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Any experiences with Watchman Implant for A-Fib?

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Mar 8, 2024 | Replies (261)
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I'm anxious to get off oral anticoagulants, but I've found it difficult to get wholly unbiased information about the Watchman device. The company is SO aggressive about marketing it it colors most of the presentation online. (And no wonder, as it seems to be their BIGTIME moneymaker.)

I gather things have improved since they began implanting it, and I hope so as there appear to have been a number of "adverse events" in the beginning. Also surgeons became more experienced in performing the procedure.

Could you please describe some of the "surprises" you (author) encountered in the procedure?

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Replies to "I'm anxious to get off oral anticoagulants, but I've found it difficult to get wholly unbiased..."
phoenix1647 | @phoenix1647 | Feb 9, 2022

Every hospital, surgeon, and cath lab will be a little different. All will say about the same thing when describing their procedure. My team told me almost nothing about how the procedure would go in the cath lab. I had a right heart cath years ago and figured it would be about the same. Was I ever wrong. Total difference. Best thing I can say is try to talk to someone from the cath lab if you can. Ask exactly what their procedure is so you can mentally prepare for it. I have two conditions that affected my experience in the lab. First, I have what is called GYMNOPHOBIA (fear of being seen naked in front of strangers) and second one is called MERTINTHOPHOBIA (fear of being tied down). During my procedure I was stripped of my gown for over 30 minutes and was also tied down. I had no clue they were going to do this until t happened. That has caused me a lot of mental stress. Even now, a year later, I still have issues about that.
So, try to talk to your medical team and the cath lab about any issues you may have.
My Watchman procedure went good and I have had no issues with the device itself. No problems getting off the blood thinners either.

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