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April S. Prospective Patient

Deciding when to get LVAD - NEED ADVICE

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 12:51PM
I am 38years old and I am in stage 3 HF. My cardiologist asked me yesterday if I felt bad enough to have the LVAD surgery. As silly as that may sound it was a very difficult question to answer. He suggested that I visit this site and do some other research and get back to him. My only other options are to have IV meds or transplant. I have to lose 60 more pounds before I can get approved for transplant. I have lost 50 pounds since February 2016. The idea is to get the LVAD and potentially have 5-10 good years added to my life before transplant and get me closer to a normal life span. I am married and I have 3 children, ages 16, 14, and 11 ( one boy two girls). I don't know what to do. Any advice?
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Stacey P.

Thu, 11/23/2017 - 10:31PM
I am 38 years old and I am in class 3 HF and have an ejection fraction of 39% and yet I am being told I'm not bad enough yet to get an LVAD. I have shortness of breath with doing everyday activities and I can't exercise. What is surpising is I still have an adequate amount of blood being pumped through my heart but the pressures inside the heart are too high.