Patients and Caregivers Forums

Hello VAD family, Just wanted to jump on really quick and make my first ever Vad post. My Husband is just 4 weeks post LVAD implant surgery. We have been living with CHF for about 5 years now, if he wanted to continue life the only option was LVAD surgery. I was prepared for a very difficult...

Hello everyone. My mother has been having LVAD for 6 years. We cannot measure his blood pressure in any way, sometimes it can be measured on the monitors in the hospital. There is a thrombus shortage in both the pump and the default. For this reason, we want to observe the blood pressure in some way...

My husband got his LVAD June 2018. We JUST received the first invoice for dressing supplies and it was $3,443!! Our cost after insurance for Chloraprep is $202. A box of sterile gloves $75, Foley anchors (which are terrible and always come off but that's another story) are $62.00 The company is...

Does anyone knows if the LVAD manufacturer supply longer cables or there are any kind of extention cables to add to the extisting ones? I need like another 25 ft. Thanks.

Can a person age 75 getting a LVAD live alone or do they need a 24/7 caretaker?

LVAD Battery dock, batteries(8), power module deck w/25 ft. Cord for sleeping, LVAD bag, battery tops, kits, gauze, betadine packs, lots of extra gear, and record of maintenance. Well taken care of and has been plugged in and maintained since removal. Was all brand new equipment when removed. Lots...

Hi everyone, I first want to thank you for the stories you share about your lives and loved ones on here. I was so lucky to find this website when my father was admitted to the hospital in February needing an emergency surgery for the LVAD (his heart was at 18%). I used it as research for the months...

Hi I have had my heartmate 3 since November 2019. And spent 2 months in hospital, since i have been home. I have had driveline pain since they cut out my stitches at the site, in February of this year. I have had CHF with an injection fraction rate of 15 to 20% off and on for 17 1/2 years before i...

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...

Any news of development of smaller batteries and if so when are they likely to be implemented - Thanks

Does anybody have any experience or knowledge about using UV lights for driveline sterilization/disinfection? Saw an old post which referenced using a UV light from Amazon to disinfect the area around the driveline where it enters the body before applying sterile bandage. Tried to do some research...

Hi folks, On March 13th (a Friday), I had a heart attack at 12:10am. I'm 37 male and newly diagnosed diabetes patient (the day of the attack). I weigh 180, don't smoke, do drugs or engage in risky behaviour, and eat decently healthy...so as you can imagine, this whole avalanche has been a little...

Hello all. I recently joined this forum because my husband has end stage congestive heart failure. I feel like this has happened so fast. He had a massive heart attack in May 2019 and his EF is 20%. He has been in and out of the hospital multiple times, many times for fluid retention. He has an ICD...

Hi my name is Vikki, I received my LVAD Dec, 16, 2019 with COVID -19 it’s nit possible to get to cardiac rehab what suggestions do you have for exercising

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...

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?

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...

I have a heartmate 3. implanted in January, I can finally shower, I am able to cover the driveline site, but the waterproof bag is a pain. For those of you who shower often how do you manage to protect and keep your batteries and controller dry?

I am the proud owner of a Heartmate 3 LVAD. I have had it for 15 months now and have has an interesting ride, but that is for a later post. My issues have been with driveline management and skin rashes. My skin is very sensitive to tape and adhesives and it has been a challenge to find the most...

Hello everyone! As a cardiac rehab nurse supervisor I want you to know nurses understand your journey from heart failure - meds- hospitalizations and decreased quality of life leading to decision of LVAD. Cardiac rehabs can help you in your recovery we monitor you and we help you regain your muscle...