New Study Is anyone familiar with a recent completed study that said that if a patient goes one year without any out of rhythm episodes then there is no difference in negative events whether you are on a blood thinner or not. My local cardiologist told me this today and suggested it may be possible to get off the Xarelto I am taking. I am a little apprehensive about this possibility. I went 6 months after going off Flecainide before going out of rhythm. I tried a few large doses of Flecainide but it did not work. I then went on 100mg of Flecainide twice a day and stayed in NSR for the next seven months. I then decided to go off again telling myself I would get another ablation (Natale said I would probably need another when he did the 1st one). It has now been over a year off Flecainide/Metoprolol and as far as I know I have been in NSR the whole time. However, since I have no symptoms I am not 100% sure (I do check with my Kardia mobile, I’ve had a couple of heart monitor sessions). The cardiologist suggested either an Apple Watch or an inserted Loop reader. If no incidents after a period of time he suggest getting off Xarelto and on aspirin(I also have a high CAC score of 520 so he still would like thinner blood with less bleeding potential. Appreciate feedback https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200087#msg-200087 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:22:08 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201682#msg-201682 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201682#msg-201682 Geocappy AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:55:14 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201681#msg-201681 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201681#msg-201681
In any case, just doing the loop recorder can't do any harm. I wouldn't cancel that.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:14:09 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201678#msg-201678 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201678#msg-201678
I can’t see how I wouldn’t qualify for Watchman now.]]> Geocappy AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:12:14 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201677#msg-201677 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201677#msg-201677
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Geocappy
BTW, reread the new EP’s notes and he said I preferred loop recorder over watchman.

That makes no sense. They do 100% different things. Maybe he meant you prefer loop recorder over Watchman at this time.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:39:04 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201676#msg-201676 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,201676#msg-201676
I have been takin Dihydroberberine to allow me to get off diabetic meds (my A1c is 6.3) via a low carb diet. I was also on 5mg of Rosuvastatin due to 520 CAC score. Thought all was well looking forward to possibly getting off my xarelto in the future after watchman and then I read AI which told me I should not be taking any berberine product (taking 2 years) with xarelto or rosuvastatin as it increases possibility of bleeding and effects of statin. Despite having a cardiologist, EP, Primary Care and Endocrinologist this had never been brought to my attention even though they all had my med and supplement list.

I digress, at my 5-10 minute meeting with new EP he mention he heard of Natale (did stints at John Hopkins and Cleveland Clinic). Mention a few notes and then said he could immediately give me Watchman because Traditional Medicare might not cover due to no evidence of current Afib. He recommended three month loop recorder and his notes say if evidence of silent afib then do Watchman. Otherwise, consider move off xarelto to baby Aspirin. I am scheduled for loop recorder in 3 weeks.

After reviewing all my heart related notes and Medicare regulations and posing questions to AI, I believe I should easily be approved by Medicare. I have documented history of afib, documented c.h.a.d. Score of 3-4, and history of several nose bleeds including documented trip to emergency to stop one of the nosebleeds. BTW, reread the new EP’s notes and he said I preferred loop recorder over watchman.

I am confused and considering cancelling loop recorder proceedure. Need some of the forum’s sage advice.]]> Geocappy AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:13:41 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200944#msg-200944 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200944#msg-200944
He said Afib symptoms are irrelevant as there are other reasons for risk of blood pooling other than afib and symptoms are not the only important factors and he would not do a loop recorder because the results would not change his opinion due to my high CHAD score.

He said the only way for me to be potentially of blood thinner is if a Watchman is done. Then if successful it maybe possible to switch blood thinner protocol. Question: Is this board as adamant about Natale doing the Watchman as they are him doing the ablation. I flew to Texas for my ablation but my local EP is suppose to be very experienced with the Watchman.

