A typical length of stay post LVAD implantation varies. How long was your stay? What do you credit for helping you get out in the time frame you did?

I had my implant 6/15/12 requiring 36-39 units of blood products. I was unconscious even after drugs stopped for several days. Required multiple defib shocks and chest compressions on fourth day after surgery for A Fib episodes. Woke up on the 22nd and went home on 7/3/12. Returned to hospital on 7/10 because pump readings were out not acceptable +++ & 13.0. Massive doses of blood thinners and 4 days later I went home again. numbers attributed to the 6 weeks break-in period. Numbers have been fine since. First clinic visit 8/1 and i expect a lot of the restrictions to be lifted. No chest pain for about a week now and endurance is increasing exponentially. Anticipate release to work from home for a few days a week until second clinic visit. We shall see. Prayer and physical help from all my friends and church family have made the experience a whole lot easier. Go is GOOD... ALL the time. Now the wait for a new heart...

My LVAD was placed 5/23/12 and I was home 6/1/12. I credit my short stay to my fair health(all things considered...;) ) prior to the surgery, the grace of God and my families support. Not necessarily in that order, either!

I also had a wonderful team of nurses and therapists (PT and OT) as well as an amazing surgical team at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.

I'm 35 years old and I had my LVAD implanted 3/22/2012 and was released 4/16/2012 with a one week stay prior to the LVAD surgery. I. Doing very well I was able to return to work(office job) on 5/14/2012.

I had my LVAD implanted mid October 2011, afer two weeks in the hospital I was scheduled to come home. Two days before release I started having red heart alarms, the flow was very low and I was brought back to surgery to have a second LVAD implant. I was released from the hospital just before Thanksgiving, I'm still struggling with fatgue and light headedness It's now the end of February. I can't wait to start to feel better. I hope others haven't had all the issues I have had.

My husband had the LVAD implanted on 10/27/11 and his hospital stay was a week. He was released on 11/4/11.

He is doing good. His doctors are impressed with his improved each time we see them.

I had my implant surgery the evening of 7/8/11 and was released from the hospital on 7/20/11.

I credit God with my rapid release, and the fact that God and my family gave me the will power I needed to get out of the hospital so fast.