Discussions: New to LVADs

Hi, hello, good afternoon! My husband is jumping through the hoops to get qualified for the Heartmate II. We're just about done and meeting with the LVAD surgeon in just a week. I don't see many recent posts and it concerns me dearly. My husband is not a bridge to transplant due to his age (73) and...

Good Evening, So I am assuming that most patients here are on medicare medical insurance. Can anyone share what the monthly out of pocket cost are for someone who has an LVAD unit? Hospital staff is not really giving me a straight answer. Should be pretty straight forward. Anyone have any financial...

My site is about 2-3 inches to the left of my belly button, about an inch below my waist. The more I talk with people on this website, the more I am thinking there isn't a standard placement for a driveline sute? I was given an LVAD as emergency surgery. I was given a 30% survival chance until I got...

Hello! My dad 80 is still in ICU for the last 6 days. He was closed on last Monday. He is still intubated and they are slowly trying to wake him up. They have started nose feeding and has the temp RVAD on. I was wondering if anyone in the group went through the same experience? How long it took you...

Hello, Im 23 and got my VAD in January. Im looking to connect with people hopefully around my age that understand what is happening and can relate. It’s weird interacting with people who have no idea what this is like, and just wanna make friends that do. Thanks for reading.

My dad is a possible Lvad pt at just shy of 80 anyone else have experience with it at this age would love to hear your experience. It seems overwhelming

My husband is going to have LVAD surgery. We began this journey at UTSW in Dallas hoping for a heart transplant. The transplant was not approved due to age and other health conditions. UTSW did approve him for LVAD surgery. He has also been approved for an LVAD at Baylor Scott & White in Fort Worth...

Hi friends -- My dad will be returning home from the hospital with an LVAD sometime in the next week, and I'm trying to help him out by purchasing some gear/accessories that will make his life a little easier and more comfortable once he gets here and adjusts to his new equipment. Because of...

I was disappointed to hear from my doctor that right now I'm not a candidate for an LVAD. I didn't know until my doctor informed us that your heart has to be enlarged and you have to have a certain Ejection fraction in order to get an LVAD. Right now my heart isn't the size and my ejection fraction...

Hi everyone, My father, 67 is in hospital in the UK with heart failure and poor output and heart stability (he's had stents and a pacemaker fitted in the past). He seems the perfect candidate for a LVAD as destination therapy but the heart doctor stated that the UK only did LVADs as bridge to...

Hey! Just asking for my dad who newly has lvad. He used to enjoy acupuncture, does anyone know if he is still able to receive this support? He will have lvad for the rest of his life so we’re trying to find a way to do the things he’s done for health and body support. Thanks!

So I have been advised that I need to have an LVAD unit. I have HOCM and have been fighting this heart desease head on since 2014 when I had a Septal Myectomy and Transapical midventricular myectomy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochestor MD. These surgeries were very major but really did not improve my...

Henry, my husband, had a massive heart attack, Nov. 2016. We practically lost him and we were devasted at the news that he may not "make" it we were told. No "promises"....I knew it was dire. I knew at that point we had to just pray for the doctors and staff that were treating him. Now....almost six...

I am a recipient for an LVAD before I decide whether I'm going to do it or not I really wanna know about it and I have some questions here's the first question that comes to mind...... Will I have a pacemaker and defibrillator with my LVAD or will they take the pacemaker and defibrillator out and...

I just want to know if it's normal....when i grow up the stairs... my lvad made a bizarre sound like :crunch... crunch ?? it is normal... ? I am a French person ...sorry for my english language.

I want to know if it's normal to listen the Lvad whwn i sleep

Hello, my brother is currently going to get a LVAD. I apologize for bad English as I am still young and Im just very worried. My brother had gone through an operation and needed rehab therapy. However, the state we lived in did not offer him the specific rehab therapy so he needed to be flown out to...

Hello, I’m 58 years old wife, mother. My CHF started in my early 40s secondary to Rocky Mountain spotted fever destroyed my ventricles. Now as of Dec 16, 2019 just out of the hospital 2months Feb 16. It’s been a roller coaster with my heartmate 3. Many low flow incidents, and high PIs. I’m either to...

Good day to you all. I am going to be getting a Heart mate 3 here in the next couple of weeks. I admit to being very apprehensive about this and initially rejected the idea. I Just wanted to say That this site has been very helpful in making my decision to go ahead with the surgery. Time is short if...

Hi, I'm a 35 y/o caregiver to my dad with heart failure. The hospital LVAD educator suggested I speak with the people on here for more information from people who have actually been there. Up until recently, my father has an EF around 10%, does not use oxygen, can walk short distances, and can...