Ablation plus Watchman to be successful???

I am considering the Watchman. I had a (successful so far) PF ablation in January and would like to discontinue taking anticoagulant drugs because of bleed risk related to my lifestyle. My PCP recommends the Watchman regardless of whether it will enable me to discontinue anticoagulant medication, because he believes it will eliminate a stroke risk if I happen to have a recurrence of Afib in the future.

@the - I am 86, and to my knowledge I have had only one episode of Afib. It was discovered during a prep for cataract surgery. 2 weeks before that, no Afib. A month before that at my annual physical, no Afib. I had successful cardioversion done and then about 2 months later a pulse field ablation done. The EP that did the ablation at UC Health in Aurora, CO looked at all of my history and said that I was a perfect candidate for PFA. I had it done in May of this year and so far, I have not had any recurrence of Afib.

I find this discussion very interesting. I’m heading in for my second ablation, first one worked for 2.5 years. Ever since, it stopped working I’ve been in afib or flutter a big percentage 45-75% of the time according to my Apple Watch. 100 mg of Metoprolol and 10 mg of Eliquis daily. The Metoprolol saps my energy. I’ve done all the lifestyle changes recommended and have alway be an avid exerciser. I’m hoping ablation #2 works and lasts longer this year time because of all the lifestyle changes I’ve made.

@debmonroe I am hopeful, and do wish that you are successful. It took me two tries with ablation, same EP, because mine only lasted six days. !!! In fact, I didn't feel all that great for about four days, and then thought I was coming around and feeling well. Then, bam, while sitting in a hot tub, I began to fibrillate. Second one has worked like a charm.

If it matters to you, second ablations run about 85% success rate statistically, and with your heart in AF so much, your EP will know when you are fully ablated because your heart will resume normal sinus rhythm pretty much as they watch the monitor. It might only take one burn, as it happened to be for me. He was applying the tip to one area around my third pulmonary vein when my heart lurched into full NSR, and they knew they have found the gap they'd missed the first go. I'm just coming up to three years with reliable NSR.

I hope you can find optimism and that it works for you.

Thank you so much @gloaming! I am hoping for a success like yours. I’ve made so many positive lifestyle changes over the last 6 months, which has been a silver lining. But I would rather not be in afib 75% of the time for my remaining years.

Yep, to our knowledge it was only 2 episodes, and we were offered the Watchman. My husband works in heavy equipment in a high-risk job so that may have been another deciding factor.
Cindy, RN and spouse

@m245837

I had an ablation and a watchman pro flex in July 2025. In January I will find out if I can go off Eliquis. I haven’t had any side effects from the procedures and they seem to be successful so far. I will say that my aerobic capacity is not what it was before A fib. The Afib was constant and I feel there was some damage to my heart before I was able to have the ablation. I had a low heart rate and am an avid exerciser. My resting heart rate is slightly higher now and I get winded more easily exercising.

I've had two ablations for paroxysmal AFib, 5 months apart in 2025, with a Watchman installed on May 1, 2025. It was a difficult recovery each time, despite the fact that I am very fit, and when they say the "blanking period" while your heart may be reactive is about three months, for some it is six months. And that's how it was for me.

My EP wanted me to stay on Eliquis for six months after the Watchman which was November. I took myself off Eliquis on my own in September, because I was having bad side effects -- fatigue, muscle and joint pain. Feeling better since I got off it. And I've had no AFib since August, which is about four months. So I feel it all is working, and I am overjoyed!!

I am 76 years old and now able to resume hiking at high elevation, usually 3 miles, but a few times 5 miles. I feel that getting off the meds and getting outdoors to do the things I love have made all the difference in the world.

It will be 2 years on December 23 since I had my first AFib event. It happened after a 5 mile hike and I thought it was just electrolyte imbalance from not drinking enough water. But it recurred and episodes became more frequent, putting me in the ER multiple times. And that's why I had the two ablations and the Watchman. PS: I did that 5 mile hike two days ago just to prove I could do it with no ill effects. And I did!

All my best to you, Susan (attached see my AFib history from the Apple Watch, from this past summer to the present day, along with a photo from a recent 5 mile hike to 11,100 ft. elevation.

If you're determined, you can do it! Stay positive!

@sport67
Thank you, this is encouraging information, and we wish you the best in your health!

@susanrr
Excellent news! This is fantastic, thank you for sharing!