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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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Don't you feel tired and short of breath being in Afib all the time?
thanks!
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.
I have had A-fib for nearly 20 yrs. now and have taken blood thinners all that time, started with Coumadin and a few years ago my cardiologist put me on Xarelto. He recently put me in touch with a Watchman rep, who asked me several questions and then told me I did not qualify because I had been doing okay on Xarelto. I don’t like taking blood thinner but I don’t have a choice. Xarelto is better than warfarin I guess; I don’t have to be tested every month, but it is expensive. If I didn’t have insurance it would cost $900 per month. I am also on blood pressure med, and Valsartan to slow down my heart rate. Dr. says it should be under 100 bpm.
I am in A-fib all the time but it isn’t as bad or scary as it was in the beginning. Two of my brothers had A-fib, were older than I, now deceased, but they both had bypass surgeries before having A-fib; one quadruple and one quintuple. That is my story.
What is the "formula" to determine whether or not a patient qualifies for a Watchman?
I'm having a very hard time to see if one would meet my need (seemingly infinitely researching) to avoid an oral anticoagulant to slow my movement towards central vision blindness caused by one. I have wet macular degeneration and whereas no, I don't want a stroke ("duh") I do not want to go blind which appears inevitable with this condition.
At the very least, I don't want to take a medicine (for paroxysmal) AFIB which statistically does hasten that condition thus maximizing my period of sightedness.
Talk to your cardiologist. They have a formula they use to see if you qualify for a Watchman. They don't just give these thing out. It took me 3 years to decide if I wanted something put in my heart. Once I made that decision, I never looked back. All my medical team members were on board for my Watchman which helped me make that decision. Good luck with your decision.
thanks so much for the info., i sure am considering it!
Two completely different devices! The Watchman only plugs the hole in the LAA . It's only function is to keep blood from entering the LAA and forming a clot. You will not even know it is there....you can not feel it at all.
I consider myself as an average person. My episodes of AFIB were not as bad as some other people. After getting the Watchman, I was on Eliquis for only about 8 weeks. Had no problems while taking the med or getting off the med.
How does the watchman compare to the Atri-clip?