LVAD Recovery

Hi, Gayle!  I'm sure this process seems very slow and particularly stressful since both you and Chris are so young. To read a couple of stories about the journey of some VAD warriors, please go to this link to my company website.

https://www.vadsupplies.com/lvad-blog-2/

Wishing you and Chris great success in this journey.

Sheri

I was also diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2015 when I was 35. I have been on medication since but this past year it got progressively worse and had the lvad placed on 11/29/18. The only complication I had was after surgery my right side couldn’t keep up so I was sedated and on the breathing tube for 5 extra days. This was brutal for me because I kept waking up and choking on the breathing tube. I was tied to the bed so I wouldn’t pull the tube out and couldn’t communicate with anyone. Once they pulled that out, I was fine and after three weeks I went home. I have been home slowly recuperating now for the last 3 weeks and start cardiac rehab in 2 days. This is a slow process, just got to take it one day at a time. You will have good days and bad days. But will get through all of this 

hello my name is mike in elgin in. why is your bud chris sedated. is there more to this than this posting? and most inportantly how are you dooing being not sedated?  now for the famous alvadd dressings, check for ins coverage for his after care to see if that is covered. than there is the cash element for the on going ins. thy pa or ssdi and see if you qualify for that depending on what state you are in. that is not a fast process so keep your PAPERS  STRAIGHT. those stupid files and all. now welcome to the game. keep fighting ask the docters for more info and QUESTION A LOT. this was not c cheep opperation so get your moneys worth out of it.thal to the social security person in the hospital for help, and social service agencies. whoooo i am exausted just taking about this and,,,,,, my back in s killing me!!!!!!   oh yea do not forget about the guy up staires on the top floor for that help.  keep hang and banging this is one of those life steps you have to give away if you want.    CHEERS to you and chris.

Hi Meghan,

My husband recieved the HM3 on August 9th of 2018 and he was in ICU for a little over 2 weeks on a breathing machine. At first they could not find out why he was not breathing on his own because it wasn't a norm for this procedure at his age 48 they expected a fairly quick recovery, but then they discovered that his lungs were slightly punctured during surgery.  Nevertheless to say, once his lungs recovered he healed alot faster from the LVAD put procedure and was out of the hospital after 4 weeks. 

Meghan

My name Is Gil i was a clinical study to help get Heartmate 3 approved for other patients

such as Chris to get a better pump than the heartmate 2. It was AT LEAST 1 year before i began

to accept the pump and began to build my self worth somewhat back to reality but i was getting stronger as each day went by. My poor wife she was the real trooper thru all of this!! I had a lot of ups and downs in the beginning

as it was anew pump and they did not have answers to the problems i was having. But they always got to

the bottom of it, so people such as chris wont have to go thru what i did as they now have the answers. But my 

Quality of life has grown quite a bit . WE put in a 16X30 stone  patio and numerous other big projects i would 

have never attempted as being to sick.so i would say Chris has a good start to getting back to being a healthy

person just god letting him rest a bit. Miracles do happen as i was unable to give anymore when god stepped in with the Lvad.  I am living proof as to miracles as my lvad was put in 11/16/2016. I was the 8th out of10 the hospital got for 

the clinical study and i am doing ok i think i have been through the worst of it. I will pray for Chris and yourself Meghan

as he is going to need your strength to get through this . Keep your head up And STAY strong. God Bless the 

both of you.Keep in touch !

Gil B

Hi Meghan,

II received my Lvad on November 6, 2017. I am now 70 years old and doing great. I know it seems like a long, slow road but your boyfriend will recover. I am back to doing Curves (exercise circuit) 3 times a week, volunteering, shopping, and doing all of the things I used to do. Do not give up. It will get better, I promise. Continue to be an awesome caregiver. My sister was my main caregiver. She was so supportive and encouraging which helped me so much. I will keep you both in my prayers.

June B.

UPDATE: 

Chris is doing extremely well. He was sedated because his body took a hard hit. He was on echmo and impella so that is why he was mostly sedated for so long. After he received the lvad they were worried about the right side of his heart for a while. They didn't implant a rvad in hopes that the right side will learn to pump with the lvad. 

After 32 days in the ICU he has gotten the clear to get moved down to the step down unit! They woke him back up on January 4th and he's finally starting to be himself again. He is on a trach collar and will get the video test done tomorrow to see what he can eat and drink. 

Thank you all for the kind thoughts and prayers. I've learned more than every how long this process will be, but each day seems to get better and better. Slow and steady wins the race!

Meghan,

Thanks for the update on Chris. I'm so glad to hear he is doing so well! 

Sheri

Hi Meghan that’s great news that Chris is getting stronger and better each day 

it all takes time and you need to keep the faith and stay positive as hard as it is. I’ve been going through so many ups and downs as a caregiver and have been diagnosed with PTSD and I am curryhaving psychological support. I’m getring better emotionally and mentally and all I can say is keep moving forward 

Hi Megan and sorry for my english because i’im italian.

I’m 30 years old like Chris and i’ve read your stories; i think that every day we have to thank the Lord for our health.

My father had hm3 implanted november 2017; he arrived ah surgery in very bad conditions and stand in ICU for 3 weeks, then in Hospital for others 3 weeks and finally 15 days in a rehab center.

April 2018 he returned to work and day by day we enjoyed this New life :summer al the lake, going out for walking ecc

Now the new challenge is entering the transplant list because he was a bridge to candidacy.

Chris Tonight i’ll keep you in my prayers.

I have your friend in my prayers. 

Hanunah (haa noo naa)

My mother had LVAD installed four weeks ago. Now as it approaches her coming home soon, I am nervous even scared.  She is somewhat depressed as life will never be same. I felt lonely too as I have nobody to related.