Ablation plus Watchman to be successful???

I am considering the Watchman. I had a (successful so far) PF ablation in January and would like to discontinue taking anticoagulant drugs because of bleed risk related to my lifestyle. My PCP recommends the Watchman regardless of whether it will enable me to discontinue anticoagulant medication, because he believes it will eliminate a stroke risk if I happen to have a recurrence of Afib in the future.

@the - I am 86, and to my knowledge I have had only one episode of Afib. It was discovered during a prep for cataract surgery. 2 weeks before that, no Afib. A month before that at my annual physical, no Afib. I had successful cardioversion done and then about 2 months later a pulse field ablation done. The EP that did the ablation at UC Health in Aurora, CO looked at all of my history and said that I was a perfect candidate for PFA. I had it done in May of this year and so far, I have not had any recurrence of Afib.

I find this discussion very interesting. I’m heading in for my second ablation, first one worked for 2.5 years. Ever since, it stopped working I’ve been in afib or flutter a big percentage 45-75% of the time according to my Apple Watch. 100 mg of Metoprolol and 10 mg of Eliquis daily. The Metoprolol saps my energy. I’ve done all the lifestyle changes recommended and have alway be an avid exerciser. I’m hoping ablation #2 works and lasts longer this year time because of all the lifestyle changes I’ve made.

@debmonroe I am hopeful, and do wish that you are successful. It took me two tries with ablation, same EP, because mine only lasted six days. !!! In fact, I didn't feel all that great for about four days, and then thought I was coming around and feeling well. Then, bam, while sitting in a hot tub, I began to fibrillate. Second one has worked like a charm.

If it matters to you, second ablations run about 85% success rate statistically, and with your heart in AF so much, your EP will know when you are fully ablated because your heart will resume normal sinus rhythm pretty much as they watch the monitor. It might only take one burn, as it happened to be for me. He was applying the tip to one area around my third pulmonary vein when my heart lurched into full NSR, and they knew they have found the gap they'd missed the first go. I'm just coming up to three years with reliable NSR.

I hope you can find optimism and that it works for you.

Thank you so much @gloaming! I am hoping for a success like yours. I’ve made so many positive lifestyle changes over the last 6 months, which has been a silver lining. But I would rather not be in afib 75% of the time for my remaining years.