Thursday, April 12, 2018
No power....
This morning, at 5am, we were awakened by a loud screaming alarm.... power outage..Larrys controller was telling us it needed power....
By the time we jumped up to start the cord to battery change over, the Generac generator kicked in...
Within 2 minutes our power was back on..... there was no storm, no winds, but this morning we realized that our decision to spend that money was a good decision...
Met 2 new VADers today on Facebook...
I have always thought that information is powerful....
I like FACEBOOK, it empowers me to meet others.....
prayers to my new friends...
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Vad vest
Like every other LVAD patient, Larry has tried many different ways to carry his equipment. It is the equivalent if carrying a heavy purse ALL of the time, when he is on battery and not connected via his direct power line.
At the LVAD Support group here a few weeks ago, aman had some of these that he really liked, so Larry has ordered on to see if maybe that will help him. His back hurts constantly....
Here is the link to their website.
Ruzich Vad Vest
https://vadvest.com
At the LVAD Support group here a few weeks ago, aman had some of these that he really liked, so Larry has ordered on to see if maybe that will help him. His back hurts constantly....
Here is the link to their website.
Ruzich Vad Vest
https://vadvest.com
Microsafe Capilary Tubes
When we find new products, I try to add them to my link here. Some of them are great for other health issues.
Microsafe Capilary Tubes are very small suction devices...
Microsafe Capilary Tube video
when Larry tests his blood sugar only a drop if blood is needed, but when he tests his INR for blood thinner, more is needed, and to get an accurate reading requires some careful maneuvering, because the devuce has to be level on a table..... we automatically receive 6 a month, and he tests once a week, so little room for mess up..... these cute little things allow him to draw enough blood to place the correct amount on both meters with one stick........
He first bought them on Amazon, but then bought them on Ebay cheaper. There are a couple of different brands....
Microsafe Capilary Tubes are very small suction devices...
Microsafe Capilary Tube video
when Larry tests his blood sugar only a drop if blood is needed, but when he tests his INR for blood thinner, more is needed, and to get an accurate reading requires some careful maneuvering, because the devuce has to be level on a table..... we automatically receive 6 a month, and he tests once a week, so little room for mess up..... these cute little things allow him to draw enough blood to place the correct amount on both meters with one stick........
He first bought them on Amazon, but then bought them on Ebay cheaper. There are a couple of different brands....
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Good read
This was on facebook this morning. An excerpt from a new book by Daniela Lamas, MD.
Posted by the New York Times....
A very insightful read.......
The Man with the Battery Powered Heart
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Today was the first time we have gotten to attend one of the LVAD support group meetings.
Twice before we missed because Larry was back in hospital..... most of the people who attended had gotten their LVAD within the past 2 years, so it was very interesting to hear them talk about issues we are haing as well...... the most common problem seems to be back aches from carrying the batteries.. some had vests, some had bags and belts.... 2 of the 14 there were women... It seems to be more men that get LVADS.
But it was very informative, and Larry also learned about a new glucose minotoring device FreeStyle Libre, going to try to get one.
FreeStyle Libre cgm link
Many were on the LVAD friends group on Facebook as well.... If you are new to this blog and are trying to find a specific post, you can use the search. If you are looking for one of the tips I mentioned today, they are in the topics on the left panel. Prayers for each of you...
Twice before we missed because Larry was back in hospital..... most of the people who attended had gotten their LVAD within the past 2 years, so it was very interesting to hear them talk about issues we are haing as well...... the most common problem seems to be back aches from carrying the batteries.. some had vests, some had bags and belts.... 2 of the 14 there were women... It seems to be more men that get LVADS.
But it was very informative, and Larry also learned about a new glucose minotoring device FreeStyle Libre, going to try to get one.
FreeStyle Libre cgm link
Many were on the LVAD friends group on Facebook as well.... If you are new to this blog and are trying to find a specific post, you can use the search. If you are looking for one of the tips I mentioned today, they are in the topics on the left panel. Prayers for each of you...
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
5 months
really... it has been 5 months since Larry had teeth.... he has been such a trooper through all of this past year... He used to say he was a wimp with pain, but he isn’t any longer... I have been amazed....
He had good strong teeth, very few problems, but at a dental checkup in August, they discovered he had gum disease.... for a person with heart disease, this is a huge danger.... that bacteria can cause a heart patient to be on antibiotics for the rest of their lives...
So he and the oral surgeon decided to do it all..... under anesthesia of course... what was to be a one night stay turned into 9 nights because his kidnies went into shock..... but that is done.
Today he got his new teeth..... no steak tonight, has to get used to eating and talking, but to the future......
The process in photos.....
He had good strong teeth, very few problems, but at a dental checkup in August, they discovered he had gum disease.... for a person with heart disease, this is a huge danger.... that bacteria can cause a heart patient to be on antibiotics for the rest of their lives...
So he and the oral surgeon decided to do it all..... under anesthesia of course... what was to be a one night stay turned into 9 nights because his kidnies went into shock..... but that is done.
Today he got his new teeth..... no steak tonight, has to get used to eating and talking, but to the future......
The process in photos.....
Monday, February 5, 2018
LVAD video on local news
Even though this is not our hospital, it is a great video to explain a LVAD procedure.
KATV news LVAD video
The katv news tonight had a segment on Larry Chastain, who received a heart transplant, he was in CVICU beside Larry and got his LVAD a week before.... congrats to him and Jan.... I will post that link when it becomes available......
Sadly my Larry is not eligible for a transplant because of his diabetes.....
