New LVAD and diagnosis of Covid 19
Mon, 10/19/2020 - 9:10PMMy father just had an LVAD put in on October 9th. The surgery went good and he was taken off the ventilator the following day. He then began to develop extreme breathing problems and was not able to take deep enough breaths and was retaining carbon dioxide and becoming extremely confused due to this. They decided to put him back on the ventilator yesterday the 18th and this morning the hospital called me and told me that he was having “episodes” through out the night so they decided to test him for Covid 19 and he tested positive. He is still on the ventilator and they have since moved him to a Covid wing. Has anyone else experienced anything like this and if so, what was the outcome? He is only 65 and I can’t bear to think that this might be the end for him.
Covid 19
Mon, 10/26/2020 - 10:54AMMy heart goes out to you and your family. I will put you in my prayers.
Hate to hear his progress will probably be slowed due to Covid. However, he is already in the hospital and all though not the best news at least he is where they can help him the most. Be sure to check with the doctor as I understand Remdesivir is the only drug approved by the FDA for emergency use. I also understand it is either free or at least covered by most health insurance plans including Medicare so be sure to check it out.
My LVAD team has said some patients have been diagnosed with Covid in my area but not their condition. I personally am extra cautious even with my family as many are not as careful as they should be. A friend of mine with severe COPD got it from a young person who was not careful and he is having a very tough time with it.
Wishing you and your father the best!
In reply to Covid 19 by Stan C.
Jamyson D.Thank you
Wed, 10/28/2020 - 1:36PMDear Stan,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post and for the information about Remdesivir. I did check with his doctors and was grateful to hear that they are using that in his treatment. Stay safe and healthy!
I am in the Seattle area. I…
Mon, 10/26/2020 - 12:07PMI am in the Seattle area. I had open heart surgery on 7/22/2020 and was Covid negative just before that surgery. I tested positive 4 days after surgery. The doctors put me on three doses (IV) of Remdesivir and I had no symptoms and no problems except for the fact that the hospital had me in Covid rooms in the hospital, so the only people I saw were the nurses in moon suits for three weeks.
Covid & Lvads
Mon, 10/26/2020 - 3:51PMI recently attended a webinar put on by Tufts University Heart Transplant team and was encouraged by the data they shared. The mortality rate is about 12% for transplant patients, so it isn't the death sentence we fear.
Go to HeartBrothers.org and click on the Events button and register for the webinar this Wednesday co-hosted withTufts on the topic of LVADs and Covid.
Hope this helps. Good luck and God Bless!
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻Prayers for all of you.
Mon, 10/26/2020 - 9:08PM🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻Prayers for all of you.
Celebrating 2 years
Mon, 11/02/2020 - 4:30PMToday is the 2nd anniversary of my husband's LVAD implantation. The 1st 3 weeks were really rough in the hospital, then the next 2 months at home were quite challenging. But he had PT & OT come to the house which really helped. Then he participated in a cardiac rehab program for 3 months that really improved his strength. He starting back to work part time at 4 months and went back full time at 9 months. Today he walked 6 miles. I hope this will provide encouragement to those who are just starting this journey. We are thankful for every day and the focus on gratitude has made a huge difference in our outlook,
I had my transplant at Tufts…
Mon, 11/02/2020 - 9:34PMI had my transplant at Tufts / Boston almost 4 yrs. ago. They don’t give us any info after the
transplant. So I am glad you posted this. Thank you , God bless ❤️👏🏻
Transplant and Covid
Sat, 11/14/2020 - 12:31AMHi Jamyson ,
Hope all is well with your dad , I had a heart transplant 3/21 and 6 days later I got Covid -19 , as scary as It was back then, things are much better now, doctors have a better understanding about Covid and how to treat it, I had a 10 day IV of Remdesivir , it made the symptoms much better, I was in the hospital for a long time - about 55 days , but the symptoms were never super bad , I had one bad week but managed to go through it, all the best to you and your dad, plz let me know if you have any questions''
Hatem