I had the watchman installed in April 2024. I stayed on blood thinners for 6 months afterwards then had a TEE(same procedure one has before an ablation) by EP to determine (they can see it with scope) if the Watchman was still seated and properly attached. It was. At that point the blood thinner was stopped and prescribed Clopidogrel 75mg (generic for Plavix). I had short course of 81mg aspirin, discontinued after 3 months. I’ve had no problems with the Watchman and like being off the blood thinner. My EP is conservative so we seem to go slow.
My ablation is different story. I’ve had 2 in last 6 years and I break through but the heartbeat is very low AFIB. I’m scheduled for another Ablation on May 1 with the new Pulse Ablation machine that is more effective for EP’s and easier on the patient. I’m hopeful that will take care of the AFIB for good. I also have Pacemaker for about a year and with all these internal appliances my quality of life is good, I feel good and I’m now on the Plavix and BP meds and occasional Metoprolol when AFIB kicks up. I had been on blood thinners (Xarelto) for 15 years. Heart problems run in my family, my sister and daughter have a similar history. Genetics are hard to avoid as we age.