It can feel like a thump in your chest. Defibrillation is the strongest. Most people say it feels like being kicked in the chest. It often happens all of a sudden.

What does it feel like to have a defibrillator?

You may feel a flutter, palpitations (like your heart is skipping a beat), or nothing at all. Fibrillation may require that you receive a “shock.” Most patients say that the shock feels like a sudden jolt or thump to the chest.

Do implanted defibrillators hurt?

For more-serious heart rhythm problems, the ICD may deliver a higher energy shock. This shock can be painful, possibly making you feel as if you've been kicked in the chest. The pain usually lasts only a second, and there shouldn't be discomfort after the shock ends.