From what I've seen, working through the Barostim site and various other sites on the Internet, this IS something of a breakthrough for people with severe CHF that was beyond just being helped with medicines. It's for people, like me, whose ejection fractions are below 30 or so, and having severe symptoms. Minimal endurance. Morning naps. Afternoon naps. Shortness of breath. Dizziness. Little hope for being around much longer. Stuff like this.
My cardiologist knew my symptoms and then told me about the Barostim. He talked about it as if it was experimental - it's FDA approved and has been used for a few years. For anyone with severe CHF, and probably ejection fractions below 30 or so, it may be worthwhile to at least ask your cardiologist about it.
Implanting it is, apparently, a pretty simple procedure - outpatient surgery. Probably easier than a pacemaker because nothing goes into the heart (or any vessels). It does require a vascular surgeon AFAIK, but my cardiologist was there during the procedure and will be there for all the follow-ups and to adjust the device and my medications.
I'll continue to update this.
My cardiologist knew my symptoms and then told me about the Barostim. He talked about it as if it was experimental - it's FDA approved and has been used for a few years. For anyone with severe CHF, and probably ejection fractions below 30 or so, it may be worthwhile to at least ask your cardiologist about it.
Implanting it is, apparently, a pretty simple procedure - outpatient surgery. Probably easier than a pacemaker because nothing goes into the heart (or any vessels). It does require a vascular surgeon AFAIK, but my cardiologist was there during the procedure and will be there for all the follow-ups and to adjust the device and my medications.
I'll continue to update this.
