Patients and Caregivers Forums

Hello, my brother is currently going to get a LVAD. I apologize for bad English as I am still young and Im just very worried. My brother had gone through an operation and needed rehab therapy. However, the state we lived in did not offer him the specific rehab therapy so he needed to be flown out to...

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...

I have had my LVAD for 2 1/2 years and have devised clothing options for daily use, including vests, fishing vests, LVAD shirts, and concealed tactical shirts that my wife sews a pocket on for the controller. My problem has always been with the belt for the controller. I am fat and have a flat hips...

Just wanted to let everyone know about this vest. Vests in general have been a great option for me over the last 4+ years. I even wear one now to play golf in. But other than the high cost ones I’ve not had an option of a sleeveless one for winter wear. I wore this for the first time today. I wore...

Hello, My husband and I are considering spending a month or so in the Ft. Myers/Naples, FL area. I'd be more comfortable if I knew of a hospital/cardiology group located in the area that I could contact in case there would be any type of emergency that could come up with my husband's Medtronic LVAD...

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...

Hi everybody, I got this email this morning and I read there's a new device that is implanted including the batteries. I don't think I want to go through the surgery again,but I would like to find out if the batteries will be replaced with the ones that I have and are lighter than the ones I have...

Hello VAD community, I'm a nurse from Vancouver B.C. Canada, and I'm hoping to get a sense from patients and caregivers, in terms of preference in receiving care (VAD or not VAD related), in the community versus back at the implanting hospital. My hope is that your input would help shape the future...

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'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'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.

Hi, my name is Tonya and i have had my vad implanted 1 year and 5 days ago. And since then i have had chronic driveline infections and within the last 2 months i have had 2 diffrent surgery's, 1. Cause i had a brain bleed( just from hitting my head on a cabinet door, ) so i had to have emergency...

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VAD-wearables We are currently inviting Ventricular Assist Device patients globally to participate in an online questionnaire about their experience with their VAD wearable systems. The aim of the questionnaire is to research how Ventricular Assist Device patients feel...

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VAD-wearables We are currently inviting Ventricular Assist Device patients globally to participate in an online questionnaire about their experience with their VAD wearable systems. The aim of the questionnaire is to research how Ventricular Assist Device patients feel...

Hello! I am a student at the University of Washington in an engineering class project hoping to improve the life for people with LVADs. We have been working on this project for a couple of months, and discussed with VAD coordinators, cardiologists, and industry professionals in healthcare. I would...

Will there be a lighter and smaller battery available for the Lvad heartmatt 111 now or in the future the reson I ask this is when strapped to the body it can effect your posture

First time posting but I’ve been lurking for a while. My husband had his lvad surgery today and although the left side of his heart is responding positively, his right side is functionIng worse than before surgery. He spent a week in the hospital with a balloon pump and his right side responded well...

My husband started on these two recently. Seroquel last Thursday and the Gabapentin on Saturday. They are to help with his delirium/encephalopathy. I have heard negative things about this drug combination- especially Seroquel. Anyone have experience with either of these working or not working? Thank...