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Beth S. Family Member

Please, I need some advice

My husband is in the hospital and he is waiting for an LVAD. I am overwhelmed and really do not comprend what quality of life is like with this device implanted. If I had to decide I do not think I would get this done for myself. I don't see the upside other then living over death.

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Dan Y.

I just got my LVAD on the 16 of May. So far so good on how I feel. The equipment is a pain to work with, bur as I get stronger I expect to find that it is all worth it. I guess you need to decide depending on how bad or weak you feel. Some people I have talked to could not even walk from one wend of there house to the other and now they can walk down the street. It just depends on how you feel.

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Kenneth W.

I had my LVAD implanted July 20, 2011.Is my quality of life better? You bet it is! There are good days and bad days. It has not all been perfect, I have had a few set backs. All GI bleeding issues. How you come through these little setbacks is up to the patient and CAREGIVERS ATTITUDE!I did not become this helpless thing with my VAD. Do I need caregiver support? You bet! What I don't need is my caregivers treating me like this broken thing. From personal experience if you want the poor poor me thing then don't do it. I was not ready to lay down and die!!! I live every day to it's fullest and if a complication comes up, I let the doctors deal with it and I move on!

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Erin P.

My boyfriend just had his put in on the 11 of June. Its a lot of work with 2 small kids but I can already see major improvements. In the mornings he can take himself to the bathroom, we can talk for more then 2 minutes before he's to winded and has to stop, he can stay awake for more then an hour at a time. I can go on and on bottom line my kids have their Dad back with just a little extra ;-) this was the best thing we could have ever done he's coming back to him. Be prepared to have some sleepless nights and my advice make sure the smoke detector has fresh batteries because ours about gave me a heart attack because I didn't know what it was :-\