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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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Talk to your cardiologist. They will give points based on your age, and health and medical information. They will also consider weather or not you can take blood thinners.
thanks!
Don't you feel tired and short of breath being in Afib all the time?
No, sometimes I am tired later in the day, but the med I take to slow down
my heart rate can do that, plus I just turned 79, so I might get tired
anyway. 😉 I recently had a hip replaced and the lack of exercise has
shortened and slowed down my walks, but I hope that’s temporary.
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1 ReactionI have a lack of exercise too. I am 70 and waiting for a blood clot in my LAA to dissolve and then I will have my 2nd ablation. I do think my meds to slow my rate down make tired.
Wish to answer the gentleman that just got the Watchman. I was diagnosed with AFib in 2014. At that time I was referred to a cardiology group in SLC who had been part of the research group for the Watchman. At that time they had done 126 placements without a problem. I was told I was the perfect patient with a Chad score of 7. I had never heard of the device ( I am a nurse) and since I was new to blood thinners (Xaralto) decided to wait. Well did not do well on the thinners, constant nose bleeds and discoloration of the lower legs as I am a very active person and any little bump on the leg would bruise permanently. So after 6 years of these disturbing circumstances - I said OK. By then the Doctors at Intermountain Health had done 530 without any problems. My course was problem free. One night in the hospital, on Plavix for 3 months then baby aspirin for maybe a year. The Cardiologists at Intermountain said not needed and so much to the unhappiness of my regular Cardiologist I have been blood thinner free for the last 31/2 years. I couldn't be happier. As I said I am very active, skiing, tennis, pickle ball,biking and gardening , It is wonderful not being at great risk if I fall doing one of my regular activities. I did hang up my skiis last year but still am involved in the rest. If you have 1/2 the success I had you will be very, very, pleased. If anyone has further questions contact this site and I will answer. I do recommend a Cardiology group with lots of experience.
Hope this helps
Katherine Coelho
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1 ReactionI will be very happy to refer anyone to the doctor that put in my Watchman. He too was in on the ground floor and does many problem procedures . Mine went very easy. He is located in Austin, Texas.
I was very pleased reading your post and to see yours was a success too. My age is now 75 and not as active as I should be. I also anemic. My last hemoglobin test was 10 which is 5 points lower that two months before. I have another blood test coming up in two days. Hope it is stable now.
I hope so also, are you on ASA maybe get rid of it also, always check with your doctor.
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?
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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