Community Forums

I am about to tell you a story that still to this moment makes me feel as if I am in surreal dream waiting to be awakened. It started with a cough. A nagging cough that drove me to the minute clinic. They told me it was just a cough that would work itself out. I left and went about my routines of...

Hello. I am new to this site. I had a week long work up in June to see if I was a candidate for a LVAD at this time. I was told that I am too healthy at this time and the surgery would be too risky. However, my cardiologist said they'd prefer to wait 2+ years to do the surgery, as my blood time is O...

Hi friends -- My dad will be returning home from the hospital with an LVAD sometime in the next week, and I'm trying to help him out by purchasing some gear/accessories that will make his life a little easier and more comfortable once he gets here and adjusts to his new equipment. Because of...

I just got out of the hospital. Had my VAD placed almost 3 weeks ago. Can you guys share tips and hints on how to wear my VAD? I have a Heartware 2. Thank you

Dear LVAD community, Do you know anybody who has had had their LVAD removed due to improved heart function after the patient had an ischemic heart attack? I am not seeking medical advice, simply information. I am the caregiver to a Heartmate II patient located in Houston, Texas. My husband (the...

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.

Five years today “June 25, 2013” I had my LVAD placed. It is a HeartWare and I have never had any problems at all. Very lucky on that point. Doctors that I have at the University of Washington Regional Heart Center are doing a wonderful job keeping me going. Hasn’t slowed me down much. Grew up on a...

LVAD Gear has designed a shirt and other accessories just for HeartWare LVADs. The shirt features a double locking controller pocket with a window and locking battery pockets. See the full line of LVAD Clothing including HeartWare and HeartMate specific backpacks, sleeping belts and a selection of...

Hi all, I got my LVAD(Heart mate lll) August or 2017. I’ve been in out of the hospital since 2014 after I turned 23. I’ve known about this site since my surgery, my doctors strongly urged me to join but I never did. I guess I’ve just always been afraid to join a support group. My mind would tell me...

Hi all! I am new to the community and have a few questions about international travel. My boyfriend (27yoa) had his LVAD implanted about 6 months ago. We just took our first trip from MSP to DC and had no problem with luggage at all (and we flew Spirit!). We took one wheeled carry-on and everything...

Just got this from a company out of Florida that my MCMS team was working with. Continuum They can supply all of your patches, foley anchors, silver foam etc. It is billed diretly to Medicare which is a god send, since I was pushing $450 per month, now I can save what I didn't have to begin with....

Hi- just figured out how to find & use this site. 2 questions 1-Anyone know what > 12 Means in both Peak & trough??? 2- open you up chest/ sternum Is there a less invasive operation? Thanks

In September, 2015. I had two (no pain) heart attacks, one while in the hospital. My cardiologist (he had put two stents in me some years earlier) told me that my left ventricle was in bad shape and that I might not live to the end of the year. This scared the hell out of me since I was my wife's...

Hi, I have had my Lvad for seven years. Recently I have developed fluid around the pump they removed one and 1/3 liters by aspiration however after a month it came back. I have had a surgery done at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston but the procedure was not successful and two months later...

Hello to all of my LVAD brothers and sisters out there. Come the middle of this month I will have had my LVAD HM II for 5 years. Not a bad stinit considering 5 years ago I should have died. But my primary LVAD and Cardiac Hospital pulled me through with 3 months in the hospital, massive infections...

Hi- just figured out how to find & use this site. 2 questions 1-Anyone know what > 12 Means in both Peak & trough??? 2- open you up chest/ sternum Is there a less invasive operation? Thanks

HI, Has anyone on here, or someone you know, ever had an Impella device placed? It's claim is that it's the world's smallest heart pump. It takes over 50% or more of your heart function. I had one placed on 03/07/17. They left it in maybe 2-3 days. I was pretty out of it so I'm not sure how long it...

Medi-Materials has an undershirt called the Freedom Undervest. https://medi-materials.com/product/freedom-undervest/

I will soon complete 6 years since I received my Heartmate 2. When I was admitted at Mayo Clinic in PHX AZ I had a severe congestive heart failure. My ejection fraction was less than 10%. I had been sent by two other hospitals to Hospice care and given 90 days to live in February of 2012. I had lost...