Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

I will need to go get info on this as I never heard of it. Sounds like part of your heart is not in use due to this devise.

Eileena,

Actually my heart performs the way it should. The Watchman does not change the functionality of the heart. For clarity and a better understanding please visit watchman.com. I do not know what your struggles are due to A-Fib, but again the Watchman was an alternative treatment for me because I could no longer tolerate blood thinners.\

Tresjur

Hi @eileena,

I though you might be interested in reading this discussion started by @tresjur, Watchman Implant for A-Fib https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/watchman-implant-for-a-fib/ where she and others have shared some incredible insights and experiences.

Hi @tresjur. You have me interested in Watchman. I've been on Warfarin for three years because of nearly asymptomatic A-fib, but something went awry last summer. My anti-clotting index went way up, so we skipped Warfarin for a couple of days. That appears to have been a mistake, because a week later I had a small stroke, and the diagnosis was a small clot out of my heart. Wondering whether at any time you and your medical team considered Warfarin "blood thinner." If so, why Eliquis instead? Then, why Watchman?

Other than my stroke (which was not disabling to any extent), does it seem to you that I could stick with what I'm doing, or would you recommended that I look into a Watchman insert? Martin

I was on Warfarin for 14 years, with no problems. Honestly, I would still be on it had I not experienced several bleeds resulting in 8 transfusions and a stay in ICU. My body just could no longer tolerate the blood thinners. The following 3 years I took nothing for the A-Fib. Yes, very risky and extremely scary worrying about a possible stroke.

Three years after the ICU incident I saw the Watchman ad on television stating it was for people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem (me) and could not tolerate blood thinners (me, again). I discussed this with my cardiologist, had a TEE to insure that I was a good candidate and was referred to an electrophysiologist for evaluation and confirmation.

As for Eliquis, the only time I took it was after the implantation. I took it for 6 months only, followed by a low-dose aspirin daily for life. From the Watchman website you will learn that this is the the protocol for the device.

This is my A-Fib story and the implant is working for me so far. I'm also living with other heart ailments, sleep apnea, arthritis and cancer. If you are interested in the Watchman do your due diligence and talk to your cardiologist and/or medical team. I don't know your medical history nor am qualified to suggest that this what you need or would work for you.

Tresjur

Thanks for sharing. I did go look the devise up and learned it is an incredibly simple solution to the problem you had.

I have PVCs and do not have the clothing you have. I only take a regular aspirin for blood thinning and give blood every 8 weeks or so to help further thin my blood. Seems to work sell so far.

Approximately 30 yrs ago I was diagnosed with AFib, Cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The medicine prescription at this time was coreg, enalapril, Pradaxa and baby aspirin. Because my ejection fraction was 20, I received an implanted pacemaker defibrillator in 2001 An additional drug was prescribed named rythmol which kept me in sinus rhythm for most of 8 years. However, there were approximately three or four episodes of AFib that occurred during this time which required cardioversion and a dosage adjustment of rythmol. My ejection fraction had improved to the high 40's. Rythmol eventually became ineffective and was replaced with amiodarone after a cardioversion was performed. Three years of amiodarone kept me in sinus rhythm until the drug attacked my thyroid and had to be stopped. Ejection fraction had decreased to 30 and created an episode of ventricular tachycardia which was corrected by a shock from the ICD The decision in December 2015 was to replace the original pacemaker/defibrillator with a Bi-V device to assist with the lower chamber pumping efficiency but did not correct AFib. The drug Sotalol was added. In March 2016 I experienced another episode of V Tach and was corrected by the ICD and converted me to sinus rhythm. Since March 2016 I have been in sinus rhythm. The prescription menu includes coreg, Pradaxa, sotalol, atorvastatin, furosemide, potassium and magnesium for the heart. January 2018 I experienced three V Tach episodes within a two week period and all corrected by the ICD. Since then I have had lightheadedness, headaches, vision changes, sore eyes, some nausea and some fatigue. I have had all the tests many times, i.e. echocardiogram, cardiac cath, ekg's. No artery disease, no blockage found. I had gone thru an electrophysiology study of the heart to attempt to find the cause of the V-Tach without any negative findings. Never had an ablation I have never had a heart attack. A scan of the head was performed as a possible cause of the head complaints. Head scan was negative. The cardiologist feels my head issues are probably caused by the medication but is reluctant to change because I have been without incident since January 2018. I feel my options are getting another opinion from Mayo or living with feeling as though you are in a fog, looking thru dirty glasses. Lightheadedness is not pleasant.

Approximately 30 yrs ago I was diagnosed with AFib, Cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The medicine prescription at this time was coreg, enalapril, Pradaxa and baby aspirin. Because my ejection fraction was 20, I received an implanted pacemaker defibrillator in 2001 An additional drug was prescribed named rythmol which kept me in sinus rhythm for most of 8 years. However, there were approximately three or four episodes of AFib that occurred during this time which required cardioversion and a dosage adjustment of rythmol. My ejection fraction had improved to the high 40's. Rythmol eventually became ineffective and was replaced with amiodarone after a cardioversion was performed. Three years of amiodarone kept me in sinus rhythm until the drug attacked my thyroid and had to be stopped. Ejection fraction had decreased to 30 and created an episode of ventricular tachycardia which was corrected by a shock from the ICD The decision in December 2015 was to replace the original pacemaker/defibrillator with a Bi-V device to assist with the lower chamber pumping efficiency but did not correct AFib. The drug Sotalol was added. In March 2016 I experienced another episode of V Tach and was corrected by the ICD and converted me to sinus rhythm. Since March 2016 I have been in sinus rhythm. The prescription menu includes coreg, Pradaxa, sotalol, atorvastatin, furosemide, potassium and magnesium for the heart. January 2018 I experienced three V Tach episodes within a two week period and all corrected by the ICD. Since then I have had lightheadedness, headaches, vision changes, sore eyes, some nausea and some fatigue. I have had all the tests many times, i.e. echocardiogram, cardiac cath, ekg's. No artery disease, no blockage found. I had gone thru an electrophysiology study of the heart to attempt to find the cause of the V-Tach without any negative findings. Never had an ablation I have never had a heart attack. A scan of the head was performed as a possible cause of the head complaints. Head scan was negative. The cardiologist feels my head issues are probably caused by the medication but is reluctant to change because I have been without incident since January 2018. I feel my options are getting another opinion from Mayo or living with feeling as though you are in a fog, looking thru dirty glasses. Lightheadedness is not pleasant.