I would appreciate some feedback]]> Geocappy AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 08 Feb 2026 16:19:23 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200196#msg-200196 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200196#msg-200196 sldabrowski AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:05:03 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200118#msg-200118 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200118#msg-200118
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Carey
It has been uncommon but it's becoming increasingly common. However, if the ablation is going to touch the LAA, it's generally avoided because the mouth of the LAA where the Watchman fits can be swollen, so choosing the correct size would be hit or miss. When the swelling goes down, you could end up with a leaky Watchman.

I think this is still Natale‘s policy as I know someone who just had an extensive ablation and their Watchman was scheduled for several months later. It was also true for me a few years ago – he isolated my LAA and asked me to come back three months later for the Watchmen.]]> Daisy AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:50:09 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200117#msg-200117 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200117#msg-200117 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 16 Sep 2025 18:53:57 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200116#msg-200116 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200116#msg-200116
BTW, is it common or uncommon to get a watchman put in at the same time as one’s first ablation? A friend of mine’s EP is suggesting it.]]> Geocappy AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:51:32 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200092#msg-200092 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200092#msg-200092
I have two personal opinions on this:

a. even a few minutes of continuous AF is raising the risk of a clot forming in an open LAA. If that clot gets dislodged after a couple of NSR beats where the increased and proper flow of blood commences anew.....; and

b. unless a person with a formal diagnosis of AF at any of the four commonly-accepted stages can be sure they are NOT in AF, there is always going to be a risk of AF going unnoticed (happens all the time!). If those short paroxysmal runs get along into an hour, four, 12, and then lurch back into NSR, that's a long time with poor blood circulation in the LAA. I think a full year is a reasonable length of time after which one could stop taking a DOAC, but not if there is no Watchman in place with demonstrably no leakage, and not if the person has no practical means of monitoring 24/7 for almost all of those 12 months. From that kind of reasoning, it becomes a personal choice to continue or to discontinue, with the associated risks borne by the individual. Personally, and as an older male, I do sit a lot at my computer soaking up everything I find interesting. Just that practice, alone, puts me at a risk of DVT. Additionally, while I used to know immediately I was in AF, I'm not sure I do now. I don't sense that I ever have it, and my watch doesn't indicate that I do, but can I be sure? Even when asleep? Plus, no Watchman. That puts me in very iffy territory, so I just take the damned pill.]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:40:22 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200091#msg-200091 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200091#msg-200091 Here is a youtube video Yoork Cardiology and here is the study reactaf.com. Here is the original paper PIP Study.

The basic idea is if you are in AFIB for more than one hour, go on a fast-acting blood thinner for only 30 days. I think the problem in the past was that some people don't know they are in AFIB. But with today's wearable that should not be a problem.

I am hoping the study shows good results. I am 70 with a CHADS score of 1 and am not on blood thinners per cardiologist's recommendation. I rarely go into AFIB and when I do it is usually less than an hour. When I turn 75 I get my second CHADS point, so I am hoping for the PIP approach. BTW I am very symptomatic.]]> MikeN AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:21:09 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200090#msg-200090 Re: New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200090#msg-200090
And it seems like strange reasoning considering that aspirin has a higher bleed risk than the DOACs like Xarelto and Eliquis.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 12 Sep 2025 03:12:42 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200087#msg-200087 New Study https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,200087,200087#msg-200087
My local cardiologist told me this today and suggested it may be possible to get off the Xarelto I am taking. I am a little apprehensive about this possibility.

I went 6 months after going off Flecainide before going out of rhythm. I tried a few large doses of Flecainide but it did not work. I then went on 100mg of Flecainide twice a day and stayed in NSR for the next seven months. I then decided to go off again telling myself I would get another ablation (Natale said I would probably need another when he did the 1st one). It has now been over a year off Flecainide/Metoprolol and as far as I know I have been in NSR the whole time. However, since I have no symptoms I am not 100% sure (I do check with my Kardia mobile, I’ve had a couple of heart monitor sessions).

The cardiologist suggested either an Apple Watch or an inserted Loop reader. If no incidents after a period of time he suggest getting off Xarelto and on aspirin(I also have a high CAC score of 520 so he still would like thinner blood with less bleeding potential.

Appreciate feedback]]> Geocappy AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:34:13 +0000