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Lori C.
Living with an LVAD

Has anyone had the Covid vaccine yet who currently has an LVAD

Last activity 3 days 2 hours
Hello everyone! I was interested to know if anyone received the Covid vaccine and has an LVAD Can you share your story .. side effects and any advice
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Gregory D.
Living with an LVAD

Driveline infections

Last activity 2 weeks 6 days
Lets get to it. The worst thing that can happen to an LVAD user is a drive line infection. It can put you in the hospital many times over and cures with the various antibiotics may or may not work for you. It can lead to extra surgeries for debridement and in some cases make it worse. In my case I...
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Wynne C.
Living with an LVAD

Preference in receiving care - in implanting centre vs local community

Last activity 1 month 2 weeks
Hello VAD community, I'm a nurse from Vancouver B.C. Canada, and I'm hoping to get a sense from patients and caregivers, in terms of preference in receiving care (VAD or not VAD related), in the community versus back at the implanting hospital. My hope is that your input would help shape the future...
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Brendan B.
Living with an LVAD

How has your life changed since receiving an LVAD?

Last activity 1 month 3 weeks
Hello! I am a student at the University of Washington in an engineering class project hoping to improve the life for people with LVADs. We have been working on this project for a couple of months, and discussed with VAD coordinators, cardiologists, and industry professionals in healthcare. I would...
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Bill W.
Living with an LVAD

LVAD Implant

Last activity 2 months 1 week
Did any of you get you implant done through the left side ribs?
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Bernie R.
Living with an LVAD

Should I need a walker

Last activity 3 months 3 weeks
Received my LVAD March 2, 2019, and can not walk any distance without a walker. I truly thought I would be able to function without it, but that has not been the case. I get very short of breath walking without the walker, but can walk a long way with it. Anyone have the same experience?
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Virginia S.
Living with an LVAD

How do you cope with living with an LVAD?

Last activity 4 months 2 weeks
Hello all, I'm not exactly new to living with an LVAD since I've had mine for two years now, but I'm still adjusting and trying to cope with it. It's a huge change in my life that happened at a very young age. I was only twenty-one years old when I got my LVAD and I've spent two of my birthdays in...
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Barry and Susan (caregiver) S.
Living with an LVAD

Right ventricular dysfunction

Last activity 4 months 4 weeks
My husband is 74 and also destination LVAD. His breathing has really gone down hill, because of dysfunction of the right ventricular , which creates regurgitation of the Tricuspid, thus fluid retention , thus increase Pulmonary disease. He was just at the hospital , Mayo, to see his Team. So for now...
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Maureen S.
Living with an LVAD

Independent living

Last activity 7 months 4 weeks
Can a person age 75 getting a LVAD live alone or do they need a 24/7 caretaker?
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Gregory D.
Living with an LVAD

Combating Pseudomonas Infection

Last activity 8 months 1 week
After nearly 4 and a half years I finally got hit with the infection. Until this point nothing. Traveled worked taught. To date been in the hospital twice 4 sets of different IVs while in the hospital. Now at home taking Cipro 500mg twice per day. Feeling ok, however I have yet to find anything...
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kathy S.
Living with an LVAD

Infection

Last activity 8 months 3 weeks
My husband got his Lvad in September, 2019. Everything was going great without any problems until June, 2019. He came down with a slight fever and was not feeling well. He was still doing his exercises and everyday activities, but sleeping more and a sluggish. His driveline looked good so we knew it...
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Tobi L.
Living with an LVAD

Blood pressure monitoring survey

Last activity 9 months 3 weeks
Hello We are students at University of Toronto learning about LVAD and blood pressure. We are working with cardiologists and engineers to try and see how we can improve the blood pressure measuring experience for patients and caregivers. If you have a few minutes to answer a quick 10-question survey...
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Kelley A.
Living with an LVAD

Remote Monitoring of your LVAD

Last activity 9 months 4 weeks
Hello everyone, I am familiar with VADs because I am a cardiovascular perfusionist - the person who operates the heart lung machine. At the hospital I work at were are very involved in VAD implant surgery, but also are responsible for taking care of VAD patients when they come to the operating room...
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John S.
Living with an LVAD

Driveline dressing change

Last activity 11 months 2 weeks
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...
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Sourabh C.
Living with an LVAD

Physical exercise with LVAD

Last activity 1 year 1 month
If a LVAD recipient is doing some heavy physical activity like running, gyming or playing any sport, how does LVAD, which runs at constant speed, going to match the demand of blood supply. If it doesn't able to fulfill the requirement how does it going the affect the recipient? how dangerous it...
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Larrie T.
Living with an LVAD

Have you ever done an emergency controller change?

Last activity 1 year 1 month
My name is Larrie and I’m Story Producer for a show called Life on Batteries, as well as an LVAD patient myself. I was hoping you could help me with research for an upcoming episode by sharing your experiences around emergency controller changes. This also may be a good discussion topic in itself...
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Maureen R.
Living with an LVAD

Respiratory secretions

Last activity 1 year 3 months
My husband received his LVAD Oct 2016 and although there’s been lots of highs and lows - we are grateful for the time he’s gained and still gaining ! However he has a lot of phlegm (sorry) and respiratory secretions that are getting worse . Has anybody else experienced these symptoms, he’s kind of...
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Dyala A.
Living with an LVAD

Solarium tanning

Last activity 1 year 4 months
Hello everyone, To have a great website like this can give hope and happiness for alot of people. My husband had his lvad 2 months back. And he have a C-rtd too. Still trying to adjust with his new life style. I have one question, i tried to google it but i couldnt find an answer for it, hopefully...
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Bryan L.
Living with an LVAD

Anchors

Last activity 1 year 6 months
We seem to have issues with the anchors staying attached to the skin. Yes we clean with alcohol, let it dry, apply the skin barrier, let that dry and it still comes off. We have also tried with it with out the skin barrier after cleaning the skin with alcohol, and they still come off.
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John S.
Living with an LVAD

Driving

Last activity 1 year 4 months
Has anyone figured out a comfortable way to get back behind the wheel? There has to be a better way than wearing the batteries on your hips. And how do I change from prospective patient to recipient?
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Most Commented

Where are the recent posts, I am scared!!
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HeartMate III Mens Clothing
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My Wife Made Me a Wonderful LVAD Vest! Email us…
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Facebook Groups

  • MyLVAD
    MyLVAD
    1892+ likes
    The Facebook Group for MyLVAD, the leading resource for LVAD patients and their loved ones.
  • LVAD Connection
    LVAD Connection
    566+ likes
    Creating a personal link between LVADers,and their caregivers, with others in the same situation in there own area. A place to post your information so others can connect with you.
  • LVAD Recipients
    LVAD Recipients
    2722+ likes
    Created by Kathy & Ron Spotts of PA. Ron is LVAD recipient August 2008.

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