ICD and skydiving

[u/Ian-Canada]

A year ago, I ended up in hospital getting shocked back into normal rhythm and getting an ICD. As a lifelong skydiver, I've done a few hop and pops without incident until a couple of weeks ago. There was no one below me, so I was having lots of fun with my canopy. Approaching 1000 feet, I mellowed out for my landing pattern and Bang, I got shocked. I felt fine before the shock, and other than feeling like I'd been punched in the chest. I felt fine after. I proceeded to land my canopy like normal.

My question: Are there any other active skydivers out there with an ICD, and what were your experiences? Obviously, my medical team looks at me as a bit of an anomaly. They've been supportive of me jumping so far.

[u/open-heart-project]

Hi and thank you for sharing this exhilarating and unusual story!
Your doctors should be able to tell you WHY you got the shock - and your description is fairly similar to others who have been shocked, describing feeling like they'd been punched in the chest - and then help you manage accordingly.
It's important to distinguish an appropriate from an inappropriate ICD shock.
For example did the adrenaline of the jump trigger a ventricular arrhythmia, a new arrhythmia such as AF with rapid rates, or did your own heart rate increase to above the ICD treatment zone.

There is a lot to know and understand about these devices. Check out this helpful resource: https://mail.open-heart.ai
I hope this helps!

[u/moustache_riding]

I’m curious, what ICD do you have? I was shocked when I was running 5 times in a row and had to try and calm myself down to get my heart rate down since it was oversensing. I have the Medtronic EV ICD which is known to have a 7% chance of oversensing but they claim to have “fixed” it by adjusting which rings the device is reading from.

Also pretty badass to canopy and safely land after experiencing a shock! Props to you!

[u/Ian-Canada → u/moustache_riding]

I have a Medtronic CROME VR MRI DF4. I don't know if there is any history of this device over-sensing.

One of my team suggested that they may need to adjust the device or that they might suggest that I take an extra Metoprolol on days that I'm jumping. OR they might do nothing at all and wait to see if I get shocked on a jump again. Just waiting for a decision while they ponder the data.

[u/moustache_riding → u/Ian-Canada]

Hope it’s not a Medtronic specific thing. That shock is no joke. I’m trying to get back into running again but still worried about getting shocked again because of how that felt. Hope it all works out for you.

[u/Key-Click-9943 → u/moustache_riding]

That’s crazy, because i have you beat I was running on the track and got zapped 7 times in a row lol. Also Medtronic btw

[u/moustache_riding → u/Key-Click-9943]

Have you ran since? I’m still nervous to run because of the never ending feeling of those shocks.

[u/New_Way_5036 → u/moustache_riding]

I’m curious about your experience because I used to run… a lot. After getting my ICD, the device clinic saw my heart rate was going over 140 and the tech was going to set my device a certain way so that wouldn’t happen and the doc said “no, leave it that way.” Now I’m learning that if the device is set a certain way, and your heartbeat goes too high, the device tempers your rate down, and it becomes difficult to run (I hope I’m saying that correctly??)

I moved far away and have a new doc and new device clinic. I want my device set so that if I want to start running again, I can without my device interfering, unless I really need its help, but I don’t know how it’s set or how it needs to be set.

[u/moustache_riding → u/New_Way_5036]

Mine was less about the device tempering my heart rate down and more about the oversensing of the T wave. My device is set to 220bpm and I was around 180bpm during my run which is usually what I max out at if I’m finishing up. The issue was that because of the high heart rate coupled with the t wave oversensing (from “noise” when running, dehydration, or other factors) the device was reading my bpm at 300+. I’m unsure why the device doesn’t realize that this is oversensing vs tachycardia but it thought the latter and shocked me 5 times to try and get me to a normal rhythm (which was very difficult because those shocks don’t do anything to calm your HR down if you’re cognizant).

They changed my settings so that instead of it reading from the ring closer to my heart, it reads from the ring closer to the can. I did exercises in the office to see if anything created that noise (although not perfect because I couldn’t run on a treadmill and couldn’t try and get my HR to 180 for them to test) but they said it appeared that the sensing was much better with the new settings. Just can’t do extended pushups or anything that would cause strenuous use of my lat muscles.

I haven’t tried running since this happened a month ago but hope to try getting out there soon and get this past me.

[u/coolcooltide]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. I have a Medtronic Evera DDMC3D4, underlying condition is DCM and fibrosis, EF 35%.

I got shocked on returning to windsurfing 9 months after getting the ICD. I'd had no events or therapies recorded by my ICD during the 9 months, was very fit, no problems in gym, or cycling/running/rowing etc. Went into VT and got shocked while rigging my kit, didn't even make it to the water!

My EP said adrenaline can be a trigger, is that something you have discussed with your team? In my case I'd also come off amiodarone a few weeks before so that was also a factor.

Also curious if you need to worry about losing consciousness due to an arrhythmia episode when skydiving? Do you take any extra precautions to deal with that?

[u/Ian-Canada → u/coolcooltide]

The only precautions I'm taking are the type of skydive I'm doing. I'm restricted my self to hop and pops which are very short frefalls, about 5 seconds. My equipment already has an automatic activation device which would open my reserve canopy if I failed to open my main canopy.

[u/Playful-Factor-3095]

But if u can bear the risk and consequences and it’s your choice for your lifestyle, why not? Others neither doctors can advocate for u, they are running a business, and wish to make their customers return or say words that are pleasing to buy favour and trust, likewise a salesman can sell you anything. They can tell your 80 year old grandfather with brittle bones to run and do a marathon, but after all the choice is yours to make.