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Any experiences with Watchman Implant for A-Fib?
I've been living with A-Fib for close to 20 years now. I took warfarin for 14 of those years and then switched to Pradaxa. After being on Pradaxa for 8 months, I started having GI bleeds and over the course of 14 months I had 8 blood transfusions. After ending up with a hemogloblin count of 5 and
an INR of 9, I ended up in ICU. After my release, and lengthy discussions with my cardiologist, we decided that my body could no longer tolerate the
blood thinners. For three years I went without any A-fib treatment and a year ago I started taking a full dose aspirin daily.
Early this summer I saw the TV ads for the Watchman, for people who cannot take blood thinners. It's an jellyfish looking implant that is inserted in the
left atrial appendage of the heart. After implantation, heart tissue will grow over the device and provide blockage of clots that could travel to the brain.
I had the implantation done on September 13th, which requires an overnight stay in the hospital, and will be on Eliquis and an aspirin for about 45 days, then I will just take an aspirin daily for the rest of my life.
From reading the pros and cons of this device, it is my understanding that it does not work any better than blood thinners, but is an option for those who
cannot take the thinners. My first visit with the electrophysiologist is 2 weeks from today and at the end of October, I will undergo another TEE to determine
if all is working well.
I lived the 3 plus years not being on blood thinners with the though of stroke in the back of my mind. Even though I realize that nothing is 100% guaranteed or successful, I do have some relief now that I am again under treatment.
I'm posting this experience and wondering if anyone else has undergone this procedure and may be further along in their journey. It has been only 22 days
since my implant. I'm doing well so far and have not had a problem with the Eliquis so far.
Regards,
Mary
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Welcome to the group. I have had AFIB for a lot of years now. In my early years with this condition, I did like a lot of folks does. I just blew it off. Mine wasn't real bad at first. Then back around 2004 I had two sessions that lasted 7+ hours and 4+ hours. Spent a few days in hospital. They did almost every test you could think of and found nothing. It became and still is very frustrating. So now, I am waiting on my second attempt at the Watchman. If the second one fails, I do not know what route I will go. Please, take the time to read all the posts in this thread, do lots of research, talk to you medical team.
I keep hearing about "silent AFIB" and can find almost nothing about it. So I keep looking for answers and waiting on doctors. It is very frustrating for me because I do not like the waiting part. I am one of those people that want to get it done. Hope all works out well for you. If you have questions, please ask.
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2 ReactionsI had afib. Tried 2 ablations. After the 2nd it got worse. I had it 24/7. Went to Cleveland clinic. I am now on Tikosyn for 2 years and no longer suffer with it. Good luck
That’s wonderful! So this drug caused your heart to go back into sinus rhythm? I have it 24/7 for about 8 months now. ☹️
Yes! Not sure where you are located. But the Cleveland Clinic is the best heart hospital. Make appt with Dr Tchou
Got a phone call from my cardi's office. She got the stress test results back and I am now scheduled for a NM MYCARDIA. This will happen on Mar 8th. I still don't know what the first stress test showed. Guess they want to keep me in the dark. My gut feeling is this is not going to go well. Does this ever end?
FYI...I found St. David's Hospital listed in Austin, Texas. They have some EP's there that do the watchman. There is a Dr Norton that was involved in the Watchman trials as I understand it. I have contacted the hospital for more information. Just in case anyone is interesed in a Texas location. So far, from what I have read, this place is very good.
Just received the results for my nuclear stress test. The results are as follows:
FINDINGS: The rotational raw data demonstrate stable patient position. The stress images demonstrate a small region of mildly reduced activity at the basal to mid inferior wall. The rest images demonstrate reversibility of this finding. Gated images
demonstrate normal left ventricular wall motion and thickening. The left ventricular ejection fraction is normal at 69%.
IMPRESSION: Probably abnormal myocardial perfusion study:
1. Small reversible finding at basal to mid inferior wall suggests a small region of ischemia.
2. Normal left ventricular systolic function.
Cardiologist changed my meds. Took me off Gemfibrozil and starting me on Crestor 20 mg. She wants to do a cath but is concerned about my internal bleeding so the cath has to wait. She did give me a referral to a new cardiologist (EP) to see about putting in the Watchman FLX. Just waiting to get appointments at this time. Two week heart monitor did not show anything un-expected.
Hi @phoenix1647 Sorry to hear that surgery is going to happen now, but at least they are headed in the right direction for your better health. I did move your comment to the discussion that you already started just so everyone who is following this conversation can see your update. How are you feeling overall about having the watchman placed?
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1 ReactionIt will all balance out in the long run. It's all the waiting that bothers me. I am one of those people that once a decision is made, I want it to happen quickly. Don't waste time.
My cardiologist recommended that I speak with a rep (Doctor) from Watchman. He called and asked me a bunch of questions relative to bleeding episodes, my A-Fib, heart palpitations, etc., and he determined that I do not qualify for the Watchman device. My cardiologist had told me that the sole reason to have a Watchman implant is to get off blood thinners.