8 weeks with LVAD
Sun, 03/17/2019 - 4:59PMIt has now been eight weeks since my LVAD implantation and life has been going reasonably well since my surgery. Two weeks in the hospital, one week in a motel adjacent to the hospital, five weeks at home. My caregiver returned to his family last week so I am now on my own. I will be starting back to work full-time this week. (My job entails meetings and sitting behind a computer.) The daily dressing changes and other tasks associated with the equipment are already getting old. But, I am trying to work out a routine to minimize the hassle. Now I just have to be patient for the next step.
Congratulations!!! Your…
Mon, 03/18/2019 - 1:11PMCongratulations!!! Your recovery is fantastic! I took almost 1 year and a half to get an almost normal life, but even after 3 years I still have a caregiver to help me on shower and dressing. The evolution after a LVAD implantation is quite individual and multifactorial. Hope you keep going strong in your new life.
Mariza
Brazil
congratulations! That is a…
Mon, 03/18/2019 - 1:21PMcongratulations! That is a quick recovery. Soon you’ll be at changing the dressing just once a week. Talk to your team because you should be doing that now.
In reply to congratulations! That is a… by Amy K.
Joyce T.Clean your site daily
Mon, 04/01/2019 - 12:44PMcongrats
Mon, 03/18/2019 - 4:58PMI was 3 weeks in the hospital and then a month near the hospital. Some things to keep in mind: A recent study had 33% of LVAD recepients having driveline infections in 1 year and !00% by 10 years. Once you get an infection, you have it for life unless they exchange your LVAD. I made it 1 1/3 years. I rototilled the garden and worked up a big sweat. I didn't think to take a shower at that point and change my dressing again. The next day I had the start of an infection. Sweat is our enemy, and if you work up a sweat on your abdomin make sure you deal with it right away.
Sweating & Drive Line Care
Sat, 03/23/2019 - 5:31PMWow...got my first infection after after one year. After 4 day hospital stay to treat infection, l’m on oral antibiotics since leaving hospital. Keeping site dry in shower has been very difficult. Any ideas on keeping drive line site dry... I also spend lots of time in garden.
In reply to Sweating & Drive Line Care by Donald H.
Willie A.Keeping drive line dry when showerng
Sat, 03/23/2019 - 7:36PMBefore you go into the shower put extra tegaderm over your site. We use 2 to be on the safe side. Have not have an issue.
In reply to Sweating & Drive Line Care by Donald H.
Larry B.No Infections
Mon, 03/25/2019 - 1:37PMI shower every morning and have been since being released from the hospital in Oct 2016. I use two tegaderms when I shower. I use a 6x8 and overlap one end of it with a 4x4. This way I even get my foley covered. It’s been many months since I have got my dressing wet but it’s always operator error that causes it. When I make sure the overlap is properly sealed and I don’t let the shower hit directly on the dressing, I have absolutely no problems.
Keep in mind, getting ones dressing wet is very rarely the cause of driveline infections. Trauma to the driveline is the number one cause of infection. Showers are rated way down the list. Everyone that has an LVAD does not eventually get an infection. I’d like to see the study that shows everyone that’s had their vad for 10 plus years has had an infection! I don’t think it exists.
This is what is contained in the newest driveline infection studies:
RESULTS:
Thirty-four studies focused on vulnerable host, portal of entry, and causative organism aspects of the Chain of Infection. Increased BMI, younger age, exposed driveline velour showed increased risk of infection and driveline dressing protocol change showed lower risk of infection.
In reply to No Infections by Larry B.
Mariza M.Could you please send the…
Tue, 04/23/2019 - 5:17PMCould you please send the full reference for this article? Thank you!
In reply to Could you please send the… by Mariza M.
AnonymousLVAD Study
Wed, 04/24/2019 - 10:22AMSorry I don't have the reference, but it was a study posted or linked on MyLVAD.com a year or 2 ago.
In reply to Sweating & Drive Line Care by Donald H.
Debra K.Sweating and driveline care.
Mon, 04/22/2019 - 7:10PMHi, I'm Debra. Got my lvad 4/1/16. I was very surprised to have an infection just below the skin under my sternum. My first infection. SHIT.... I take such good care with dressing changes.. I was in the University of Chicago for a week. Somebody coughed on me... got a cold. Dang, never a dull day!😳 peeps are so darn generous, lol I'm home with my husband now. This recovery is kicking my ass! I have to pack the gaping hole in my chest 2 times per day, If not more. It's draining like crazy🤪. I'm having difficulty getting around due to low energy. Definitely putting a Debbie downer on me cooking meals, showering, laundry...all the shit I usually do... my husband is friggin starving, lol!
