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Matthew B.
New to LVADs

Monthly out of pocket cost for LVAD patient

Last activity 1 day 9 hours
Good Evening, So I am assuming that most patients here are on medicare medical insurance. Can anyone share what the monthly out of pocket cost are for someone who has an LVAD unit? Hospital staff is not really giving me a straight answer. Should be pretty straight forward. Anyone have any financial...
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Matthew B.
New to LVADs

Been advised that I need an LVAD unit.

Last activity 2 days 18 hours
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...
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Barry and Susan (caregiver) S.
Living with an LVAD

Right ventricular dysfunction

Last activity 2 days 22 hours
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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Maryellen F.
Equipment

LVAD Equipment to give away

Last activity 3 days 18 hours
Hi. I have some LVAD equipment I would love to give away to anyone who needs it. Thoratec Heart Mate Go Gear Battery Holster, 2 Shower Bags, one consolidated bag, right, Battery Holster, power module cable, 2 stabilization belts, white. Please let me know and I will ship to you. thanks Maryellen
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Bernita D.
Caregiver Support

L-VAD Failure

Last activity 3 days 21 hours
My husband, Michael had his LVAD implanted in August 2019 after much discussion and lots of defib shocks. He has been in heart failure since his heart attack in 2017... well as of June 2020 it has been determined by his team that a heart transplant will not happen for him. He hasn’t been able to...
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Cathie W.
Driveline Management

Sterile Dressing Supplies

Last activity 5 days 17 hours
My husband received his new heart on June 4th. We have a large amount of supplies to share for the cost of shipping. Please let me know if you have need of any of the following: 2" and 4" gauze 2" and 4" driveline sponge rolls of 2" and 4" medipore tape hibiclens sterile water hair bonnets foley...
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Lauren S.
Questions about LVAD surgery

COVID-19 Concerns pre-VAD or post-VAD?

Last activity 1 week 4 days
Hi everyone! My name is Lauren, and I work at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. My colleagues are the creators of Deciding Together, an LVAD Decision Aid which is intended to educate patients and caregivers and help them generate questions and concerns to discuss with a healthcare team...
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Cat S.
New to LVADs

Where are the recent posts, I am scared!!

Last activity 1 week 5 days
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...
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ulric k.
Clothing Options

jacket

Last activity 2 weeks 2 days
We guarantee that your single purchase won't disappoint you because what we offer is definitely the best choice. Just in case you have any second thoughts, you ... Elena Gilbert Diaries Jacket
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Ian P.
Inspiration and Encouragement

!0 years with a Ventrasist Lvad!

Last activity 2 weeks 2 days
I have recently 'celebrated' 10 years of living with an 'antiquated' Ventrassist LVAD in the UK. Life has not been easy with the heavy batteries and so on, but the 'behaviour' of the pump itself has been exemplary! We are getting to the stage where getting batteries for it can be quite difficult....
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Gova R.
Equipment

Heart mate 3 equipment

Last activity 2 weeks 3 days
Hi, I have Lvad Heartmate 3 equipment, 4 batteries, battery charger, Wall charger, go gear (small) , some dressing supplies, folly anchors, chloroprep etc. I have used less than a year. It’s in good condition. I can also ship the items if needed. Pls let me know if any one Is interested. you can...
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Katie P.
Caregiver Support

Younger VAD Couple

Last activity 2 weeks 3 days
Hello everyone! My husband is getting the LVAD this Friday. We knew about his heart failure but getting the VAD this early was a surprise, his condition has declined quickly. I'm nervous about a lot of things but would love advice from younger couples/families (older couples too if you have advice!)...
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Cathie W.
Driveline Management

Sterile Dressing Supplies

Last activity 2 weeks 3 days
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...
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Vikki R.
New to LVADs

Low Flow

Last activity 2 weeks 3 days
Hello, I’m 58 years old wife, mother. My CHF started in my early 40s secondary to Rocky Mountain spotted fever destroyed my ventricles. Now as of Dec 16, 2019 just out of the hospital 2months Feb 16. It’s been a roller coaster with my heartmate 3. Many low flow incidents, and high PIs. I’m either to...
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Linda H.
Caregiver Support

CAREGIVER ADVICE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S "GIVEN UP"

Last activity 3 weeks
My significant other had LVAD implantation last year in May. Before he had the surgery his heart function was at 15% and he had prepared himself that he was going to die. His children and I talked to him about pursuing LVAD surgery and he seemed receptive. We went to Mayo and they said he would be a...
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Debra W.
Patient and Caregiver Forums

Eliquis VS Coumadin

Last activity 3 weeks 2 days
My husband had a Heartmate 3 Inserted last March and did very well at first but soon was experiencing GI bleeds, source unknown after tests and scopes. Has rec'd numerous units of blood to get his Hemoglobin up to a whopping 8 or 9. MD wants to try Eliquis instead of Coumadin but not much study has...
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Tonya E.
Recipient Support

Does anyone else feel.........

Last activity 3 weeks 4 days
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...
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Larry G.
Driveline Management

Ongoing scabs driveline

Last activity 4 weeks 2 days
Just wondering if anyone else have ongoing scabs around the drive line my doctor says the site looks good no infections and it would never heal because no matter how secure the line is it still moves. Had my lvad since Aug 2018 doing well even went to my winter camp for ice fishing and my inverter...