My Life at 9200 rpm's: 33 months and counting, another milestone on an LVAD

My life at 9200 rpm's began April 2, 2010.  9200 rpm's is my LVAD pump speed, which typically varies downward by 20 or so rpm's before returning to the signature speed.  

Every LVAD is different and can be programed to run at a different speed. How Mayo surgeons decided on 9200 was never fully explained. That speed works for me.

At any rate, I've had a monthly heartaversary--number 33--as of today.

No complaints.  The HeartMate II is functioning as designed and quite well actually.  

I have been battling a driveline infection since early December.  The site where the driveline enters/exits my abdomen has been an open wound for most of the last month. 

Driveline site infections are potentially life threatening for LVADs.  In essence, the path along the driveline is a direct route to the heart and the pump itself.  Surgeons can fix some of the problems.  Replacing the LVAD at $75,000 per pump, a long surgery and recovery, is another option.  

The figure is for the hardware and does not include installation and aftercare.  Another, permanent, option is a heart transplant, but no one can count on that happening because the matching process for donor-donee accounts for fewer than 2,400 transplants a year.  

There are many thousands more in need of heart transplants.  I am one of the fortunate few who have an LVAD keeping me alive.  In that sense, LVADs have a breather--some time to wait for a heart--while those without LVADs are in greater immediate need for a scarce supply of suitable hearts.

A friend and fellow LVAD shows the HeartMate II on his blog, From The Bottom of My LVAD.  He described it as looking like door hardware, I prefer calling it toilet tank hardware.  Pretty expensive hardware, whatever the name.

The site has been tender and at times uncomfortable and somewhat scratchy. I changed the method for carrying my two batteries from a 5.1.1 Tactical holster shirt made of stretchy material that caused discomfort to a pair of Thoratec Go-Gear shoulder holsters.  Those cut down the irritation.  Oral antibiotics (two kinds) are doing what they should do.  

Next week I'll return to the University of Minnesota Clinic for a checkup.  That will include an assessment of the driveline site by a surgeon, and an infectious disease specialist's review of my situation and the medications I've taken.  I feel matters are in good hands or else I'd be hospitalized for the administration of IV antibiotics. 

Marking the 33rd month heartaversary is a significant milestone for me.  Some LVADs have and are having more months fly by but there are many more whose heart conditions could not be helped with an LVAD.   

I'll take a heartaversary over the alternative anytime.