Discussions: New to LVADs

Hi, I'm a 35 y/o caregiver to my dad with heart failure. The hospital LVAD educator suggested I speak with the people on here for more information from people who have actually been there. Up until recently, my father has an EF around 10%, does not use oxygen, can walk short distances, and can...

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...

Hello everyone, i am a new member of this site, a caregiver for my husband. I read a lot of useful Information, but it is all about mostly Heartmate. Is there anyone out there with a Jarvik 2000 LVAD?

My father just got the heartmate 3 and was recently sent home. He is having some back pains from mostly laying in a hospital bed for the past 3 weeks so I wanted to take him to get a massage but we are afraid that they might mess with the driveline. So ultimately, my question is has anyone gotten a...

My husband and I have a motorhome and would like to resume travelling. Since we enjoy state and federal parks which often have no electric hookups we will have problems with charging batteries and using the mobile power unit. There must be others out there who can help us with an answer to this...

It has now been eight weeks since my LVAD implantation and life has been going reasonably well since my surgery. Two weeks in the hospital, one week in a motel adjacent to the hospital, five weeks at home. My caregiver returned to his family last week so I am now on my own. I will be starting back...

Hi! My fiance had his LVAD placed January 31st and he has been doing really well. However, over the past week he has become more short of breath than usual. He has reached out to the LVAD clinic and they say it's normal, as this is the last thing that will come around. Well, a few days ago he...

Hi my husband has just had his lvad 4wks today we have been having hard time as he has had a few hick ups . Just felt needed to chat to some one in simular situation many thank . Margaret x

Hello, My name is Meghan and my boyfriend, Chris, recently received a HeartMate 3 on December 27th. I am 25 years old and my boyfriend is only 30. He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy on Halloween, so this process came very quickly for us. Chris has been medically sedated since December 14th...

My husband got a HeartMate3 on Sept 13, 2018 - his 76th birthday. He went from final stages of heart failure - basically send him home on a drip to die - to a remarkable recovery. Other than his heart, he has always been physically fit. After surgery and adjustment, he went home after 2 weeks, weak...

I am 48yo male and have completed all the evaluation processes for LVAD and transplant. I am scheduled to have the LVAD surgery in January as a bridge to transplant and I am trying to get me head around the whole process and what will be coming next. I have been reading posts on the site and have...

hey guys! I am 32 years old Female, received my Heartmate 3 2 months ago. Back home for a week now. One question: I recognized that my speed range on the system controller is jumping. Speed range jumps every second from 5200 to 5250 and back to 5200 and sometimes to 5300. I spoke to my surgeon and...

I had my LVAD implanted on March 9,2018 and after six months in and out of hospitals I am finally getting back some energy. I had at least six alarms on my controller and no explanation on the screen. My battery was changed in the controller and the very next day an alarm. I labeled all 8 batteries...

Hi, I have had my LVAD for 3 months now. I was in the hospital critical care for 1.5 months before my surgery. My LVAD is a "bridge-to-transplant" option. Heart transplant list is long. Can anyone who had their LVAD for 1 year or longer give me any tips about living with the LVAD. I am new to this...

Hello world. My name is Tyler and I’m 31. I live in Ohio and have had a LVAD for almost 3 months. Going into surgery I was on several inotropes for RHF, but was quicklt weened off those post-surgery and otherwise had a speedy recovery in hospital. Since then I have struggled with what we now suspect...

I am starting the transplant process. It has been recommended to me to avoid an Lvad at all cost. My condition is such that even an Lvad is only delaying the transplant and adding several surgeries. The transplant clinic has floated the idea, but it's too early in the process for anyone to pick a...

My husband received his HeartMate 3 May 24, 2017. He is having some issues with the sorbaview dressing. He hs very sensitive skin. Any ideas. Also we are planning an Alaskan Cruise next year. Any suggestions how to travel on a cruise ship with his contoller he plugs in at night and his battery...

I just want to know if it's normal....when i grow up the stairs... my lvad made a bizarre sound like :crunch... crunch ?? it is normal... ? I am a French person ...sorry for my english language.

I am about to tell you a story that still to this moment makes me feel as if I am in surreal dream waiting to be awakened. It started with a cough. A nagging cough that drove me to the minute clinic. They told me it was just a cough that would work itself out. I left and went about my routines of...

Hello. I am new to this site. I had a week long work up in June to see if I was a candidate for a LVAD at this time. I was told that I am too healthy at this time and the surgery would be too risky. However, my cardiologist said they'd prefer to wait 2+ years to do the surgery, as my blood time is O...