HELP !!! HOW DO WE FIGHT FOR MORE REHAB ?!?!?

In my personal situation,  I stayed in the rehabilitation hospital for about 10 days but I was still very fragile.   After I returned home, I enrolled in outpatient rehab ( Ivy rehabilitation).  After the twice a week sessions, I made really great strides both physically and mentally.  I hope your father will recover quickly also!

Kevin,

I just went through the same issue with my Dad here in Georgia. Great doctor team he had but they were only going to give him 2 weeks of physical therapy and he had a lot of complications along the way. He couldn't get up out of bed without getting dizzy and passing out. They never could figure out why he was getting dizzy and they sent him home. Best thing I can recommend is when you get him home bring in home physical therapy and make him do the therapy everyday a few times a day even when the therapist is not there. In some states there are nursing homes that offer LVAD physical therapy but he would have to meet the criteria of being able to withstand 3 hours a day for 2 to 4 weeks. Then the problem is if they have a bed for him. They didn't hear in Georgia. The problem with LVAD there is not enough support after surgery for elderly. So my dad decided to have the doctors turn off his LVAD instead spending the rest of his days laid up in a bed in a nursing home. He passed the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I hope you have better luck with it than we did and if I can help provide any additional information please feel free to reach out.

William

I was released from the hospital to a rehab facility for about  3 weeks.I was released last December 8th,,,tomorrow will be a year. I still have trouble putting my pants on and off and shoes and bending down. I believe they treleased me to soon. I could've done another 2 weeks. I have neuropathy in both feet from my ekmo and comma. I went to Cardiac Rehab at a local Hospital. Had 36 sessions scheduled and completed 28 until I walked out. It got to the point where everytime I went they send me home because of my pressure was to high or I put to much weight on even they got a new scale and would't admit that it was the new scale....I didn't gain 10 pounds in 1 day!! Treated me like a child at times. I feel like they didn't care to have a LVAD patient there.....so I left and didn't return. Best bet is to go to a gym and work at your pace. I sorry yo hear about your father William!!

Most insurance will pay for 36 sessions, usually 12 weeks.  This rehab is considered phase 2 (phase 1 was while you were recovering in the hospital).  Some programs offer a phase 3 (not covered by insurance); this is usually about 3 sessions a week and you are charged about $37 out of pocket.  The difference between phase 2 and phase 3, is you are not electronically monitored during your exercise, though the nurse may check your vitals before and after your session.  For me this also included an EKG screening with my palms on two paddles.

Most insurance will pay for 36 sessions, usually 12 weeks.  This rehab is considered phase 2 (phase 1 was while you were recovering in the hospital).  Some programs offer a phase 3 (not covered by insurance); this is usually about 3 sessions a week and you are charged about $37 out of pocket.  The difference between phase 2 and phase 3, is you are not electronically monitored during your exercise, though the nurse may check your vitals before and after your session.  For me this also included an EKG screening with my palms on two paddles.

Is anyone like me an lvad patient who feels their support team is stumbling around in the dark? The best to all of you. Irishman

Keep appealing to Ins . I know it’s the last thing you need to be doing but that’s what they want you to do. The Social worker from the hospital should be doing this on your behalf or at least guiding you thru it . Best of luck 🙏