Patients and Caregivers Forums

Life with an LVAD can be challenging, and loved ones in your life may not realize just how different your day-to-day activities look. From cleaning, inspecting, and changing the bandages on your exit wound to plugging in your LVAD equipment at night, life just looks a bit different after receiving...

Have my VAD for 7 weeks now, and all is well. Still very tired after a flight of steps. Have the model HM 3. It's weird having to carry a bag 24/7. Anyway, just saying hello. Benny.

I've had my device for 3 years and the past couple of months, the skin under the bandage and the foley anchor has started to itch, but I don't know from what. I don't know if it's the Tegraderm, the cloraprep which my doctor said to switch to alcohol to clean the area, or the skin prep solution. I...

My husband had a heart transplant . He had a LVAD : Heartmate 2.We are located in Massachusetts . In Middlesex county . If you need driveline kits we have then to give if you are in need. Please Email me and we will make a connection acura1234567@aol.com. God bless.

We developed the Freedom Undervest so that patients could continue doing the things they love. This week on the blog, we discuss traveling with an LVAD. Did you know 38% of people we polled say they haven't traveled since their LVAD procedure? Reclaim your wanderlust and hit the road, with the...

Wife was implanted 3 yrs ago with heartmate 2 and has since had 3 drive-line revisions due to infection. We have been told transplant is not a option and have been forwarded to palliative care. We have been commuting from Kansas City to STL sfor care, but this has drained all our resources and...

My Dad received a heart transplant in 2015. We believed that he would make it through. All through FAITH in God knowing that there would be a reason. I am grateful to God everyday for also renewing him heart, mind, and soul to know who God is in his life!! Stay strong and believe!! I will be...

The Freedom Undervest keeps your LVAD equipment safe all day. We recommend sleeping in your Freedom Undervest, so that your LVAD equipment stays secure at night, and you remain comfortable. (It helps to have more than one vest, so that you can rotate them throughout the week.) Visit our Blog to get...

I'm so proud of the Freedom Undervest because it solves a real problem. As many of my colleagues know, driveline infections are a serious risk for LVAD patients, and the Freedom Undervest addresses their need to protect the driveline exit site. Read more: https://medi-materials.com/2018/03/28/no...

Hello I am a new lvad recipient, I had my surgery on september 19 . Everything seems to be going well except for the fact that i can hear the pump running . It is very annoying and I was wondering if anyone else has this issue?

I'm happy to announce the launch of the Freedom Undervest, a garment designed to free you from your VAD bag. Medi-Materials has worked with LVAD patients and doctors to develop a comfortable vest that secures your external equipment in a completely hands-free manner. Learn more on our blog: https:/...

Hello, I am new to this forum . I had my lvad surgery on September 19 . Everything seems to be going good except for the fact that i can hear the high pitched hum of the pump .H as anyone else had this problem?

Hi My father is 60 years old who suffered a ischemic stroke on 11/1/2018. Right now he is half paralyzed with aphasia. He has chronic heart failure. His heart is working 15-20%. He had a bypass in 2006 and a pacemaker implanted in 2012. I talked to a heart failure specialist who said our hope is...

Hello My name is Bassit Nawaz, I was your average university student living a healthy and active lifestyle while making time to study and was on the path to obtaining my Bachelors Degree in Science’s. Yet at the age of 21 I caught viral Infection that caused severe ventricles dilation resulting in...

My Brother-in-Law got his LVAD on November 30, 2017. After a grueling recovery, he got better and after 7 weeks in the hospital he was about to go home. But BAM! he got hit with the flu that is going around. Right away he was put into the CCU again, and his condition started to deteriorate rapidly...

Just as an FYI, the East Carolina Heart Institute (Vidant Hospital), Greenville, NC is now a LVAD hospital. Our surgeon was previously at Duke in Durham and preformed over 40 implants there and has done 5 implants here. (I was the 3rd.) This. is a fantastic addition to eastern NC as it saves...

I have a strange question. Before getting my lvad, one thing I used to enjoy was listening to shortwave radio while falling asleep. I used to prop the radio on my chest while tuning though the frequencies. Now that I have an lvad, I’m finding it impossible to listen anymore. I get an overpowering...

How much stuff do you have to take home when discharge? Also if you don't have a caretaker, will I still be able go home afterwards? Sorry I have a lot of questions to asked.

Hi, i'm from italy and i'm caregiver of my father; he was implanted with heart mate 3 LVAD and now he's slowing recovery. I have a question: anyone use coaguchek to selftest INR at home? Because some doctor says that it's ok, someone else that is better the blood test performed by the hospital...

My husband is likely getting an LVAD this week. He has cardiomyopathy and is only 40 so they want to put off a transplant as long as possible. The more I read about LVADs, the more I hear of numerous complications, recovery issues, and the amount of care the caregiver must provide in the months...