What do you call external equipment? Batteries are placed in pockets of the LVADshirt or in a kind of vest with internal pockets. The condutor is in the belt. For the extra batteries and condutor I have a backpack or, for more social places a Longchamps bag.
I just got a great new bag for Christmas found it on Amazon. Holds everything and then some! It’s a option from my vests. Feels more “normal” than the bag provided by Abbott.
It has multiple zippered pockets inside. I don’t use the zipper. The batteries, controller and wires fit nicely in the compartments and the flap snaps over everything. You only see a little bit of the drive line. Feels and looks much more “normal”.
It’s very nice but, in countries like Brazil, it can be dangerous as it’s very attractive to be stollen. It’s why I prefer to use the controler in the belt and the batteries in the internal pockets of the vest or use the LVADSHIRT.
I wear my Lvad equipment in an Lvad shirt from lvadgear.com. Then I wear my tops over it. It is hardly noticeable under my clothes. I would like to send a picture but I am technology challenged and don't know how to do it. My extra batteries and stuff I carry in a backpack like purse I received for Christmas. It was purchased at Marshall's I believe. It carries all of my extra equipment plus my wallet. I love it!
I alternate between the contacts bag and the vest for day wear. At night, I use the provided controller holder when I “plug in”. However, I use it on my own old leather belt. I find I’d much easier to adjust than the belt that was provided with it.
I wear a 5.11 tactical shirt. It is a concealed weapon shirt to hold your gun. Perfect size for batteries. I have a heart mate 2 have had for 5 years. Best shirt I ever bought. May have issues with the 3. Don't know how long the drive line is. Mine fits in my pants pocket. Most people have no clue what I have on. You can also add a extra snap or two to help secure the batteries in the holder.
I bought my 5.11 tactical shirt early on and liked the feel of it. I also bought an LVAD shirt. which is the same shirt, but with Velcro loops on the chest for the wires and a pocket low on the side of my cable entry. They had added those two things to the tactical shirt and then more than doubled the price. I had also tried a spandex kind of belly wrap for sleeping at night, but found that it didn't work well and tended to roll. My wife cut material from that night band and sewed a controller pocket on my concealed carry shirt and voila, I have an LVAD shirt! I also found a nice fishing/photographer's vest on Amazon that had inside pockets and even a big zippered pouch in the back (that I have never used. I found that if I put one battery in the right inside pocket and the controller in the left inside pocket, I could put the other battery in the left outside pocket and have just its wire showing where it loops under the vest. It has a really good feel to it and all I have to do is answer a lot of questions (especially in the winter) about how much I must like fishing to be wearing the vest all the time!
I use a small carry on rolling case to carry my extra equipment. My “GO” bag. I keep my extra batteries and controller along with my Levonox, emergency numbers/contacts, current med list, a plastic poncho, etc. There is room for my iPad, and other medical equipment when necessary (ie Doppler etc.). I have also attached a Njoiii njoiii proximity alarm to the bag. In the event I forget to take it along, it alerts my cell phone with an alarm. It also functions as s tracker should I leave it in a store or restaurant by accident.
I must be boring, I just wear the vest and belt system they came with the Heart Mate 2. Sometimes I use the side bag that came from the company as well. It's black and red.
Creating a personal link between LVADers,and their caregivers, with others in the same situation in there own area. A place to post your information so others can connect with you.
What do you call external…
Wed, 12/26/2018 - 10:25PMWhat do you call external equipment? Batteries are placed in pockets of the LVADshirt or in a kind of vest with internal pockets. The condutor is in the belt. For the extra batteries and condutor I have a backpack or, for more social places a Longchamps bag.
In reply to What do you call external… by Mariza M.
Chris H.I just got a great new bag…
Thu, 12/27/2018 - 3:43PMI just got a great new bag for Christmas found it on Amazon. Holds everything and then some! It’s a option from my vests. Feels more “normal” than the bag provided by Abbott.
In reply to I just got a great new bag… by Chris H.
Mariza M.It’s a very nice bag. Has it…
Thu, 12/27/2018 - 4:56PMIt’s a very nice bag. Has it an ouverture for the driveline?
Happy New Year
Mariza
In reply to It’s a very nice bag. Has it… by Mariza M.
Chris H.It has multiple zippered…
Sat, 12/29/2018 - 7:52AMIt has multiple zippered pockets inside. I don’t use the zipper. The batteries, controller and wires fit nicely in the compartments and the flap snaps over everything. You only see a little bit of the drive line. Feels and looks much more “normal”.
