Any experiences with Watchman Implant for A-Fib?

I had a heart cath in 2004. This one was way different. During the watchman procedure, you will also get a TEE at the start. On my pre-procedure TEE, done weeks before, it was simple and easy. So, I was expecting basicly the same TEE procedure and the same heart cath like before. Not so. For the actual watchman implant procedure it went like this: First. you are prepped for the procedure room. This consists of an IV line put in, a 12 lead monitor hooked up then you get the entire pubic area shaved. I was expecting to be shaved only on one side. Next, you are taken to the procedure room. I was expecting maybe 4 people in there. Turns out there were I think 8 people. The nurses will start slapping a lot of very cold tabs on your chest, in addition the the 12 you got in the prep room. Your arms and feet will be tied down so you can't move. I did not expect that. I have issues having my limbs immobile. Then they will remove your gown and you will be completed naked. I have very strong modesty issues and that upset me a bit. Then you will start getting ananstesia. and you will go out. Once you are out they will do the TEE and watchman procedure. You will wake up on the recovery room. I had severe shakes from being so cold. Took a while for me to warm up. You will have to lay flat on your back for at least 3 hours. Then you get moved to the ward. The nurses should come around at least once an hour to check your incision. For me and I speak only for me, the anastesia had the side effect of causing multiple erections. This for me was very embarrassing when the nurses had to see that area. I also had urine retention which I was not prepared for. They did not put in a urine cath for the procedure. My research shows a urine cath is not usually used in a surgery lasting less than 3 hours. When you are in the recovery room they may give you a dry sandwich to eat. Your throat will be raw and sore from the TEE and getting dry bread down will be difficult. I could not eat mine. Your option.
I think if I had known more about the actual procedure and the anastesia side effects I would have been better prepared mentally. I could not find very much useful information about the watchman procedure online. What little is there is not well written and leaves a lot out.
After surgery you will be told to not lift anything over 10 pounds for at least a week. Since my procedure failed, I was not put on blood thinners at all. If yours is successful, you will be on blood thinners for a while.

Hope this helps

Sorry to hear that, I am doing some research now to see if this is something that i would want to have done,,,,if you would please explain what surprised you about the whole process??? your input could help others decide on this procedure....thanks for your time and help on this

I was to have a watchman device implanted on Dec 22.2020. The procedure was a failure in that out of 3 devices, none would seal off the opening. Very disappointed in this. Surgeon said the rep from the makers told him they are coming out with newer devices that will be more flexable sometime in Feb, Mar, Apr timeframe. I am on the list to get one of those. The procedure itself was full of surprises for me. Please make sure you know what is going to happen in your procedure.

Are you taking Warfarin by chance? I've been taking Warfarin for almost 30 years now. Because I have an artificial aortic valve and permanent Afib my INR needs to be within 2.5 and 3.5 . Last year four days before we were going to Italy for a vacation my INR was 8. My doctor send me to the emergency for a Vit-K injection. At the emergency they took blood to check it first. After hours of waiting the doctor told me my INR was 4.4 which was still high but not dangerously high. It was not possible to lower my INR that much in matter of about 6 hours without doing anything. Even the doctor agreed that most likely the lab had made a mistake. Luckily I was able to get my INR low enough to go for our vacation. I wonder if your INR at 7.9 was a mistake at the lab because to me it seems impossible to get it that high while not taking any blood thinners. Indeed that doesn't make sense.

Thanks for the reply. I guess the thing I have been must worried about is 2 weeks ago on a Monday, my INR was 5.9 so they took me off my pills for 2 days and than checked again on Wednesday and it was 7.9 which doesn't make sense to me. So no more pills for 2 days and than got it checked again on Friday and it was 4.4 and than last week it went 3.0, 3.4 and 2.9 on Friday. So I think with how thin it has been and the drs can't seem to get it under control that this might be the best way to go for me. Thank you. Dale

Hi @odaleberg, I would like to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. In November, @shedwina was considering having the watchman procedure. @bbeebe1943 also had the same question regarding people who had the watchman implant, so I wanted to invite them to this post and @jstoll 's son had a watchman implanted.

I also have an article by Mayo Clinic about Stroke reduction in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation with the left atrial appendage closure device.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/cardiovascular-diseases/news/stroke-reduction-in-nonvalvular-atrial-fibrillation-with-the-left-atrial-appendage-closure-device-an-update/mac-20431149
@odaleberg, Can you tell us a little more about your situation?

Just wanting to chat with someone that has had the Watchman installed in there heart. Just wondering how it has work out and if you get off the blood thinner medicine.

Please reply and let me know.

Thank you.
Dale

How is the Watchman working out?

The cost of Xarelto makes me cringe. I've been on Warafin for about 3 years now. Implanted Watchman October 14th, 2019.

Hi @afrobin

Without treatment for the fast rate in AFib, the ability to be physically active is very much reduced and the heart muscle can get damaged over time. The main goal of moderate exercise in AFib patients is slowing down the heart. However, strenuous exercise has been shown to be a leading trigger for an afib attack.

For some people, AFib is an occasional problem, (paroxysmal AFib), and the heart can go back to a normal rhythm on its own or with medications. For others, AFib is permanent – once their heart is in AFib, it stays in AFib. But the most important factor, for AFib patients, is to understand the risk of stroke.
Therefore, it is very important to work with your healthcare provider to determine your treatment needs, and to understand your treatment options. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/why-atrial-fibrillation-af-or-afib-matters