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Handyman in Canton, Ohio: Repairs, Maintenance & Property Work
Handyman in Canton, Ohio: Repairs, Maintenance & Property Work The short version: I'm Kody. I do handyman and property maintenance work in Canton, Ohio and the surrounding area — repairs, punch lists, rental property setup, and the odd jobs that pile up. No call center, no runaround. Just me, my tools, and my truck. What I Actually Do If it's broken, worn out, or just needs handling, that's my lane. General home repairs. The punch list you've been putting off. Getting a rental property ready for the next tenant. Maintenance... Read more...
Flying with an LVAD (The Airport Edition: TSA, Screening, and the Cabin)
Flying with an LVAD (The Airport Edition: TSA, Screening, and the Cabin) The short answer: Flying with an LVAD is routine once you know the drill — and once your VAD team clears you to travel. Tell the TSA agent about your implanted pump BEFORE screening — wear the gear visible and say the words: "I have an implanted heart pump." All gear rides in your carry-on, never checked. Keep the controller accessible during the flight, and bring your LVAD center's contact info. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a... Read more...
Traveling with an LVAD (You Can Go. You Just Pack Like an Expedition.)
Traveling with an LVAD (You Can Go. You Just Pack Like an Expedition.) The short answer: Yes, you can travel with an LVAD — you just pack like you're preparing for a minor expedition. Every piece of gear (batteries, backup controller, power cables, dressing supplies) rides in your carry-on, never checked. Bring more batteries than you think you need, then one more pair. Bring your LVAD center's contact info and know the nearest VAD-capable hospital at your destination. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a doctor. This is my experience... Read more...
LVAD Recovery Time: The Real Map (Phases, Not Weeks)
LVAD Recovery Time: The Real Map (Phases, Not Weeks) The short answer: "LVAD recovery time" isn't one number — it's phases. Phase one is the hospital, where you learn the gear and they won't let you leave until you can run the whole show yourself. Phase two is the early weeks at home, where everything is new and exhausting and you're healing from major surgery on top of learning a new lifestyle. Phase three is the long phase, where it all gets routine and you start feeling like yourself again.... Read more...
Can You Exercise with an LVAD? (Yes — But There's a Rulebook)
Can You Exercise with an LVAD? (Yes — But There's a Rulebook) The short answer: Can you exercise with an LVAD? Yes — but only after your VAD team clears you, and mine did. I lift weights and do cardio regularly. The non-negotiables: warm up properly, stay hydrated, and learn your limits by paying attention. The hard no's: contact sports (nobody hits the gear), anything that could yank the driveline, and swimming. That's the whole rulebook. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a doctor. Everything here is my experience —... Read more...
Can You Shower with an LVAD? Yes — With Rules
Can You Shower with an LVAD? Yes — With Rules The short answer: Yes, you can shower with an LVAD — with rules. The driveline exit site must stay completely dry, and the controller and batteries can't get wet. My VAD team set me up with a waterproof cover setup (a shower kit), and my showers got faster and more strategic. It's a pit stop now, not a spa day. Every team's protocol is different, so follow yours, not mine. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a doctor. What follows... Read more...
Living with an LVAD: What Daily Life Is Actually Like
Living with an LVAD: What Daily Life Is Actually Like The short answer: If you're facing LVAD surgery — or you love someone who is — here's the truth about living with an LVAD: it's weirder than you expect and more normal than you fear. You carry gear, swap batteries, protect a cable, and somewhere along the way it all becomes routine. The arc goes terrifying, then annoying, then boring. Boring is the goal. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a doctor. This is my experience living with an LVAD... Read more...
What Does It Feel Like to Live with an LVAD?
What Does It Feel Like to Live with an LVAD? The short answer: At first it feels like you've been turned into a science project. Then it feels like carrying a small appliance that happens to be keeping you alive. Eventually the weight, the batteries, the cable — all of it fades into background noise. The weirdest part isn't the device. It's feeling guilty for feeling normal. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a doctor. This is my experience — yours will have its own flavor. Your VAD team handles... Read more...
Sleeping with an LVAD: What Actually Works
Sleeping with an LVAD: What Actually Works The short answer: Sleeping with an LVAD means switching from batteries to wall power at night so your batteries charge while you sleep. You anchor the driveline so it doesn't tug, keep the controller close enough to hear alarms, and figure out your positions. The first couple of weeks take adjustment. After that, it's just sleep. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a doctor. This is what works for me — your VAD team sets your rules, not some guy on the internet.... Read more...
How Long Do LVAD Batteries Last? (Asked by Everyone, Answered by a Guy Who Runs on Them)
How Long Do LVAD Batteries Last? (Asked by Everyone, Answered by a Guy Who Runs on Them) The short answer: In my experience, a pair of LVAD batteries lasts several hours — I swap them a few times over the course of a day. How long yours last depends on your device, your specific batteries, and how hard your pump is working. You wear two at a time, and the golden rule is you never disconnect both at once. Ever. Quick note: I'm a patient, not a doctor. This is... Read more...