Male 65 year old farmer with thrombocythemia

Thank you to all who have commented on my remarks.
Here is how my Watchman procedure went yesterday.
My procedure didn't go anywhere! The process was supposed to go through the following steps
1. Pass an echocardiogram
2. Pass a CT scan
3. Schedule procedure time and date
4. Do procedure
a. Check to see if there are any blood clots
b.Provide for platelet transfusion if count is below 50
c. anesthesia
d. Insert catheter
e. complete implantation of cap
f. Patient recovery
In my case, I failed step 4a. I had three significant blood clots, which raised the risk of proceeding too high to continue. So I went from step 4a to 4f. The next step for me was to go back on my blood thinner (Eliquis), which was suspended for two days before the procedure. Then, go back to wait and see for two months and reschedule the Watchman procedure to resolve the original problem.
For those interested, you can watch the procedure on YouTube.
I still think The Watchman is a great advance over blood thinners especially if you have a situation like mine.
Best to all 😀

are they recommending hydroxyurea, for your platelets? to stop the clots? I think Eliquis stops stickyness, but maybe not clot formation?????

Thank you to all who have commented on my remarks.
Here is how my Watchman procedure went yesterday.
My procedure didn't go anywhere! The process was supposed to go through the following steps
1. Pass an echocardiogram
2. Pass a CT scan
3. Schedule procedure time and date
4. Do procedure
a. Check to see if there are any blood clots
b.Provide for platelet transfusion if count is below 50
c. anesthesia
d. Insert catheter
e. complete implantation of cap
f. Patient recovery
In my case, I failed step 4a. I had three significant blood clots, which raised the risk of proceeding too high to continue. So I went from step 4a to 4f. The next step for me was to go back on my blood thinner (Eliquis), which was suspended for two days before the procedure. Then, go back to wait and see for two months and reschedule the Watchman procedure to resolve the original problem.
For those interested, you can watch the procedure on YouTube.
I still think The Watchman is a great advance over blood thinners especially if you have a situation like mine.
Best to all 😀

Thanks for that info. I like your procedural outline. I always have outlines doped out for my doctors with status of my many ailments before any visit: scoliosis/mobility, asthma, blood pressure, ET, mitral valve prolapse, skin rashes, thyroid, etc. Stick to what is observable and measurable. I never tell them I have generalized pain or anxiety. That messes up the little decision trees they use, they don't schedule enough time to hear it, and it gets you labeled as a nutcase.

Thank you for your comments. Sometimes we really need to be our own doctors. If we are focused enough we can be our own PCP. I know of cases where the patient said just give me a happy pill and take care of the rest.

I don't want to be my own PCP, thanks, and I respect my doctors' knowledge. I do think that providing clear, measurable info to your doc gets you better care, though. And you have to keep expectations realistic. They can't fix everything, and effort is required on our part.

Patte

Welcome to Connect, @pattep. This is such a fun “Summer Vibe” photo. I was wondering if you meant to put it as your personal avatar picture. If that’s the case, you can click on the circle next to your name that has a silhouette of a person. It will open a window that says View Profile.

Click View Profile and you’ll see a large blue box with an oval with another silhouette. Click there and it will guide you to place your personal picture.

Since you posted in the Blood Cancer group, specifically in a conversation about thrombocythemia, do you have a question I can answer for you? Was there anything in particular that brought you to Connect?

My comment about being your doctor means you know and understand your medical situation. This allows you to make decisions. This also means you can present your symptoms clearly and understand the response from an appropriate doctor. My understanding is that is what you are doing. Please correct me if I misunderstand

In my experience, unfortunately, I have met doctors who have higher priorities than the patient's appropriate health.

Example.
I had back pain, so I went to a clinic where I met a doctor who explained that he had retired, but his stocks had gone down, and he was back at work. I helped him use his computer to write prescriptions for the pharmacy. I then waited in the pharmacy for my medicine. When my name was called, I went to the counter, and the pharmacist looked at me silently for a while and then asked me if I was a woman. I said no and asked why he asked. His answer was the prescription was for a woman.
I have stories worse than this one.
Have a nice day.