Patients and Caregivers Forums

Hello Everyone! I am a product design student at the University of Cincinnati with a friend who has an LVAD. Since witnessing her experience as a young 20 year old living with an LVAD, I have been inspired to do my thesis project on trying to address some of the frustrations and pain points...

Hello, my name is Chris and I have had my HeartWare LVAD for a little over a year now. Life with the device had gone mostly as well as could be expected although I have experienced one problem that is quite a nuisance and was wondering if anyone had some feedback or advice on how to tackle this...

I am 26, in fair condition, well enough to exercise and want to add jumping to my exercise program but the controller and two batteries aren't held stable well enough with anything I have. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks

My husband has had his Heartmate 3 for almost a year now. He has days where he gets a stinging pain at the drive line site. We have not been able to get an explanation for this. Has anyone else experienced this, know what causes this, or how to eliminate it?

Hello Everyone! I am a product design student at the University of Cincinnati with a friend who has an LVAD. Since witnessing her experience as a young 20 year old living with an LVAD, I have been inspired to do my thesis project on trying to address some of the frustrations and pain points...

My husband got his LVAD 11/27/2019, the day before Thanksgiving. He was kept sedated for more than two weeks due to problems breathing on his own and the right side of his heart not keeping up with the LVAD. He's been off the sedation for ALMOST a week now and still is not really responding to...

Hi Everyone, My name is Arthur Canga, I'm from Brazil. My dad got the heartmate 3 this past July and i would like to get a few tips or some suggestions to protect his driveline during the shower. What kind of bandage is more secure to avoid his driveline of getting wet? He is starting to get some...

I received a HeartMate III LVAD on 1/25/19. I have been home from the hospital for 5 days and I am using a Thoratec vest that was given to me at the hospital. I am ready to order mens clothing to accommodate my LVAD and would appreciate some advice. The batteries are now hanging on my side and the...

My husband had a Heartmate 3 Inserted last March and did very well at first but soon was experiencing GI bleeds, source unknown after tests and scopes. Has rec'd numerous units of blood to get his Hemoglobin up to a whopping 8 or 9. MD wants to try Eliquis instead of Coumadin but not much study has...

PLEASE EMAIL US DIRECTLY FOR INSTRUCTIONS at Hankpattyrichmond@sbcglobal.net. We have received and filled hundreds of requests for the LVAD vest instructions. We hope that you were able to make your vest and are enjoying its benefits. My name is Hank Richmond. I received my LVAD on Friday the 13th...

My significant other had LVAD implantation last year in May. Before he had the surgery his heart function was at 15% and he had prepared himself that he was going to die. His children and I talked to him about pursuing LVAD surgery and he seemed receptive. We went to Mayo and they said he would be a...

Has anyone out there in LVAD land been successful in changing their own driveline dressings and if so, please pass along how you do it. I can only get so far before I have to let my wife finish the job. I currently do a sterile dressing change but am having a hard time lining up the tagaderm and...

Love the new styles for both men and women! Comfortable and stylish LVAD vests for HeartMate 2 & 3’s. www.vadwearvests.com

My brother received his LVAD on 02/02/2015. We went through the same search. The vest he received in hospital was uncomfortable for him. At one of his therapy sessions we found the answer. I replicated an idea a fellow patient's wife devised for him. We use mans tank tops which I modify. Turn shirt...

Hi my ex husband is having an LVAD this wk. He has asked me to be a caregiver. I have researched much information, however I have not been able to find out much about what role caregiver takes. If anyone could tell me what to expect I would greatly appreciate it and any advice. Thank-you

My husband got a Heartmate 3 in October. December was our first month at home. Our electric bill was about $150. higher than normal for the same period in past years. The only new appliance or new usage is our Heartmate 3 chargers. I'm a bit shocked. Is that the experience of others?

Hello everybody! I am a student at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hanover in Germany. In the context of my Bachelor thesis I developed a questionnaire. For this purpose I am looking for patients with an artificial heart (LVAD) who will participate in my short survey. The survey is...

Hello Everyone! I am a product design student at the University of Cincinnati with a close friend who has an LVAD. Since witnessing her experience as a young 20 year old living with an LVAD, I have been inspired to do my thesis project on trying to address some of the frustrations and pain points...

Hi all!! My name is Dick. I was just reminded that I joined this forum 15 days ago. Here is my story so far. I went to the hospital on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to get the evaluations and approvals done. I was supposed to return the following week and have the LVAD installed if all went well....