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Discussions: Living with an LVAD

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Profile picture for user walkabout787
robert W.
Living with an LVAD

can hear pump through guitar amp

Last activity 2 weeks 1 day
I am 49 and got my lvad in September 2017, I have been playing guitar since I was 10 . Now the problem is my electric guitar picks up the pump and transmits it through the amp to the point of not being able to play. I don't think there is going to be any solution to this but I thought I would throw...
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Kelly D.
Living with an LVAD

HeartMate III - Things you CANNOT do ever again

Last activity 1 month
Hello, My dad just got his HeartMate 3 six days ago. He obviously has a long road ahead of him, but I am trying to gather as much info and get things as ready as I can before he comes to live with me. My dad is a jack of all trades - he was a cop, a machinist, pilot, can build anything etc. My...
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Arlen S.
Living with an LVAD

Supplies needed for LVAD

Last activity 1 month 3 weeks
I am preparing for my LVAD surgery next month. Other than clothing, what types of supplies will I likely need to purchase for myself (not covered by insurance)? Are there additional products that people have made your life with a VAD easier that were not mentioned by your medical team?
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Guy L.
Living with an LVAD

Hybrid Car

Last activity 2 months 1 week
Does anyone with an LVAD have any experience with a plug-in hybrid vehicle? Any issue with electromagnetic waves?
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Gene C.
Living with an LVAD

Breast cancer with an LVAD

Last activity 2 months 2 weeks
My wife has had an LVAD for three years. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery to remove the cancer and is now facing chemotherpy. We are wondering if any other women with an LVAD have faced this challenge.
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Reiss T.
Living with an LVAD

HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

Last activity 3 months 3 weeks
I am a 78 year old male LVAD recipient, eight + years out. Generally have been doing quite well but am increasingly bothered by a very painful hip which is inhibiting my activity level and quality of life. I am interested in communicating with any LVADers out there who has had hip or joint...
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Molly J.
Living with an LVAD

Heartware Backpack??

Last activity 4 months 1 week
I am a caregiver and am VERY frustrated with the options for carrying around the backup supplies. We were given a blue bag for this purpose. It has 2 handles on it, but they are too short to be shoulder straps, and the bag is too heavy to carry off the shoulder. The bag has no top to it, to protect...
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Elizabeth S.
Living with an LVAD

Do I need a special bra?

Last activity 4 months 3 weeks
I'm scheduled for my LVAD on 7/17/18. I have done a lot of research but can't seem to find much about bras. I'm a big breasted woman and worry that the weight of my breasts will pull on the incision and either tear it or at least increase the pain. I've seen special post surgical bras that are front...
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Fred L.
Living with an LVAD

Getting Life Insurance After L-Vad

Last activity 4 months 4 weeks
Now at age 70, living in the USA, I have to let my ten-year level term insurance expire because the rates were set to climb rapidly anyway. I have to search for a new company, maybe with much less coverage to keep my monthly or quarterly fees affordable, but I don't know if any company would take me...
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Profile picture for user MyLVAD_2
MyLVAD A.
Living with an LVAD

How to Pack an LVAD for Travel (Featuring the Thoratec HeartMate II®)

Last activity 2 years 9 months
Travel is something that we at MyLVAD encourage for LVAD recipients and their loved ones. Information on traveling with an LVAD can be difficult to find. Below you will find an instruction sheet that we created on how to pack the HeartMate II ® external equipment in a standard sized carry-on bag...
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Anonymous
Living with an LVAD

Donated Wetsuit Helps Heart Patient Return to Water

Last activity 5 months 2 weeks
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Diane P.
Living with an LVAD

Stressed and scared

Last activity 5 months 1 week
How do I deal with the stress and unknown taking care of spouse with lvad system.
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Frank I.
Living with an LVAD

Review: Medi-Materials Undervest

Last activity 6 months
My wife and I first got initiated to our lvad and heart transplant program at Oregon Health Sciences University by meeting the various teams who eventually would be treating me for the end stage of my 17 year battle with heart failure. We live about 100 miles from Portland, where the hospital is, so...
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MyLVAD A.
Living with an LVAD

Do you know how to measure a blood pressure - Check out our new video!

Last activity 7 months 1 week
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Profile picture for user PrayForMarion
Kimberly D.
Living with an LVAD

Seeking information about explant for patient who had an ischemic heart attack

Last activity 7 months 2 weeks
Dear LVAD community, Do you know anybody who has had had their LVAD removed due to improved heart function after the patient had an ischemic heart attack? I am not seeking medical advice, simply information. I am the caregiver to a Heartmate II patient located in Houston, Texas. My husband (the...
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Nichole L.
Living with an LVAD

International Travel

Last activity 7 months 3 weeks
Hi all! I am new to the community and have a few questions about international travel. My boyfriend (27yoa) had his LVAD implanted about 6 months ago. We just took our first trip from MSP to DC and had no problem with luggage at all (and we flew Spirit!). We took one wheeled carry-on and everything...
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Profile picture for user TackroomFred
Fred D.
Living with an LVAD

LVad questions

Last activity 8 months
Hi- just figured out how to find & use this site. 2 questions 1-Anyone know what > 12 Means in both Peak & trough??? 2- open you up chest/ sternum Is there a less invasive operation? Thanks
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Profile picture for user TackroomFred
Fred D.
Living with an LVAD

LVad questions

Last activity 8 months 1 week
Hi- just figured out how to find & use this site. 2 questions 1-Anyone know what > 12 Means in both Peak & trough??? 2- open you up chest/ sternum Is there a less invasive operation? Thanks
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Profile picture for user JesseVoss
JesseVoss V.
Living with an LVAD

Impella heart pump

Last activity 8 months 2 weeks
HI, Has anyone on here, or someone you know, ever had an Impella device placed? It's claim is that it's the world's smallest heart pump. It takes over 50% or more of your heart function. I had one placed on 03/07/17. They left it in maybe 2-3 days. I was pretty out of it so I'm not sure how long it...
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Myriam T.
Living with an LVAD

Myriam's Story

Last activity 8 months 2 weeks
I will soon complete 6 years since I received my Heartmate 2. When I was admitted at Mayo Clinic in PHX AZ I had a severe congestive heart failure. My ejection fraction was less than 10%. I had been sent by two other hospitals to Hospice care and given 90 days to live in February of 2012. I had lost...
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Most Commented

Where are the recent posts, I am scared!!
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My Wife Made Me a Wonderful LVAD Vest! Email us…
55,560 views
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48,795 views
LVAD supplies--- Who supplies them for you ?
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Tactile holster T shirt for carrying LVAD items
39,883 views

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Facebook Groups

  • MyLVAD
    MyLVAD
    1650+ likes
    The Facebook Group for MyLVAD, the leading resource for LVAD patients and their loved ones.
  • LVAD Connection
    LVAD Connection
    515+ likes
    Creating a personal link between LVADers,and their caregivers, with others in the same situation in there own area.
  • LVAD Recipients
    LVAD Recipients
    2611+ likes
    Created by Kathy & Ron Spotts of PA. Ron is LVAD recipient August 2008.

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