I would think that if we aren't protected enough by the Watchman, it's been over-rated....as for the possibility of having a stroke from other areas besides the heart..isn't it true that the risk increases as we all get older? If so, they shouldn't everyone be on a blood thinner? I am leaning towards none..my Cardiologist said none of her Watchman patients continue to takeby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI all - I am going in to Montefiore hospital this Thursday, to have another TEE to be sure there are no leaks in or around the Watchman that was implanted this past January. Assuming there are no leaks and it is well placed, I am expecting to get off of the baby aspirin and Eliquis that I have been on since the procedure. (I had been on 5 mg. of Eliquis twice/day, which was reduced to 2.5 mg aby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had a talk today with Dr, DiBiase from Montefiore hospital here in NY, as a follow up after my 6 week TEE, post Watchman implant. Dr. DiBiase works with Dr. Natale when he comes into the NY area, so they were both involved with my implant - although I'm assuming Dr. Natale did the main work on it/me. Here were the high points: * My TEE looked great - no problems.all was good. * I willby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you for letting us know this, Shannon. What would be the best way to send our condolences - email, letter, phone call? Other than a phone number for his office, I'm not sure I have any other contact information. Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So if I'm following your thinking, Carey, wouldn't that mean that everyone who is over 60 should be on Eliquis? And if that's true, why isn't that recommended? My Cardiologist said she doesn't have anyone who has had the Watchman, still taking any blood thinners. According to her, that was the whole reason for getting it. It doesn't seem that she believes itby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ahhh..no one has mentioned another TEE at 6 months to me. I will ask the cardiologist who is my follow up after the last TEE (Dr. DiBiase who is Dr. Natal'es protege) about that. Is this typically done for everyone after getting a Watchman implant? As for CHAD score, Susan...nothing was mentioned about that at all. I don't think it has anything to do with this protocol, but someonby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just a question I've had. I had the Watchman implant on January 11th, 2022, and then my follow up TEE 6 weeks later. All looked good per Dr. Natale, and no need to do any "touch up" ablating. Why then do I still need to stay on the blood thinners (Eliquis and aspirin) for another 3 months (equaling 6 months total from time of Watchman implant?) After a clear TEE, shouldnby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am hoping with an "extensive" LAA ablation, that likelihood of ever having another Afib episode is extremely low. Especially since Dr. Natale took another look at my heart during the Watchman implant, - 7.5 years after my last ablation with him, and saw nothing of concern. Apparently I had Afib so much before getting an ablation, that Dr. Natale said two of my veins "self ablatby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So if you've had a successful ablation with Dr. Natale, haven't had Afib in over 7 years, no evidence of any Afib or need to do a "touch up" when doing a TEE for the Watchman....are you still considered to be an "Afibber" or a FORMER "Afibber"?? I guess my question is also...if you've had a successful LAA isolation, now have the Watchman, and havenby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks everyone - i would like to feel free to have an occasional drink..and I mean occasional - but will be sure it's a low alcohol option if I do. I have been drinking a couple of cups of coffee for years since my last ablation, without a problem. I do believe my Afib days are OVER. If i didnt have an ablation or certainly a successful one, I wouldn't consider it. But I did - bothby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So I am not a big drinker at all, but the other night I was out, and wanted to have a White Russian drink. It's been YEARS since I've had any alcohol. I had my last ablation with Dr. Natale in June 2014, and haven't had Afib at all, since. None. Is it OK to have an occassional alcoholic drink now? As both coffee and alcohol would sometimes make me go into Afib (as well as manyby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks all for the good wishes and comment on my post above. If there is no real reason for possibly having a stroke other than getting older...is that enough of a reason to stay on Eliquis? I plan to take more Omega'3's, and another supplement that has been shown to help keep the blood thinner and less likely to clot. It was actually developed with Dr. John Folts, who the firby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI all - I'm happy to report that I had my 6 week follow up TEE after Dr. Natale put in my Watchman, and all looks good! According to Dr. DiBiase, who works with Dr Natale when he comes to the NY area, I should be able to get off the blood thinners in June. Not sure why then as opposed to now, but I"m assuming it needs more time to fully "seat" in place? He mentioned gettinby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Never noticed the Donate info on the site before - thanks for making that known. Just donated. This group has been invaluable to me. Wish I could give even more. Thanks Shannon and Carey! ~ Barb Herdby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
