Yes, i agree with all you are saying. I had my 2 ablations with Dr Natale (the second was for Flutter), and then had a Watchman put in about 1 1/2 years ago, also by Dr,. Natale when he was up here in New York. Haven't had Afib for over 9 years since the second ablation with Dr Natale. He encouraged me to stay on a low dose of Eliquis as I had a LAA ablation, I'm now 70 years old, anby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello all - I am getting checked out by my OB/GYN doctor, but am asking this question because he brought it up. Is it possible that being on low dose Eliquis (2.5 mg/BID) could contribute to menstrual like bleeding? I do have a fibroid and there is another issue that needs to be looked at, but he wasn't sure if Eliquis might be a contributor to the problem. I've never heard this mentby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I never have the privilege to meet Hans, but did buy his book after finding this extremely helpful site after my own Afib journey began, 20 years ago. The book was very informative and this site has been a lifeline during all the years I struggled with Afib. I am forever grateful for having a place to go where those on this forum "get it" and can offer support, advice and hope. I alsoby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Oh wow - that's even more surprising with such a high CHAD score and strong family history that your current EP would try to keep you off of Eliquis. I don't even see a local EP....just Dr. Natale who is thousands of miles away. I don't have a reason to see one now that I've had my (2) ablations and the Watchman. Can't you just do what both you and Dr. Natale think is bby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ok....got it. So I'll stay on the low dose and not worry about most supplements interacting with it. (as we also want to take care of our brain, eyes, etc. right?) It's odd that your EP doesn't want you on Eliquis, Susan..why do you think that is? ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So your last line, Carey, basically says that taking an anticoagulant is not necessary once you have a Watchman whether you have had an ablation or not, yes? If you never had Afib, would you still want to be on low dose Eliquis now? ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
One solution so that this isn't likely to happen....get a daily pill box. Fill it up once/week and then you can see if you took a pill on that day or not. Only takes a few minutes to fill. Good luck Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jackie! Good to see you here again. Thank you for your comments. I didn't realize that the Watchman is still considered to be "iffy" in it's protection against clots. I thought it had already been determined that it was a safe alternative to blood thinners. The study you referenced is for those who still have Afib though, no? I'm confused by the title "Afibberby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Some good points made by both of you, George and Carey. Thank you for taking the time to reply. If I'm going to be honest, I am not likely to do all of the things to lower BP naturally like you mentioned, George. I do question how big of a deal "double the risk" is when the numbers are very low to begin with...Double 1% is 2%, so that's not very concerning still, if Iby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Not a big fish lover, so that option wouldn't work well for me...but glad it's working for you, Susan. Not sure what the green scores are referring to, but glad it's a good thing ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ditto here to all of the good things said to you Shannon, and to Carey! I really don't know where I would be without this forum. I likely would have gone to a local EP and ended up with 3-4 ablations and still struggling with Afib issues. Thankfully, with the advice and support from you and others on this forum, I had a successful LAA isolation ablation with Dr. Natale, a Watchman implantby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So in answer to why I want to get off the Eliquis.....for several reasons. I also want to take more Omega 3's, for brain, heart and eye health. i want to be able to take an anti-inflammatory w/o worrying about a bleed from combining a blood thinner with that. There are certain herbals and supplements I want to take w/o worrying that combining those with Eliquis might cause a problem. I tby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Oh George - you are much more meticulous than I am with all of this! I admire your dedication and success in staying in such good health. My CHAD score is 2, and I haven't had Afib in over 7 years, and have the Watchman, so I feel like I'm a low risk. I'm not sure if that's right, but overall I am in good health (I do take meds for hypertension, which is why I get an extraby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Happy almost New Year everyone ~ I had an LAA isolation done by Dr. Natale in Sept 2013. Needed a "touch up" in June 2014, and have been in sinus rhythm ever since (7+ years). Dr. Natale was up in NYC last January and put in my Watchman. Follow up TEE's all checked out that it was well seated and all was fine. Dr. Natale was still encouraging me to stay on low dose Eliquis...by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Couple of things on what you wrote, Carey. I certainly understand your perspective given all you've witnessed as an EMT. I do wonder then if everyone over age 60 or so, should then be on Eliquis, if it's risky to not be on it..... .I recently had a cardiac Cat Scan and was told my results were excellent. NO blockages, minimal plaque and minimal calcium...my Cardiologist was very plby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey - can you answer my question about why Dr. Natale would tell me to go back on Eliquis after my anti-inflammatory protocol is over? If it's safe enough to be off of it for a week, why is is needed at all? I still am aggravated by the fact that I"m still on a blood thinner even after getting the Watchman.... Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
