Showering; Medications - HeartWare Ventricular Assist System Patient Manual

HeartWare® Ventricular Assist System Patient Manual
9.3 Showering
Your doctor will let you wash your incisions after your wounds have healed. When you wash, the
controller, batteries and connectors must be protected from water and you should take care so that
water doesn't run down the driveline onto the controller. The exit site should also be kept as dry as
possible. Keeping the exit site dry helps avoid infections.
Your doctor will decide if it is safe for you to shower. If your doctor gives you permission to shower,
you must use the HeartWare® Shower Bag to protect the controller and batteries. For instructions
on shower bag use, please see Section 1 1.3 "HeartWare® Shower Bag".
WARNING! DO NOT shower until your physician tells you it is safe to do so. If you
receive permission to shower, you must use the HeartWare® Shower Bag. If your
hearing is impaired and/or you cannot hear the controller alarms without the use of a
hearing aid, make sure your caregiver will be close by to hear alarms.
WARNING! DO NOT plug the controller into an AC wall outlet during showers; it
should be connected to two batteries.
WARNING! DO NOT take a bath or swim.
WARNING! DO NOT submerge any HeartWare® System component in water.
9.4 Medications
Talk with your doctor about your medications. Get an explanation of the purpose of each
medication that your doctor prescribes for you. Write down the medication and how often you need
to take it and ask your doctor to check the list to make sure it is correct. Talk with your doctor about
what you should do if you accidentally forget to take your medicine. Discuss what to do for each
medicine because it may be different for each one. You may also want to make a list of medications
that you should not take. Some non‐prescription medications and natural supplements may react
with your prescribed medications.
You are probably taking medication (anticoagulation) to thin your blood and reduce the risk of clot
formation in your blood or pump. It is very important that you take this medication as prescribed
and that you have your blood checked frequently to be sure that you are receiving a dose that is not
too high (blood too thin) or too low (blood too thick).
You may notice bleeding as a result of your medication. If you are unsure whether the bleeding
represents a problem, it is best to call your doctor or nurse.
NOTE: You should always remain on your anticoagulation dose schedule as written or
as told to you by your doctor or nurse.
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