gmpf - it is just for the reasons you mentioned above, that prompted me to get a Watchman. I was afraid if I needed some kind of surgery (which at this point I don't, but as we get older, who knows?). I also want to be able to take fish oil and an Advil or two without worrying about my blood getting too thin I'm glad you were able to get the Watchman. Best wishes for a smooth gallby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad it went well, Susan! I was also out the same day, which was great! Here's to better days ahead! ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Tom - I'm a Dr. Natale patient too. Had my first ablation with him in Sept. 2013, when he was visiting in New York. He did a LAA isolation too, as I had Afib for 10 years at that point, and was getting it every day, sometimes twice/day by then. I did well until June 2014 when a needle went into my left shoulder during Acupuncture. at which point I went into Flutter (first time). Dr Naby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
You're very welcome. Glad it was helpful and Good luck! You'll be in good hands. ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Not sure if my experience will be helpful or not, but in the event it is..... I had a LAA isolation back in Sept. 2013. It was a extensive ablation, and all was quiet, until an acupuncture session. No sooner than the second the acupuncturist put a needle in my left shoulder area, I felt my heart go fast...not uneven, just fast. I called Dr. Natale's office and for the first and only time iby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
You have to realize that when the hospital sends you this card and Shannon also tells you about it too, most of us, including me, would assume it does matter to carry the card. I do know that there is a lot of 'what could possibly go wrong" information from both the manufacturers and the medical staff themselves, but it's not always easy to decipher what can be basically brushed oby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
And yes, you're right George - I guess I expected to be given that information. Instead, all I got was info from Montefiore hospital, phone numbers for the Cath lab and Dr. DiBiase's line...which doesn't seem to be answering either. I'll try the contact info for Dr. Natale's office instead. Thanks ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you. I'll give them a call...much appreciated. This has been frustrating...by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey - I don't know why you don't have this information, but it was sent to me by the hospital, from Boston Scientific. It very specifically says "Please carry your card at all times", which is something Shannon told me about before I received it. It also says "before any surgery or dental work which would require you to stop taking prescribed blood thinning medicationsby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my Watchman put in last week, by Dr. Natale, who was visiting New York for a few days. He worked with one of his protege's at a hospital that is over an hour away from me. While I am very happy I was able to get HIM to do this procedure, it's been a little tough afterwards. First of all, I didn't know some of the things about the Watchman that I am now finding out - afteby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
thanks, Tom I will go back to the same hospital in NY where Dr. Natale's protege, Dr. DiBiase, will do the TEE. I have had several TEE's at this same hospital in the past, as I don't trust the local EP's to do it...and Dr. Natale gives his blessing to Dr. DiBiase and his staff. Glad you'll be getting Dr. Natale to do your Watchman too, Tom - that's great!by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So sorry, Carey..i didn't see your replies to this concern on another post. That explained it, so never mind on this question here.by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, glad it's over and now to get the OK that all is fine with the TEE. Why would they want anyone to continue on Eliquis or aspirin after getting the Watchman? I would assume we would have the same stroke risk after getting it as any other person who never had Afib to begin with, no? . No blood thinners needed before Afib. Successful Ablation, then Watchman should = no blood thinnersby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr. Natale has been up in New York for a few days, so I grabbed the opportunity to have a Watchman implanted while he was here in my area this past Tuesday. Had to arrange rides there and back - thank God for my kids - and was in at 6 am and back out by 5pm. I did have to wait over 5 hours for my turn....but am glad they didn't keep me overnight. Could have been because there were Covid paby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So is my Cardiologist comment, "if you have to stay on blood thinners, there's no point in getting a Watchman" right then?by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan D...why would you need to be on full strength Eliquis after getting a Watchman? Everything I'm reading indicates this is not the normal situation. My understanding is that when someone has been successfully ablated and Afib is no longer rearing it's head, you should have no reason for needing to be cardioverted. In my 10 years of having active and regular Afib, I only needed to bby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM