Shower Protection

Hello Everyone....I've had my LVAD now for over 3 years, almost 3 1/2.  I had an alarm go off last night while sleeping, "driveline disconnect"....adjusted the wires and it stopped didn't get it again.  Has anyone ever had that alarm, and if so what did your team tell you to do?  

Hello Everyone....I've had my LVAD now for over 3 years, almost 3 1/2.  I had an alarm go off last night while sleeping, "driveline disconnect"....adjusted the wires and it stopped didn't get it again.  Has anyone ever had that alarm, and if so what did your team tell you to do?  

That is the same thing I do, use press and seal over the aqua-guard, 7x7.Also, I use a handheld showerhead to control where the water is going.I don't allow the water, of course, to hit at the site, 

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My doctor recommended avoiding the shower. I shower from the waist down and at the sink for the rest of my body. My wife does my back. I wash my hair over the laundry tub and I've not had any infections going on three years.

I know it’s so difficult however I’ve been showering my husband for the last 5 years being his caregiver and that is what the hospital recommended as any water that gets into the driveline is lethal and once infected will never go away 

so I’d rather not risk it and I know a LVAD patient that had died from a driveline infection 

we did try tegarderm but decided to be cautious as water was still getting on 

I know it’s so difficult however I’ve been showering my husband for the last 5 years being his caregiver and that is what the hospital recommended as any water that gets into the driveline is lethal and once infected will never go away 

so I’d rather not risk it and I know a LVAD patient that had died from a driveline infection 

we did try tegarderm but decided to be cautious as water was still getting on 

My husband has only had the LVAD since March of this year, we have been careful with the care of his driveline but it didnt help , he still got this Staph infection and abcesses. He has been to the hospital once and the gave antibiotics and he came home now only a couple days home the abcess its back and he will probably be put back in the hospital? How can i stop the infection from coming back??

My husband used Aqua guard.  But they sometimes come off. So I put the aquaguard on snd then wrapped him with Saran Wrap.   The lvad team should be able to order the aqua guards for you. Our insurance covered them.   Good luck. Protect that driveline always

I used Aqua Guard also but as mentioned had trouble with it leaking or trying to come off during a shower.  Finally tried a Tegaderm 6"x10" and now is the only thing I use.  Little difficult to learn how to handle it during installation but has never leaked on me and is covered by my Medicare Advantage plan.

Do not buy them locally as prices are outrageous in my area.  You can get them in a pack of 10 from Amazon for like $16 (about $1.60 a piece).

There is no need to shower at all.  Instead, use disposable adult washcloths (see https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MIBJ00U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).  I have used this approach exclusively for over 3 years and have no issue with odor or skin diseases.  It eliminates the risk of getting the exit site dressing wet.  

I used to have the same situation but I covered that with plastic and tape around it so that water do not go inside. You can also use patch like bandage to cover that.

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Glad press and seal.  Works way better than the shower shields they say to use. Then do a dressing change.

I use seranwrap. And water tape.

I take a shower every morning, sometimes two if I play golf that day. I use tegaderm with great success. Probably got my site wet less than a handful of times over the last 5 years. I’ve found living with the HM3 much more enjoyable doing the same or more items I did before the implant. Last thing I want to do is become afraid of living. Might as well be dead if im going to run scarred!

While it is beautiful to have a mate/spouse, or significant other to assist with a shower...Wow!! I have showered on my own for the last, almost 5 years.  I have a system with it to protect the obvious driveline/opening...Knock on wood, nothing yet.  I would not go without a daily shower, sometimes i take two depending on how hot it is out and how much work i've done in the yard/house that day.  Your Dr's don't go without a shower, who would???  There is so much out there to protect you and utilize that would provide a therapeutic system.  I'm astonished what the Dr's and coordinators are saying out there.  Unreal and our insurance is paying them, and I might add, I pay real well too for my insurance.  Best of luck to all of you.  There are protective barriers to cover and hand held shower wands, etc.  

I have had an LVAD for seven years now and recently my wife found a different solution for protecting my driveline entry.  It's called Houseables Sterile Dressing Transparent Film Dressing.  10 cm x 12 cm.  There are 50 in each package and I'm on my third box.  So far I have not had a single drop of water get under it.  I can't say the same for Shower Shields, Aqua Guards, or Press and Seal.  Also, they are relatively inexpensive.  I put a mask on when I take the dressing off and of course again when we take the waterproof dressing off to put a new dressing on the wound after my shower.  I can't say enough good things about it.  For a while I would cover my entry point like I would with the other shields, but now have complete confidence in the Houseable dressing that I just no longer have any worries about getting water on my driveline entrance.  They run about 48 cents each on Amazon, less if you're a Prime member.  

What can I do to prevent the driveline from twisting I’ve had the LAVAD for six months thank you in advance for y’all help have a blessed day 🙏🏿

That is the same thing I do, use press and seal over the aqua-guard, 7x7.Also, I use a handheld showerhead to control where the water is going.I don't allow the water, of course, to hit at the site

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I am Chuck from Dover, New Hampshire US. I have had a LVAD 37 months I cover mine with a 10” x 12” tegaderm film. I also use a smaller for everyday use. I have a problem with the bandage coming off when I am active so I cover up during the day with a smaller one (6”x8”) it works very good