Patients and Caregivers Forums

Hi friends! my father has had an lvad for about a year now, and he has some hopes of traveling. In particular, in Central America. The hospital at one point mentioned if he’d be traveling, it’d be a good idea to have an lvad clinic nearby in whatever place he was venturing, if anything were to...

Wondering about sleeping with batteries if an electrical outlet is not available or reachable to connect the charging station when traveling? I am practically wondering how the control unit would be charged overnight if it is not plugged in?

I am trying to get info about the defective Medtronic vad. My brothers lvad is one of them recalled and they no longer use them. He was having clots and had a stroke and then brain bleed. So they kept him in hospital on warfarin til he got a heart. Just wondering if anyone else has gone through this...

My wife no longer needs anything to do with her heartmate II equipment. I've been asked to see if any of it can be sold. Does anyone here know if such is possible? I've not been told amounts to ask. I suppose any offers will be considered. As far as I know, it's all that is needed for such devices...

Hi Everyone, I thought you might be interested in an upcoming sale by VAD Wear Vests. From this Friday 11/05 to 11/12 they are offering 20% OFF on any orders over $100. Use code: SHOPEARLY20. https://www.VADWearVests.com

I must strongly disagree with those who say that sleeping with batteries is “stupid and dangerous” It is no such thing. I have had an LVAD for almost 2 years and I often nap with batteries if I am expecting someone and need to get up quickly. For a year and a half I slept with batteries every night...

Anybody have an idea if Abbott might make a battery charger that is smaller then the 4 battery monster they give you? I have to travel for work and that big thing is problematic.

Hi everybody, I'm hope one of you all have or had this problem. I am having trouble getting my doppler to get to 80 to 85 and I'm having trouble to get the right blood pressure meds. I will get some that doesn't work,or I get one that I' m have an allergy to..... that is the problem I am having. My...

My husband has an LVAD Thoratec HeartMate GoGear Shower Bag. Never opened - still in the box. His doctor won't let him shower so if anybody needs it please let me know. All I ask is that you pay shipping. Thanks and have an amazing day.

Hi, hello, good afternoon! My husband is jumping through the hoops to get qualified for the Heartmate II. We're just about done and meeting with the LVAD surgeon in just a week. I don't see many recent posts and it concerns me dearly. My husband is not a bridge to transplant due to his age (73) and...

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...

Nine years ago today, Prof Phil Spratt and the wonderful, dedicated Heart team from St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney (Australia) inserted my Heartware LVAD and consequently extended my life another 9 years to date. I have been very fortunate to have used this time wisely and to the maximum with...

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?

So I have been advised that I need to have an LVAD unit. I have HOCM and have been fighting this heart desease head on since 2014 when I had a Septal Myectomy and Transapical midventricular myectomy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochestor MD. These surgeries were very major but really did not improve my...

Hi Everyone, Would like to ask people here about their experiences with an LVAD and what sort of improvements it had made to your life after it was installed. My Dad has congestive heart failure after a MI and part of his heart has died. He suffers from edema in the legs, feet and stomach and BP is...

I am a new LVAD recipient about to leave the hospital after implant. I'm concerned about my shirts getting caught on my driveline. Any tips or suggestions on how to avoid this or how to best wear my tshirts

Hi, let me start off by saying, that I never put the correct punction in, so if you have a question about what I am saying please ask, also I can be a tad bit long-winded. I guess I like to give all information so you know the whole situation. So let me start off by saying I have had CHF for 17 1/2...

How long does it typically take to do this process correctly? I have different nurses telling me different procedure steps! I’m so frustrated! How many times must you have completed the correct sterile protocol before you can be released from the hospital?

Hello everyone you helped us soo much with vaccine information so I wanted to reach out to you again. We just made one year with his LVAD! I’m very proud.. it’s been very tough, especially with Covid. What kind of activities do you recommend! Right now my husband walks with a cane. We are looking...

My Uncle has been living with his LVad for many years. He has recently been having complications. He's been in hospital over a week with a GI bleed they can't seem to find. He's had two colonoscopy and swallowed a pill that had a camera in it. They went in today and cauterized three spots that could...