Patients and Caregivers Forums

Hi. I had my L-VAD implanted almost 4 months ago. They can't get my blood pressure stabilized. I'm trying to find a vascular Doppler here in Canada so I can check at home, no luck. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated, many thanks!

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!)...

Since my LVAD 33 months ago, I have been on a slow and steady decline. My condition at present is no better than the heart failure condition I experienced prior to my surgery. With any physical exertion I can only last a minute or two before requiring about 5 minutes of rest before another minute or...

Got test strips 444 for my coaguchek but lost the code chip and am wondering if anyone can help. Ivan McCarthy lealdasolutions@gmail.com

My Husband had LVAD surgery on Friday 1/8/2021. About 10 pm that night they had to put a tube down his throat to see what was going wrong. By 1:00am Saturday Morning I had to consent again for them to go back in him because the right side of the heart wasn't strong enough. Well Sunday the nurse told...

My husband received his LVAD in August 2021. He has an iron deficiency and has to go for iron infusions. He also got an infection in his sternum. Has anyone dealt with these issues. Pat

I find the easiest way to wear my external equipment is a fanny pack, or certain hiking/outdoor bags that clip around my waist. This leaves me hands free all day long. A Maxtop brand fanny pack from Amazon (xl) will hold the batteries and a front zipper is convenient for cards or cash etc. With this...

I’ve had congestive heart failure since 2015 and had a heart attack 2015 at the age of 35. I received an ICD also in 2015. I had an lvad put in on August 13, 2021. For a year prior to getting my VAD I was in and out of the hospital. Around Christmas 2020 I was in the hospital with a heart rate of...

I received a HeartMate III LVAD on 1/25/19. I have been home from the hospital for 5 days and I am using a Thoratec vest that was given to me at the hospital.I am ready to order mens clothing to accommodate my LVAD and would appreciate some advice. The batteries are now hanging on my side and the...

My wife no longer needs anything to do with her heartmate II equipment. I've been asked to see if any of it can be sold. Does anyone here know if such is possible? I've not been told amounts to ask. I suppose any offers will be considered. As far as I know, it's all that is needed for such devices...

My husband has a lvad and his dementia is getting worse. Has anyone gone through this?

Hey good evening have a question....whats the protocol for being on wall power when its thundering and lightning? I know we cant be plugged into a surge protector , we are suppose to be plugged directly into the wall ? Right? I can't seem to find the answer. If anyone has the answer or suggestions i...

Can we ride roller coasters?

Hi friends! my father has had an lvad for about a year now, and he has some hopes of traveling. In particular, in Central America. The hospital at one point mentioned if he’d be traveling, it’d be a good idea to have an lvad clinic nearby in whatever place he was venturing, if anything were to...

Hey! Just asking for my dad who newly has lvad. He used to enjoy acupuncture, does anyone know if he is still able to receive this support? He will have lvad for the rest of his life so we’re trying to find a way to do the things he’s done for health and body support. Thanks!

My husband has a LVAD and unfortunately is now on dialysis three days a week at our local dialysis clinic. We can't be the only ones dealing with this! I have had to quit my job so that I can go to dialysis with him and sit beside his chair in order for them to do dialysis on him. They had to be...

Hi, let me start off by saying, that I never put the correct punction in, so if you have a question about what I am saying please ask, also I can be a tad bit long-winded. I guess I like to give all information so you know the whole situation. So let me start off by saying I have had CHF for 17 1/2...

Wondering about sleeping with batteries if an electrical outlet is not available or reachable to connect the charging station when traveling? I am practically wondering how the control unit would be charged overnight if it is not plugged in?

Planning on flying from Milwaukee to Orlando in February. Any tips or suggestions on how to manage the LVAD equipment?

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?