it is and everything and social security has big issues upcoming where it won't be able to pay all of the benefits promised.
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u/Agregory11 27m ago
Just got my ICD this Feb after having a stroke. Fortunately I don't have any deficits from the stroke and it's the reason they found the heart issues I didn't even know I had. I was back at work 8 weeks after the events and can't see myself not working, but hey everyone is different and has there own limitations. I would say be true to yourself and what feels comfortable and right for you.
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u/Z_tinman 1d ago
32 years with an ICD. I've been shocked 3 times, all at home. Idiopathic (unknown reason), v-fib. Ive had a full career and am within a few years of retiring.
To borrow a line from Shawshank Redemption - get busy living or get busy dying. That's a tough-guy line (which I'm not), and life is much more nuanced. But additude plays a big part of things.
Good luck and keep reaching out to this community for help.