In reply to It has multiple zippered… by Chris H.
Mariza M.It’s very nice but, in…
Sat, 12/29/2018 - 8:03AMIt’s very nice but, in countries like Brazil, it can be dangerous as it’s very attractive to be stollen. It’s why I prefer to use the controler in the belt and the batteries in the internal pockets of the vest or use the LVADSHIRT.
In reply to It has multiple zippered… by Chris H.
Babu O.Thanks - can you send me…
Wed, 01/02/2019 - 1:35PMThanks - can you send me the Amazon details please.
if you have pics with how you put batteries / controller and wires that would be most helpful
I wear my Lvad equipment in…
Tue, 01/01/2019 - 3:11PMI wear my Lvad equipment in an Lvad shirt from lvadgear.com. Then I wear my tops over it. It is hardly noticeable under my clothes. I would like to send a picture but I am technology challenged and don't know how to do it. My extra batteries and stuff I carry in a backpack like purse I received for Christmas. It was purchased at Marshall's I believe. It carries all of my extra equipment plus my wallet. I love it!
June B.
I use the fanny pack. It's…
Wed, 01/02/2019 - 2:53PMI use the fanny pack. It's very easy to move it around when I sit or drive. I don't really like the weight on my 84 y/o chest.
Contacts bag
Sun, 01/06/2019 - 9:41PMNeed more detail on contact bag on Amazon
In reply to Contacts bag by Donald H.
Chris H.Hi, Here is the link... …
Mon, 01/07/2019 - 6:23PMHi,
Here is the link...
Contacts Genuine Leather Men... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFWJKRH?ref=yo_pop_ma_share
Also, I love this vest...
two large inside pockets (upper & lower) on left and right sides.
Flygo Men's Summer Casual Outdoor... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BS68YLB?ref=yo_pop_ma_share
In reply to Hi, Here is the link... … by Chris H.
Chris H.https://www.amazon.com/dp…
Mon, 01/07/2019 - 6:29PMSorry if the previous links didn’t work...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFWJKRH/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_i_c_cb-mCb66EVR60
In reply to https://www.amazon.com/dp… by Chris H.
Chris H.Also: https://www.amazon…
Mon, 01/07/2019 - 6:31PMAlso:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BS7NP2P/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_i_c_Qd-mCbC616ANS
In reply to https://www.amazon.com/dp… by Chris H.
Chris H.Also:https://www.amazon…
Mon, 01/07/2019 - 6:31PMI alternate between the contacts bag and the vest for day wear. At night, I use the provided controller holder when I “plug in”. However, I use it on my own old leather belt. I find I’d much easier to adjust than the belt that was provided with it.
I wear a 5.11 tactical shirt…
Mon, 01/07/2019 - 1:00PMIn reply to I wear a 5.11 tactical shirt… by Garicke R.
Ray H.Tactical shirt
Tue, 01/15/2019 - 8:30AMAnd for my GO bag...
Mon, 01/07/2019 - 6:58PMI use a small carry on rolling case to carry my extra equipment. My “GO” bag. I keep my extra batteries and controller along with my Levonox, emergency numbers/contacts, current med list, a plastic poncho, etc. There is room for my iPad, and other medical equipment when necessary (ie Doppler etc.). I have also attached a Njoiii njoiii proximity alarm to the bag. In the event I forget to take it along, it alerts my cell phone with an alarm. It also functions as s tracker should I leave it in a store or restaurant by accident.
Clothing
Fri, 05/31/2019 - 11:57AMHow about the heartware ?
has anybody a heartware system??
In reply to Clothing by Gabriëlle T.
Mont K.Heart ware lvad installed in January
Sat, 06/01/2019 - 5:44PMI carry my in backpack
LVADGEAR on Etsy is awesome
Sat, 06/01/2019 - 9:27AMI don’t know how to upload a photo of my husband wearing his LVAD T-shirt but we got it on Etsy and holds his 2batteries and controller on him!
My new vest!
Fri, 06/07/2019 - 5:40PMHi,
I’m wearing my new VAD Wear™️ Vest!
Holds my HeartMate™️ 3 batteries and controller.
http://www.vadwearvests.com
I must be boring, I just…
Mon, 06/10/2019 - 2:59PMI must be boring, I just wear the vest and belt system they came with the Heart Mate 2. Sometimes I use the side bag that came from the company as well. It's black and red.