Other than post-surgery pain medication and your current regimen of heart failure medications, you may require only a low dose of blood-thinning drugs. Immunosuppressive drugs commonly prescribed after a transplant are not necessary with VAD therapy. Many times, the medications that you have been taking for heart failure can be reduced or discontinued after you receive a VAD. Your physician will reevaluate your medications before you leave the hospital and after you go home.

VADs are designed to restore blood flow throughout your body, restoring oxygen and nutrients to vital organs and tissues. This should make you feel better overall—less light-headed, less tired, and less short of breath. Your kidney function, a major concern for many advanced heart failure patients, will likely improve as well. You should be able to resume most of your normal activities. However, VAD system components are not waterproof and must not be directly exposed to moisture.

Once the surgery site has healed, you may be allowed to shower. Because VAD system components are not waterproof, you will need to protect the external parts of the system from water with a specially-designed Shower Kit. Ask your healthcare provider for more specific instructions on showering.

Swimming and taking a bath are not allowed with a VAD, since the water could get inside the pump and cause it to stop.

Generally, your only activity restrictions will be swimming or contact sports. Physical exercise is essential to help prevent the unhealthy effects of bed rest and inactivity. Your physician can discuss exercise goals and guidelines with you.

Due to the small, streamlined design of VADs used today, most people can move around with very little limitation, go on excursions away from home, and even travel. Many VAD patients are excited about their post-implant ability to travel to visit friends and family.

Ask your healthcare provider about touching electronic equipment, such as TVs and computer monitors. These have strong static electricity that can damage the electrical parts of the pump, causing it to stop.

Tell your dentist and other doctors that you have a VAD. Ask your doctor if you should take antibiotics before and after any dental work or invasive procedure to prevent possible infections.

Do not have magnetic resonance imaging, also called MRI. MRI uses large magnets that could cause you injury and could cause the pump to stop.