Watchman Next Tuesday

From what I have read on afibbers.org forums, most EPs keep their patients on a DOAC for at least six full months, which is when the first confirmatory TEE is usually done. If minor leakage, another TEE at one year, but stay on the DOAC.

This article, dated 2021, says 45 days on a DOAC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8784674/

A more recent article, probably using the first's recommendations: https://www.droracle.ai/articles/10920/how-long-should-a-patient-stay-on-oral-anticoagulant

No one told me, but I found out that when leads (probably a Watchman too) are implanted in the heart, the danger in movement is not so much pulling out the incision stitches as it is dislodging the electricals implanted before tissue forms to hold them in place.
They have to go back in, shore everything up, and do the procedure again. A lot of work and discomfort. Take it easy for a month.

I have a TEE already scheduled for Oct 1, exactly 45 days after the watchman implant.

@shmerdloff just FYI, the watchman doesn’t have electrical leads. There are some hook like things that embed in to the sides of the left atrial appendage. The doctor then performs a pull test to make sure it is secured.

@bohaiboy yes. Thanks. I read that. I think they just don't want strong movement for fear of dislodging something until scar tissue secures it.

I had Watchman last Nov. Yes, no lifting over 10 lbs for a week but that’s to prevent bleeding in the groin. The device does have anchors to hold it in place and the EP does a tug test to make sure it’s a good hold. I think the anchors are improved over earlier models. It’s not that fragile.
TEE is performed after 45 days. If that shows it is sealing properly then you can be switched to anti-platelets, typically aspirin and clopidogrel for a period of time. I couldn’t take clopidogrel and was left on my blood thinner for 3 months and then switched to just aspirin which is to prevent clots forming on the device while the heart continues to heal around it. At end of a year another TEE may be done, but my EP didn’t require it. Recommended protocol is to remain on aspirin for life.
The experience I had was just all similar to earlier PFA ablation. And Watchman device improvements seem to always be in the works and are now coated like stents to help prevent clotting on them. Recovery was pretty simple.