My body is deteriorating due to osteoarthritis in my knee, neck n shoulders. Unable to carry my batteries so I'm a prisoner in my own home. See I'm confined to my leash which doesn't reach far as I need it to. Yeah, try fi doing a surgeon that will touch a lvad patient. Nope, not out there!!!!
Never give up, never surrender!!! As much as it sucks to be me, my husband is my reason to go on❤
Hang in there guys n gals...we're still here for a reason. Later people. God bless y'all.
In reply to Sweating and driveline care. by Debra K.
Amy K.Sweating and driveline care
Mon, 04/29/2019 - 2:25PMso sorry you’re having issues. Do you really think the infection is from sweat? That scares me because hubby got an infection in his incision while still in the hospital. Had a wound vac on for 8 weeks or so. IV antibiotics at home then on oral doxycycline for maintenance. Got his lvad 8 months ago. Thought that part was behind us. I know there is always a risk at the driveline but not elsewhere! Best of luck to you.
In reply to Sweating and driveline care by Amy K.
Anonymousinfection
Mon, 04/29/2019 - 3:31PMI do think it was from the sweat running down the driveline under the dressing. It was an unusual infection with a bug found in garden soil and I had just rototilled the garden which is what drew the sweat.
LVAD driveline bleed
Sat, 03/23/2019 - 8:52PMI have a heartmate II and have had it now for 2 years and 10 months. About three weeks ago around the drive line it started a small bleed. My wife went to daily dressings to see if the bleeding got worse. The doctor said he has seen this in patients with implants over two years. I asked if this ever went away and his answer was "maybe". So, is anyone else experiencing this other than me?
In reply to LVAD driveline bleed by Larry W.
Anonymousdriveline bleeds
Mon, 03/25/2019 - 7:33PMI just passed my third anniversary in February. I have had occasional driveline minor bleeds but it has always corrected (more occasional pink than actually bleeding_.
In reply to LVAD driveline bleed by Larry W.
Amy K.Driveline bleed
Mon, 04/29/2019 - 2:30PMDoing go my friend
Mon, 03/25/2019 - 12:34PMWOW!! I was in a coma for 30 days and in the hospital for 3 months. But the good thing is after waking up I was healed up. You sound like you doing well. But you said you’re on your own. I hope you have someone that can stop by if you need someone. And or have a button to get help. They have ones that you don’t have to pay a monthly fee. Or if you have a smartphone you can get free apps. Just in case. It’s always good to have a plane B.
look forward to hearing more about you.
Drive Line Infection
Mon, 03/25/2019 - 1:54PMThanks million....best source of info on infection & drive line care in shower. Thanks again.
Drive Line Infection
Mon, 03/25/2019 - 1:54PMThanks million....best source of info on infection & drive line care in shower. Thanks again.
Products for keeping driveline dry
Mon, 04/08/2019 - 11:17AMThere are products made to keep your driveline dry in the shower. These are clear films with adhesive around the edges.
https://www.vadsupplies.com/product/shower-shield/
https://www.vadsupplies.com/product/aquaguard/
Some patients use plastic wrap and tape it on the edge with a waterproof tape like 3M Blenderm.
https://www.vadsupplies.com/product/blenderm-tape/
In reply to Products for keeping driveline dry by Sheri B.
Debra K.Hi...I've been using…
Mon, 04/22/2019 - 7:16PMHi...I've been using waterproof 3x4 bandages when I take a shower. They only cost $4 or $5.00 for 10 at CVS. Works for me. Hope this helps one of us.
Debra K
In reply to Hi...I've been using… by Debra K.
Anonymousshower dressings
Tue, 04/23/2019 - 11:57AMDo you put them on before you go into the shower or is that what you dress your wound with?
In reply to shower dressings by Anonymous
Debra K.Richard, I remove my…
Tue, 04/23/2019 - 1:03PMRichard,
I remove my regular dressing and put the waterproof bandage on with my driveline along the bottom edge of the bandage. After showering I do my regular dressing. Hope this helps.