Watchman installed

We cannot give advice of that nature, and most certainly not in contradiction to your own cardiologist and electrophysiologist. These are questions that should be put to those people. Sorry.

After an ablation, it is normally the case that a Holter monitor is issued to the patient and you wear it for about a day. You are meant to record significant experiences such as meals, exercise, sleep onset and waking, etc. This takes place normally about 10-12 weeks after the ablation. It is the Holter monitor that makes the definitive measurement and record, and it must be interpreted by a qualified 'reader', probably your cardiologist. That's for the arrhythmia. Then, the Watchman is assessed later, usually about the six month mark (it can be earlier), and that is normally with a TEE (trans-esophageal echocardiogram), a tube like an endoscope that is put down your trachea. Since you'd fight it and find it terrifying, you'll be sedated at the very least, but most often given a general like propofol.

If the Watchman shows no leaks, and that it is still inserted correctly in position, usually the option is left to the patient to discontinue anti-coagulants. However, if the patient has other risks, other comorbidities that raise the risks of stroke, then you would be strongly advised to continue. Again, this is in consultation with your EP or cardiologist.

Thank you for more details that I did not know. Unfortunately, my stomach is fragile to many drugs so when I feel bad it's very hard to continue that drug. So I am conflicted with nausea (often vomiting) vs. the stroke risks of drug therapies. My new PCP is helping me find drugs that dont make me sick or conflict with other drugs that I take. I've been on stomach drugs for years.

@rebeccadixon This is strictly a personal assignment to yourself of all risks of stroke due to clotting. If your Watchman checks out, then ask your primary care giver what your new all-body risk is of a stroke. Ask for, or calculate for yourself, your CHA2DS2-VASc score. If it's above 2.0, most conscientious physicians would ask you to take an anti-platelet like Plavix or a DOAC like apixaban, rivaroxaban, or dabigatran. If you feel 'better', less 'complicated', and less anxious by not taking the DOAC, then go ahead and live that way. Many do, and quite successfully...and with luck they live a long time.

Here is a link to a CHA2DS2-VASc calculator: [ enter only known and correct/recent data]
https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/801/cha2ds2-vasc-score-atrial-fibrillation-stroke-risk

@gloaming
3 points but only a 2 if eliminating the "female" point since the notes question if it's applicable. Overall then I score a 2, which has a 2.2% stroke risk. Plus I would like to add that my pacemaker shows no afib since my ablation surgery! Previously it was intermittent but substantial, (never cardioverted) but one night with a 3 hour long episode and one day in Shands hospital with 97 episodes!
You are very helpful and I thank you! Good Luck in your health journey.

@rebeccadixon I see your reasoning. In my own case, now free of AF for coming up to three years (yay!), male, 73, and otherwise in good condition, I have elected to stay on the apixaban. I do a lot of sitting as an internet junkie. I walk lots, and am reasonably fit, but I do prefer to surf rather than to watch cable TV. Either way, sitting for long periods is not good, and it can invited deep vein thrombosis. I figure the apixaban will help a little, maybe a lot.

I wish for you a continued AF-free blanking period and beyond. Once your Watchman checks out in about four months, you should not have to worry about strokes as your risk is apparently quite manageable.

My TEE procedure to check the Watchman device which was put in 47 days ago was the simplest thing I have ever had done. No pain Throat numbing spray took care of everything. The IV i was given did nothing and if I ever have another one I will refuse the IV injection. It took 14 min at the most. Afterward I ate and drank and had absolutely no pain or problem. A piece of cake.