Discussions: Living with an LVAD

Hi friends! my father has had an lvad for about a year now, and he has some hopes of traveling. In particular, in Central America. The hospital at one point mentioned if he’d be traveling, it’d be a good idea to have an lvad clinic nearby in whatever place he was venturing, if anything were to...

Any one suffer nerve pain in chest due to lvad pressing on nerve. I've had lvad since Jan 2019 and and gone through many issues. New issue as of March 2023 is lvad pressing on nerve. Some times it's very painful. Lvad team suggested a nerve block procedure as sometimes they work. I hate to have to...

Does anyone here do their own INR testing at home. If so how did your team approach it, does the tester work well and what brand if tester do you use. Getting lab work is expensive with the co pay and I am personally sick of being a pin cushion lol Thank you for any help.

Does anyone miss not using a vacuum cleaner? How do you take care of carpeting without one? Any suggestions besides having someone else do it?

So I have had my LVAD for over 3 years now and thankfully without any major issues. I have been supported by family through this time but unerstandably that is not a long term option and has gone on long enough already. I don't feel comfortable going back to work full time as my energy levels can...

I've been told I need to take an antibiotic before any dental appointments now because of the lvad. But is there anything a dentist or hygienist uses that I need to avoid? (similar to not getting an MRI) that uses magnetic waves?

Hello! im just curious , I’m sure my dad would love to meet other people that also share this experience. I think sometimes it can feel isolating. thanks!

My daily routine: 1. Do a self-check of the controller, check the readings, and check for alarms (low flow and power). 2. Disconnect from remote power; connect to the batteries. 3. If staying-in-the house, use controller bag supplied by the hospital. 4. If going out, use fishing vest purchased from...

I’ve been shocked several times. I’ve had two ablations. One last May and one in November. I was wondering if anyone ever gets the feeling that their heart is racing, palpitations, heart feeling strange when urinating at times. Every time I feel anything I go into a panic. My doctors say I’ve got...

Can an LVAD patient have laughing gas as a way to remove teeth prior to dentures?

Does anyone now what the maximum distances you can be away ( vacation) from a LVAD certified hospital?? My team is very cautious. And as mentioned in yesterday’s meeting they also will not let me drive. I’ve had to many blackouts due to GI bleeds. They actually took me off of warfarin and aspirin...

Hi my brother brother has had an l vad For about 8 years now. Around June he suffered a fall hitting his head and causing him to have a brain bleed, He had to be rushed to Rochester in Minnesota. They removed part of a skull to let his brain swell. He was in the hospital for For 50 days and now he...

Merry Christmas to all those LVAD'ers out there. I hope that Santa is good to all of you!!

pump noise Hello I am a new lvad recipient, I had my surgery on September 19 . Everything seems to be going well except for the fact that i can hear the pump running . It is very annoying and I was wondering if anyone else has this issue?

Something that I've been considering doing is getting a embroidered patch made so that my go bag is clearly marked as medical equipment. I feel that this is important since I actually use a LowePro Camera bag with padded compartments and dual shoulder straps for carrying my spare batteries...

Lets get to it. The worst thing that can happen to an LVAD user is a drive line infection. It can put you in the hospital many times over and cures with the various antibiotics may or may not work for you. It can lead to extra surgeries for debridement and in some cases make it worse. In my case I...

I am a 78 year old male LVAD recipient, eight + years out. Generally have been doing quite well but am increasingly bothered by a very painful hip which is inhibiting my activity level and quality of life. I am interested in communicating with any LVADers out there who has had hip or joint...

Actually I am a caregiver. My husband is the VAD recipient. We are on a 2 week trip at the Grand Canyon then on to Denver to visit our son and daughter in law. Having a great time. The altitude has reduced his breathing comfort. We are staying on paved pathways and do not plan to hike! At 78 Ned is...

Since my LVAD 33 months ago, I have been on a slow and steady decline. My condition at present is no better than the heart failure condition I experienced prior to my surgery. With any physical exertion I can only last a minute or two before requiring about 5 minutes of rest before another minute or...

I’ve had congestive heart failure since 2015 and had a heart attack 2015 at the age of 35. I received an ICD also in 2015. I had an lvad put in on August 13, 2021. For a year prior to getting my VAD I was in and out of the hospital. Around Christmas 2020 I was in the hospital with a heart rate of...