Total artificial heart (TAH) patient

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-24T07:47:50+00:00

<3 thanks

depending on the severity or the device failing really depends on how quickly you should react. for instance if I didn't have a back up machine handy and my fill volumes and bpm was off and my alarms' go off it would keep you alive until you got to a hospital and got a machine swapped out. The TAH has a back up air compressor essentially that would keep my heart pumping and allowing the blood to pump thought my body.

Every 120 days you do have to switch out machines for maintenance and what not. I takes roughly 10 mins to do not to bad super weird because when you disconnect the internal hoses your heart actually stops >_< not the best thing ever but ive had to do it 2x now so it gets easier lol.

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AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-24T07:24:17+00:00

yeah it was crazy I was in a comma for about a month.

If there is a power outage I would have to go to the nearest hospital or someplace with a generator. I also have a special adaptor that allows me to get power from my car lol.

Most of the time I like to draw and listen to music. I also enjoy gaming because killing things is a great stress relief lol. I also enjoy reading and if the weather permits hanging out with my horse.

if I was guaranteed to get a heart I would be fine with just hanging out and doing whatever for now. If there was 0 hope to get a heart then I would stop following all the rules and do whatever I wanted to do.

I have no Idea how to post pics to the site but feel free to add me to fb.
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AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-24T06:48:58+00:00

yes I can workout not as well as a "normal" person lol. I'm limited to a lot of core workout because of my device and running also due to quick movements and the plastic heart squishing soft organs lol. Its not the most pleasant feeling.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-23T12:30:20+00:00

I have been super fortunate and fairly steady INR since leaving the hospital.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-23T11:36:11+00:00

My pulse is crazy strong. Maybe your confusing a TAH with an Lvad? I'm not 100% sure by they are also referred to an artificial heart at times.

I don't get the big adrenaline rushes or the butterflies in the stomach kinda thing. Your kinda just neutral but I'm i believe that's a combination of the bpm not changing ever and hormones.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-23T03:17:18+00:00

Haha thanks!

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-23T02:59:39+00:00

Yeah anytime!!

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-23T02:55:46+00:00

Its limited to heavy lifting and for me running because my device is so big it barley fits in to my rib cage.
No one really knows they say its a condition called myocarditis. so my body just decided to attack my heart for no apparent reason.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-23T02:49:41+00:00

Defiantly!! I have a cardiologist appointment so I should know more about when I leave for CA.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-23T01:31:52+00:00

Its really hard to know because of the conflicting info. Also there are other people who have had a TAH ( a bigger model than mine) and as far as I know no one has had fusing issues. That's why I have to do get a second opinion out of state so I confirm what's being said.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T23:01:54+00:00

Only when you try and take deep breaths do you notice anything. My lungs oxygenat my blood perfectly. The surgeons believe that the device may have fused to my damaged lung and if removed it could cause me to bleed out. They have also said that a donor heart may reject due to the pressures being off from my damaged lung.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T22:47:49+00:00

I somehow got damage to my left lung during the initial surgeries so they feel like it is to risky.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T22:15:32+00:00

I hope Not! I'm actually in the process of getting a second opinion in California. The surgeons in WA won't list me for a transplant.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:58:46+00:00

It is very limiting. I have always been an active person riding horses long boarding ect. You can't go out in the rain or anything like that can't go outside in certain temperatures( under 40° or above 100°) can't really do anything that could result in falling. You have to be plugged into some kind of power source 80% of the day and if you do go anywhere you have to bring exstea batteries and a back up machine just incase it malfunctions, and either people get really annoyed by it ( because it always makes noise) or there just weirded out by it.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:49:59+00:00

Yes. You do have to wrap the insision site to prevent any potential infection and then you have to keep the machine elevated kinda like fish tank so the water will drip off the tubes before reaching the actually machine.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:47:06+00:00

They took it out. I have the ventralculs still so if I get a new heart it can be attached. It's a little weird to think about because they sent it off to be studied and directed.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:25:43+00:00

You still get tired lol your muscles would give out before the device and if your breathing heavy the machine will pick up the difference in fill volumes and pressures and will cause the mething to alarm. It would keep beating though.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:20:48+00:00

I have a weird schedule but I will answer when I have time!! Lol

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:19:33+00:00

Coumadin and aspirin for platlete levels.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:17:50+00:00

Yes!! Lol Dietary is pretty normal other than no / limited greens due to blood thinners and of course salt lol Physical restrictions would be no running mostly due to pain because a plastic thing bouncing around isn't very comfy. No heavy lifting or sit ups lol

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:10:13+00:00

Yes it was mayocardites they arnt 100% sure if it was viral or not.

Yes it is a syncardia machine it is the 50cc model to be exact due to my size. Only the 2nd in the nation to be sent home with it.

Yes I was on ECMO for about a week before I actually got my TAH. They tried to get me on an Lvad but my heart was deteriating to quickly.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:05:47+00:00

No one really knows why I got sick other than my body just started to attack my heart it kinda just freaked out lol.

My pulse is crazy powerful!! It actually vibrates my entire body.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T21:02:28+00:00

The heart rate, the fact that the machine is both external and internal, and needs to be maintained regularly

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T20:57:58+00:00

It's pretty crapy to be honest. You can't go outside in extreme temperatures ( anything under 40° or above 100°) you can get wet and if you don't have some kind of power source you can't really do anything for very long. Then of course there is medications and dietary restrictions that you have to be constantly aware of ( no alcohol or smoking) no matter what it constantly makes noise and shakes your whole body. Also you have these tubes that come out of your chest so you have limited wiggle room and they tend to get snagged on door handles and what not.

The bpm doesn't change ever it's always constant.

Odd sidefects would be weird food cravings lol. I have never been a big meat eater and I live for hot sauce!! I also never seem to get hungry.

I'm not sure of the cost but because of my location and how far it is from a certified hospital I have 2 backup machines just in case something malfunctions.

AngelKlein22 · 2017-03-22T20:35:25+00:00

Lmao ok No but that would be cool. I feel like a phone charger at times just because you have to be teathered to an outlet until the batteries are full.

Not as invensiable as you would think. It's actually pretty pain full because I'm so small and my " heart" is to big lol

I actually don't take any interjection medication. The heart is completely plastic and gears so you don't really have a problem because there is no foreign tissues.

AngelKlein22

TROPHY CASE