Hey,
I don't have an LVAD, but I have heard that those that have them are waiting on a heart transplant or (bridge to transplant). I have the biventricular pacemaker with an ICD. I am certainly very grateful for it and it has really improved my quality of life. At what point in your illness were you given the LVAD? What do the doctors say about your prognosis?

I had been on the transplant list for 8 months and was put in the hospital and placed on iv dobutamine therapy when my condition got very poor.I reclassified a IA status for transplant. It is not recommended that a ptatient be on dobutamine for more than 3 weeks as kidney damage may occur. When no transplant came through after 3 weeks of IV, they decided to put in the LVAD. A lot of my strangth came back but the LVAD is not a decision to be taken lightly, it is much more difficult to manage your life than they would have you believe.

I have had 2 biventric pacer/icd and I'm in that 3rd that it basically had no change after its placement. I need to have a transplant, but another problem came my way and now I must wait for at least 18 more months to be put back on the list. The LVAD, hopefully, will keep me going until then.

BTW, I had been ill with cardiomyopathy for 11 yrs prior. So, I guess I am pretty lucky. jill

My husband had a Bi-V pacemaker with ICD a couple of weeks ago. It isn't helping and now they are going to put in an LVAD on Monday. He was feeling okay but his liver isn't getting enough blood. How are you doing with your LVAD? 11 years is great!!!

HELLO im walt i have had my LVAD in since 10/19/09, good t0 talk to someone with same condition,it has been a big change in my lifestyle.but it has beeten the alternative.iwould like to talk more with you.

Mylvad.com is a site I've visisted before. It's new but growing.

I have had My Heart Mate II LVAD since Sept. 30 '09. I fell %150 better with it. i also have a ICD Pacemaker defibrillator for almost 5 years. I found out I had late end stage dilated cardiomyopathy a little it before they implanted the pacemaker. I am going to continue therapy with the LVAD as long as possible before transplant. What are you guys thoughts on the LVAD? Would you take a heart transplant over Heart Mate LVAD therapy?

Jill, your story and my husbands almost sound identical. He has had the heartmate II LVAD since Aug 18, 2011. He was rejected for the transplant list due to some problems in our life (transportation mostly...the closest transplant center to us is a 4 hr drive away). They tried the dobutamine IV. He was on it for a few months at home. They didn't know what else to do. He ended up REALLY sick, and they had to do SOMETHING. They weren't sure if an LVAD was even going to work with him, as his right side had started to fail as well. They didn't even know if he would make it through surgery. Well, he did, and he was out of CTU faster than anyone they had ever had in there, and was home in 3 weeks. They thought he was going to have to go to rehab after hospital, as he wasn't walking for 3 weeks due to having a balloon pump for that time. He was walking a little just one day after surgery, and around his room a week after. He also has the biventricular pacemaker with the ICD, but he was still sick and it has never fired or anything. It is just pretty much there as a security blanket in case something goes wrong. Getting the LVAD was def not a decision to be taken lightly, as it does really affect your life. I change his dressing to his driveline twice a week at least, more if he showers, he has to have weekly bloodwork done to check his INR levels, we have numerous dr appts, most of which are 4 hrs away... BUT it has made him a totally different person!!! :) I am so thankful to have my hubby back!!!

and my hubby's was done as "destination" therapy. This was done as a permanent fix. BUT if he complies to appts, etc... and does what he is supposed to, he could have another chance at the list. For now though, he is just as happy with the LVAD and it is working just fine.