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Living with a Watchman device
I’ve had paroxysmal a-fib for about 15 years, I’m 70. Since I had a bad bleed while on Xarelto my doctor took me off it and I had a Watchman device inserted. Not too long after the Watchman was inserted, I had the worst a-fib I had ever had and after 30+ hours was shocked successfully. Because of my device, I do not have to take blood thinners. If you haven’t already, it’s definitely worth discussing it with your doctor.
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Hi. Yes, the Watchman guidelines, approved by the FDA, call for long term low-dose aspirin for Watchman patients (after a TEE to show the Watchman has sealed). There are different guidelines for the first few months just after implant, which EPs and cardiologists have been adjusting based on registry and trial data. My point is that for many people - like you - long germ low dose aspirin is not well tolerated so many docs are either taking people off aspirin (depending on the Watchman seal and stroke risk) or using a different drug regiment to provide protection against stroke but reduct bleeding risk. Glad your doctor took you off. And yes, there ARE studies going on now about whether aspirin is needed long-term once Watchman is sealed over.