FAQ: Living with a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)
- Will I need to take any medication?
- How will the VAD affect my daily routine?
- Can I exercise with a VAD?
- Can I travel with a VAD?
- Will I need to take blood thinners with a VAD?
- How do I take care of the line coming out of my chest or abdomen?
- Is blood pressure important?
- Can I drive with a VAD?
- Can I shower or swim with a VAD?
- 亲密关系呢??
Will I need to take any medications?
在使用左心室辅助装置(LVAD)后,您将继续服用治疗心力衰竭的药物. These could include a diuretic, blood pressure medications and other medicines to support 你的心脏功能. 这些药物的数量和剂量可能会根据您在LVAD支持时的生命体征而改变. You also may be started on different medications depending on your clinical situation. Your mechanical circulatory support (MCS) team will monitor your medications, 你的心脏功能, your vital signs and your LVAD parameters so that you are being optimally supported.
How will the VAD affect my daily routine?
Living with an LVAD is a new way of life — a "new normal.“你需要一段时间来适应LVAD,因为它总是与你的身体相连. 你将不得不根据现在有额外的连接和需要恒定的电源来调整你的一些日常活动. 幸运的是,随着技术的进步,LVAD的外部部件变得越来越小. Batteries are weigh less and last longer. You can even plug into your car. You may need to adjust the way that you sleep so that you aren't laying on your LVAD. 你还必须记住,你总是有一个开放的区域,这是感染的来源,所以你需要监测和照顾好它.
当然, you will notice you are less short of breath over time, and have more energy than you may have for a long time prior to your LVAD. It is all about getting back to life. 当你习惯了在LVAD前限制你的液体摄入量时,改变喝酒的心态有时是一个挑战. 你可以而且应该喝更多的液体,因为左心室辅助装置使血液以固定的速度在你体内循环. Sometimes if you haven't taken in enough fluid, or it is very hot outside, you may notice some temporary dizziness. This can usually be treated by drinking more water and changing positions slowly.
Can I exercise with a VAD?
体育活动总是有好处的,不仅对你的心脏,而且对你身体的其他部分. 你必须慢慢开始,因为你已经在十大赌博平台排行榜住了一段时间,你的肌肉可能已经走形了. 最初 after getting home, you will still feel quite tired; this is normal after such a big surgery. Generally, your only activity restrictions will be swimming or contact sports. Your physician can discuss exercise goals and guidelines with you.
Can I travel with a VAD?
绝对! 一旦您的胸部愈合,您的MCS团队认为您的生命体征和左心室辅助装置工作良好,没有任何问题, you can travel just like anyone else. The only thing you will need to be mindful of is when traveling by plane, 您需要通知安检人员您有辅助辅助设备,并且需要携带辅助辅助设备上飞机. This will obviously not go through Security check without alarming. 如果可能的话, 从你的MCS团队那里携带一份说明说明你的LVAD,所以设备上没有问题. 在任何类型的旅行之前,你只需要确保你带了足够的充电电池来维持泵的功能,直到你到达目的地. You have an LVAD now, so enjoy your life and see the world.
Will I need to take blood thinners with a VAD?
只要你有左心室辅助装置,你就需要服用血液稀释剂,很可能还要服用阿司匹林. 最初, 血液检查将经常进行,以确保您的血液足够薄,以使左心室辅助器发挥最佳作用. As with any artificial, 机械设备, blood thinners help to prevent the risk of developing small clots in the device. 注意你的饮食,了解你吃的食物类型以及它们如何影响你的血液稀释剂是很重要的. You will discuss this with your MCS team. 您的团队将根据您的血液工作情况严格监控您的血液稀释剂和阿司匹林的剂量,并指导您在需要时如何更改剂量.
How do I take care of the line coming out of my chest or abdomen?
The line coming out of either your abdomen or chest area is called a driveline. 它将LVAD泵连接到你身体外部运行泵的控制器上. Where the driveline comes out of your body is called the exit site. It is very important that this site be taken care of due to the risk of infection. Once an infection settles inside of this area, it is very hard to get rid of. Also very important to remember when dealing with your LVAD driveline is to keep it as still as you can; excessive movement at the exit site almost always causes local irritation, which can turn into an infection. 您的MCS团队将教会您和您的护理人员如何进行换药,以保持传动系统的清洁和覆盖.
Is blood pressure important?
血压是非常重要的,保持良好的血压控制可以确保你的左心室辅助器泵的最佳功能. 您的MCS团队将密切监测您的血压,并根据需要调整您的药物. It is helpful if you can check your blood pressure at home, but due to the type of therapy an LVAD produces, 很多时候,很难感觉到脉搏或在常规的血压袖带上读取血压. 你可能会被要求在你的初级保健十大赌博平台排行榜的办公室检查你的血压. 有时你可能有资格进行心脏康复,你的血压将在该机构经常检查. Most commercial automatic blood pressure cuffs are not able to register a blood pressure.
Can I drive with a VAD?
您的MCS团队和十大赌博平台排行榜将与您讨论何时适合返回驾驶车辆. 最初, while your chest is still healing and you are recovering, you will not be permitted to drive a vehicle, although you can be a passenger in one.
Can I shower or swim with a VAD?
You are able to shower with your LVAD once your incisions have healed. 您的MCS团队将与您讨论使用您的LVAD公司提供的特殊淋浴袋. As you can imagine, it is essential that you not get your equipment wet. Unfortunately, there is no way to swim with this equipment, as it cannot be submerged. At some point in the near future, 希望能有一个完全植入式的LVAD系统,让你可以轻松地游泳和淋浴.
亲密关系呢??
Intimacy is important for everyone, 仅仅因为你有LVAD并不意味着你不能继续享受与伴侣的亲密关系. 您必须确定如何舒适地管理这一点,以便在出口现场没有设备压力或传动系统的过度运动. The only contraindication to LVAD and intimacy is pregnancy. If you are of childbearing years, you 不能 不要带着左心室辅助器怀孕,因为没有办法安全地使用血液稀释剂治疗胎儿.
加州大学旧金山分校健康 medical specialists have reviewed this information. 它仅用于教育目的,并不打算取代您的十大赌博平台排行榜或其他医疗保健提供者的建议. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.