Originally Posted by RowdysMom (Post 1355062)

I know you all must be very worried. I think she will be fine! My hubby has an ICD - he has heart failure so his heart is very very weak and he has the ICD because people with his type of heart problem are very prone to sudden cardiac death (the heart just stops!).

The surgery is very easy - recovery is quick - with a sore arm for a few days, and she won't be able to raise her arm higher than her shoulder (e.g., above her head) for, I believe, 4-6 weeks.

She will have to go to the doctor every 3 months to have her heart rhythm checked. The ICD has a computer in it and they can print out every beat of her heart for the past 3 months! It is incredible. This means that they can ALWAYS see what her heart is doing. That is very comforting!

Also, there is a monitoring device they may give her so that she/Mom can call in to the office and by holding the phone over the ICD, they can see her heart rhythm in the doctor's office. This means that occasionally, you can skip one of those every 3 months appointment.

It also means that she can take this monitoring device with her when she travels and if she is feeling badly, she can call in and have her heart rhythm checked - or she can do this from home if she is not feeling well. In other words, you almost always have access to a monitoring device that can "see" your heart!

One down side to the ICD is that they have to check it once a year to be sure it is functioning properly. For my hubby, this means that they give him a little sedation (not anesthesia) and then they stop his heart to see if the ICD will fire and start it up again. I know this sounds extremely scarey and dangerous, but it really is not. They have all sorts of personnel and equipment and medications there to start the heart back up, if the ICD does not fire to restart the heart. And you definitely want to be sure that the ICD is working properly and there really is no other way to ensure this.

I feel so much better knowing my hubby has an ICD and that if his heart stops, the ICD will save his life.

Your niece will likely do great! I sure hope so!!!

<<<<<<HUGS>>>>>>>

Originally Posted by daisy mae06 (Post 1353965)

She is having surgery today. On Sunday she passed out(died) And the EMTS brought her back.
Her heart and lungs stoped altogether.
They took her to the ER and she has been At Childrens Hostpial sence.
She is only 15 years old.
The test thy have run on her say she has Prolong QT syndrome.
It is when the Heart does not recharge fast enough and stops.
She is getting a ICD put in today. I am so worried and Have been crying so much.
She was perfectly healthy and had no signs that this would happen. Her mom is scrared to death to leave her at all.
Please pray for a good outcome to this very sad fate.
I may not be on much the next few days. I am watching her animals and at the hospital alot.
Please everyone cherish your loved ones, you never know what the next moment will bring.

Originally Posted by daisy mae06 (Post 1356150)

Sam came though surgery great :) It was really sad watching her get wheeled away. she was really scared and as hard as I tried to be strong for her and her mom I was crying right along with them. I did have to leave the witting room about halfway threw the surgery to go to work but my inlaws were there with her:) It was really hard to leave though.
She gets to come home today :)
I talked to her mom this AM and she said after the get her insinc or how ever you spell that, she can come home
I am so happy that she will be able to come home I have been taking care of their pup. They had only had her about two weeks when all this happened.
she is a rescued cocker spaniel :) She was about a hour from bing PTS when they got her:) Lola is a sweet heart and missed her new mom and sis.


Thank you all for your prayers and uplifting thoughts. :) :love::ghug:

Originally Posted by Tink's Mom (Post 1357513)

Lori, I posted on the other thread but just found this one. Glad to hear that Sam is doing well. We are so fortunate to have the medical knowledge of today.

Prayers going up for a quick and continued recovery and hugs to you and Sam.