I had the Watchman surgery in Aug 2024 & have done well. I was 77 years old at the time & had very little recovery time, a little tired for a few days. It was an outpatient procedure for me. I had an ablation the month before. I’ve had no a-fib since then & am off the blood thinner. It’s been a blessing! Hope my experience gives you peace about the decision!
@devotion Okay, that clears it up for me, and thank-you for expanding your circumstances. I was stuck on post-installation of the Watchman and couldn't understand why you would need up to four TEEs.................!!!
I now understand that you were including the initial sizing, the proper placement and orientation of the Watchman during its installation (they are sized and they don't all fit properly into every left atrial appendage out there), and perhaps two follow-up TEEs. I also appreciate that you simply cannot 'do' Eliquis, and I am seeing more and more people report here that it seems to cause them problems. I hope we don't find out in time that the company fibbed about their data for its safety, tolerance, and efficacy.
@gloaming
It may vary from facility to facility, but the procedure, as explained to me by my EP, begins with a CT scan of your heart /left atrial appendage, to determine firstly whether you are a candidate for a Watchman Device (left atria; appendages come in lots of different sizes and shapes and not all can accept the Watchman) and if you are a candidate, what Watchman Device is the right one for you (it's not a one size fits all gadget). Then your EP orders the specific Watchman Device that you need and it is shipped to the hospital prior to installation.
@gloaming
It may vary from facility to facility, but the procedure, as explained to me by my EP, begins with a CT scan of your heart /left atrial appendage, to determine firstly whether you are a candidate for a Watchman Device (left atria; appendages come in lots of different sizes and shapes and not all can accept the Watchman) and if you are a candidate, what Watchman Device is the right one for you (it's not a one size fits all gadget). Then your EP orders the specific Watchman Device that you need and it is shipped to the hospital prior to installation.
@nevets Thanks, this was my understanding as well: they aren't all the same, and neither is every Watchman meant to be inserted into every LAA. Custom fit, and that must be determined using imaging.
For those who currently have or are thinking of having a Watchman procedure there's an interesting study called the CHAMPION AF study that came up with some interesting results. As usual the longer they study the more they find.
For those who currently have or are thinking of having a Watchman procedure there's an interesting study called the CHAMPION AF study that came up with some interesting results. As usual the longer they study the more they find.
I'm scheduled for the Watchman, assuming the CT scan shows that I am a candidate. However, I'm still on the fence about whether to go through with it. Here's why - I currently take Xarelto 20mg daily, which I tolerate well. But, I have an active lifestyle, bicycle riding, x-county skiing, hiking, furniture making (with power tools), cooking (with sharp knives), and more, all of which puts me at risk for bleeding. But the Watchman isn't a magic bullet. The procedure itself isn't risk-free, plus as some of these studies show, the device can leak and/or migrate over time, which may necessitate a more invasive procedure or the need to continue taking a DOAC. And who knows what the long term effects of a DOAC might be? Watchman or DOAC?...either path carries risks. While the doctor's recommend a DOAC based on my Chad score, they seem to regard the Watchman as elective surgery.
I'm scheduled for the Watchman, assuming the CT scan shows that I am a candidate. However, I'm still on the fence about whether to go through with it. Here's why - I currently take Xarelto 20mg daily, which I tolerate well. But, I have an active lifestyle, bicycle riding, x-county skiing, hiking, furniture making (with power tools), cooking (with sharp knives), and more, all of which puts me at risk for bleeding. But the Watchman isn't a magic bullet. The procedure itself isn't risk-free, plus as some of these studies show, the device can leak and/or migrate over time, which may necessitate a more invasive procedure or the need to continue taking a DOAC. And who knows what the long term effects of a DOAC might be? Watchman or DOAC?...either path carries risks. While the doctor's recommend a DOAC based on my Chad score, they seem to regard the Watchman as elective surgery.
For those who currently have or are thinking of having a Watchman procedure there's an interesting study called the CHAMPION AF study that came up with some interesting results. As usual the longer they study the more they find.
For those who currently have or are thinking of having a Watchman procedure there's an interesting study called the CHAMPION AF study that came up with some interesting results. As usual the longer they study the more they find.
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@ginnyjm I would ditto the same. I love being off the blood thinners!
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1 Reaction@gloaming
It may vary from facility to facility, but the procedure, as explained to me by my EP, begins with a CT scan of your heart /left atrial appendage, to determine firstly whether you are a candidate for a Watchman Device (left atria; appendages come in lots of different sizes and shapes and not all can accept the Watchman) and if you are a candidate, what Watchman Device is the right one for you (it's not a one size fits all gadget). Then your EP orders the specific Watchman Device that you need and it is shipped to the hospital prior to installation.
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1 Reaction@nevets Thanks, this was my understanding as well: they aren't all the same, and neither is every Watchman meant to be inserted into every LAA. Custom fit, and that must be determined using imaging.
For those who currently have or are thinking of having a Watchman procedure there's an interesting study called the CHAMPION AF study that came up with some interesting results. As usual the longer they study the more they find.
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1 Reaction@sandw40 Very true, including that even the vaunted Watchman device is not without its problems, nor is it always a permanent solution. They can leak well after a confirmatory TEE says they are not leaking.
https://www.tctmd.com/news/delayed-peridevice-leak-not-uncommon-after-watchman-implant
Well the saying that the only thing for certain are death and taxes still remains valid.😊
I'm scheduled for the Watchman, assuming the CT scan shows that I am a candidate. However, I'm still on the fence about whether to go through with it. Here's why - I currently take Xarelto 20mg daily, which I tolerate well. But, I have an active lifestyle, bicycle riding, x-county skiing, hiking, furniture making (with power tools), cooking (with sharp knives), and more, all of which puts me at risk for bleeding. But the Watchman isn't a magic bullet. The procedure itself isn't risk-free, plus as some of these studies show, the device can leak and/or migrate over time, which may necessitate a more invasive procedure or the need to continue taking a DOAC. And who knows what the long term effects of a DOAC might be? Watchman or DOAC?...either path carries risks. While the doctor's recommend a DOAC based on my Chad score, they seem to regard the Watchman as elective surgery.
@nevets ...in the same way a DOAC is elective.....................................................................true?
@sandw40
where do you look for CHAMPION AF STUDY ?