Community Forums

I have had an LVAD for 8 years. The new daily cleaning of my driveline is a pre-packaged kit, which includes an effective infection prevention disk called biopatch. Because of skin issues, I am unable to use them. Every day I have a new disk to add, and have a good-sized bag now. They are packaged...

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:/...

Lets get to it. The worst thing that can happen to an LVAD user is a drive line infection. It can put you in the hospital many times over and cures with the various antibiotics may or may not work for you. It can lead to extra surgeries for debridement and in some cases make it worse. In my case I...

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?

My husband had his LVAD op October 2017 10 days later he developed bowed ischaemia and had life saving surgery again, he had bowel resection and an illeostomy. He is lucky to have survived. Now over year later he has had drive line infection, regular low magnesium and potassium also, he looses fluid...

My Uncle has been living with his LVad for many years. He has recently been having complications. He's been in hospital over a week with a GI bleed they can't seem to find. He's had two colonoscopy and swallowed a pill that had a camera in it. They went in today and cauterized three spots that could...

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've tried the Yoga CD but I was unable to do alot of the exercises;it was for beginners . So I've decided to do some thing else. I going to my walks again. I was doing two miles a day and it was getting to hot during the summer. I'm going do do my walks in the morning and do some of my leg...

I've tried the Yoga CD but I was unable to do alot of the exercises;it was for beginners . So I've decided to do some thing else. I going to my walks again. I was doing two miles a day and it was getting to hot during the summer. I'm going do do my walks in the morning and do some of my leg...

I've tried the Yoga CD but I was unable to do alot of the exercises;it was for beginners . So I've decided to do some thing else. I going to my walks again. I was doing two miles a day and it was getting to hot during the summer. I'm going do do my walks in the morning and do some of my leg...

I've been trying to get some information about trying to do yoga with the lvad and how to get started. Has anyone tried or is anyone doing it? . At being 63yrs.old, I need some form of exercise; I would appreciate it. Thank you and Peace be with you.

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...

I've been trying to get some information about trying to do yoga with the lvad and how to get started. Has anyone tried or is anyone doing it? . At being 63yrs.old, I need some form of exercise; I would appreciate it. Thank you and Peace be with you.

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....