KATV news LVAD video
The katv news tonight had a segment on Larry Chastain, who received a heart transplant, he was in CVICU beside Larry and got his LVAD a week before.... congrats to him and Jan.... I will post that link when it becomes available......
Sadly my Larry is not eligible for a transplant because of his diabetes.....
Larry's dr. follow up today was good.... it has been 3 months since his last doctor visit.
Last summer when we were seeing Dr Ransom every week, I never thought this day would come...
He was in the hospital for GI bleeds, then he had to get teeth removed... it was a really long 9 months of in and outs, weekly visits, lab tests... and concern....
But today hus xray, labs, echocardiogram, 6 minute walk, all good... next appointment is in 3 months...... we need lots of prayers and probably akways will.... he is good, but he still has Congestive Heart Failure, he is still insulin dependent diabetic, he still has kidney issues..... and I still celebrate each and every day as if it is our last one together.......
one day at a time........
first we celebrate his 1 year LVAD on March 7....
Think the new generator is a great LVAD birthday present........ for maybe the rest of his life..... ha
Last summer when we were seeing Dr Ransom every week, I never thought this day would come...
He was in the hospital for GI bleeds, then he had to get teeth removed... it was a really long 9 months of in and outs, weekly visits, lab tests... and concern....
But today hus xray, labs, echocardiogram, 6 minute walk, all good... next appointment is in 3 months...... we need lots of prayers and probably akways will.... he is good, but he still has Congestive Heart Failure, he is still insulin dependent diabetic, he still has kidney issues..... and I still celebrate each and every day as if it is our last one together.......
one day at a time........
first we celebrate his 1 year LVAD on March 7....
Think the new generator is a great LVAD birthday present........ for maybe the rest of his life..... ha
Friday, January 19, 2018
Yes it is a new year, 2018, but I think I will choose to celebrate a new year on March 7.......
Smile.... whats going on.....
*** Well, I began passing a kidney stone new years eve, unfortunately the stone didnt pass until January 12th...... I sure hope that doesnt indicate how the rest of the year is going to go.
*** Larry had his gum procedure on Jan. 11th, oral surgeon opened up 2 places on his front gums, ground and snipped the bone, smoothed it, and stitched it back up.... not much bleeding and pain wasnt bad.... so he is healing just fine. Should be able to try his new dentures next week.
*** discovered the leak we thought was the upstairs bathroom must be the tub, so contracted with Lowes to get new tub, the kicker on that is there is a window over the tub, a panel surround wont work, so we will have to tile.... gonna be a basic white subway tile, I was hurting too bad with my stone that I didnt even go pick it out...
*** have had really cold weather, the coldest I remember, and then snow.... I began experiment with freezing bubbles.
*** had the power go out in the middle if the night.... THE LVAD ALARMS DO WORK..... they were loud. Larry jumped up and switched to battery faster than I could even blink.... so proud of him. I texted Entergy, and then we lit the gas fireplace in the bedroom and the wood fire insert in the living room, thankfully the power came back on about 7am.... but that was 7 hours....
Larry has 3 sets of batteries that he rotates and keeps charged, but that is only about 36 hours at most.
Thinking bck we were without power a few years ago for 5 days, and in the summer we lose power from squirrels playing in the transformers and spring storms...... so a few months ago he bought a nice size portable generator, but that means going out, hooking it to power cords, running them in and starting it up..... well after a long discussion we decided to go ahead and invest most of our savings into a whole house backup system.... life is hard to put a price tag on..... yes it is a tax write off, but that is next year....
I did some research, no grants available, and even the people in the natural disaster areas could not get help with getting one of these units..... it will be a gas unit that hooks into our existing line and will start up within minutes in an outage..... but at a hefty pricetag....
Ok some frozen bubble photos.....
Smile.... whats going on.....
*** Well, I began passing a kidney stone new years eve, unfortunately the stone didnt pass until January 12th...... I sure hope that doesnt indicate how the rest of the year is going to go.
*** Larry had his gum procedure on Jan. 11th, oral surgeon opened up 2 places on his front gums, ground and snipped the bone, smoothed it, and stitched it back up.... not much bleeding and pain wasnt bad.... so he is healing just fine. Should be able to try his new dentures next week.
*** discovered the leak we thought was the upstairs bathroom must be the tub, so contracted with Lowes to get new tub, the kicker on that is there is a window over the tub, a panel surround wont work, so we will have to tile.... gonna be a basic white subway tile, I was hurting too bad with my stone that I didnt even go pick it out...
*** have had really cold weather, the coldest I remember, and then snow.... I began experiment with freezing bubbles.
*** had the power go out in the middle if the night.... THE LVAD ALARMS DO WORK..... they were loud. Larry jumped up and switched to battery faster than I could even blink.... so proud of him. I texted Entergy, and then we lit the gas fireplace in the bedroom and the wood fire insert in the living room, thankfully the power came back on about 7am.... but that was 7 hours....
Larry has 3 sets of batteries that he rotates and keeps charged, but that is only about 36 hours at most.
Thinking bck we were without power a few years ago for 5 days, and in the summer we lose power from squirrels playing in the transformers and spring storms...... so a few months ago he bought a nice size portable generator, but that means going out, hooking it to power cords, running them in and starting it up..... well after a long discussion we decided to go ahead and invest most of our savings into a whole house backup system.... life is hard to put a price tag on..... yes it is a tax write off, but that is next year....
I did some research, no grants available, and even the people in the natural disaster areas could not get help with getting one of these units..... it will be a gas unit that hooks into our existing line and will start up within minutes in an outage..... but at a hefty pricetag....
Ok some frozen bubble photos.....
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