To Gloaming - Dr. Natale told me it was fine to stay off of Eliquis for as long as I needed to, to go through the course of the medication I need to take for inflammation. I trust him implicitly, and since I have the Watchman implant, the risk of going off is not really an issue. The only reason i'm still on it as there seems to be no protocol for discontinuing Eliquis after a Watchman, wheby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello all - I have been doing well Afib-wise, with no Afib for over 8 years and a Watchman implant last January, as I had a LAA done (by Dr. Natale). I continue on 2.5 mg of Eliquis twice/daily. I've had Tendonitis behind my knee for a few weeks, and was prescribed Meloxicam, which is apparently a fairly strong anti-inflammatory. After 2 days on it, I noticed what looked like a purplishby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, I think I heard that the radiation from a Cat Scan shouldn't create a problem for at least 20 years, if at all. I figure I will be close to 90 then, and hoping to outlive any issues too! Glad you are alive and kicking, JoyWin. Tom....wasn't thinking of radiation for an ablation...naive question, but is it? BArbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate the support and calming words, "gloaming" (I am curious if that's your name or means something else..) The Nurse Practioner told me I would be getting nitroglycerin right before they start the scan to get a better look at the arteries (Yikes...that sounds scary), and that the test is only about 15 minutes. At any rate, it looks like Iby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the reminder, George - just donated! I don't know where I would be without this forum....it was my lifeline during my years of struggling with Afib, and still my go-to place for all things Afib, Watchman, TEE's etc related. thank you so much to Shannon, Carey and all those who have reached out to provide information and support. I am forever grateful ~ Barb Herdby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I often wonder if the medication I was given for the walking pneumonia may have caused my shortness of breath issue.....can't remember the name of it now, but I believe it's one that can also cause ankle or foot problems...? Anyway, I'm not sure if a cardio cat scan will also look at the lungs...hoping it will. This scan will also do a calcium score, which I believe gives a goodby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had the Watchman implanted last January, and all looks good. No leaks or clots or any problems. I am staying on low dose Eliquis as a precaution, per conversation with Dr. Natale, Shannon and reading Carey's posts. As I've had shortness of breath for over 6 years (started after I got walking pneumonia) but supposedly I also have Diastolic Dysfunction and high cholesterol (I'by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am going in for my annual mammogram tomorrow, and realized I should've asked someone if there is any precautions or concerns about getting an X-ray when you have a Watchman implant.....can I safely assume it is not an issue? thanks ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
makes me wonder why they don't recommend Eliquis for everyone over the age of 60 or so....don't all older people need that insurance too?by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ok, Carey, but when you Google it, there are nothing but posts about NOT stopping it suddenly. Here's just a couple: Hence, my question and concern.by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Carey - I did know what you chose to do, and can understand why, given your EMT background. I can stop all blood thinners too, but am feeling that staying on a low dose of Eliquis might be a good idea - not because of an Afib related stroke - I haven't had Afib in 8 years and now also have the Watchman - but because strokes can happen for other reasons. I'm still wavering a biby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my 6 month TEE after my Watchman implant about 10 days ago, and everything was perfect. No problems. I was told by Dr. DiBiase that I should continue the baby aspirin and could stop Eliquis, and the opposite by Dr. Natale. I knew that I didn't want to continue on aspirin, so was going in that direction, but had hoped to get off of the Eliquis too. First I'm surprised that nby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Follow up TEE for Watchman DONE! No leaks or any issues found. Now waiting to hear back from either Dr. DiBiase from Montefiore, or Dr. Natale, as to what they recommend. Again, I am leaning towards no blood thinners. IF any, I would choose the low dose Eliquis, but would much prefer not that either. It's interesting that some doctors want us to continue on low dose aspirin, but sayby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Of course I don't want to have a stroke either, and I can understand your position on it given your experience in EMS, Carey. Do you believe that everyone over a certain age should be on Eliquis as a preventative for a stroke? I am pretty mindful of what foods and supplements can also help to thin the blood, but naturally, so that's my leaning...to increase some of those things once Iby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM