Carey, You mentioned that Natale has you on 2.5 Eliquis instead of aspirin due to plaque issues, despite you having the Watchman. In making that decision, was there any concern that Eliquis might not be as effective as aspirin in preventing clots of the wall on the Watchman even after tissue forms over it? Like you I have the Watchman and am thinking of stopping aspirin because of gut issues aby tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
JoyWin: You say it "doesn't hurt to miss one dose." I've been on Eliquis for about four years. In all that time, I have missed only one dose. About 24 hours after my one-and-only missed dose, I had a stroke. Fortunately, it was only mildly disabling and I have fully recovered.by tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Carey. I too am a cycler. It's good to hear that the Watchman hasn't affected your hill climbing. One of several reasons I will be getting the Watchman is to lessen the risk of bleeding should I ever crash on the bike, or fall and hit a rock while hiking. I hope to get off Eliquis with the Watchman, like most patients have.by tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey, after your Watchman implant, did you notice any difference in your energy level or endurance? I recall reading somewhere that because closure of LAA results in slightly less blood volume getting pumped to the body by the left atria, that could impact energy level or endurance. If one is considering getting the Watchman (like me), it would be good to know if closure of the LAA might affectby tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for your reply. I would imagine that there are many folks like us who want to get off of Eliquis or other anti-coagulant but aren't prepared just yet to have the Watchman device placed inside our heart to occlude the LAA. I will revisit the idea of occluding my LAA a few years from now. By then we'll have more data and studies, and possibly more FDA-approved devices on the marketby tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bleeding risk on aspirin vs eliquis is about the same. Brain bleeds are a little higher on aspirin than on eliquis, but it's just the opposite for stomach bleeds. See these two studies: and Here's an excerpt from the first study: "The most frequent site of bleeding with both treatments was gastrointestinal (1.35%/year with apixaban and 1.25%/year with aspirin). The rates of sby tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Since my two ablations with Dr Natale in 2013, I’ve been in NSR. Like others, during the ablations my LAA had to be zapped extensively to stop my afib. Because my LAA lacks velocity (is basically non-functioning), I need to stay on anti-coagulants for life. I take Eliquis, but want out. Don’t like the thought of being on it for life, and the unknowns re what it might do to liver, kidneys, brain,by tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Don, I too am wondering about a lifetime on aspirin. From what I've read, the bleeding risk of daily aspirin is only a tad less than the bleeding risk of taking eliquis. If so, then the watchman procedure becomes less desirable. I hope someone can weigh in on this.by tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I may be heading to Austin in June. But I am still struggling with whether it's best to take Eliquis forever or have the Watchman implanted and then have to take aspirin forever. What made you cast your vote in the Watchman camp vs. taking Eliquis forever. Did the experts think that particularly with your stroke and MI history, the Watchman would be better?by tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm surprised that any EP would object to prescribing an anti-coagulant if the patient has an LAA that is basically dead (no contractions or weak contractions, and subpar velocity), and thus a known clot risk. I would love to hear his or her rationale. I'm on Eliquis, but would expect to get off it if I have the Watchman implanted and the procedure is a success. Even though my iby tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon. I'm considering St. David's, Scripps, and UW Medical Center. Good news is that after initially denying coverage, my insurer has approved the Watchman implant for me after an IRO overturned the insurer's denial. I wonder if anyone on the forum has had the Watchman implanted in their heart and, if so, whether they might be able to share their experiences.by tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Other than Dr. Gibson in San Diego, who does the most Watchman procedures? I would like to see a list of at least five doctors, identifying how many procedures per month they have averaged over the last two years. Thanks in advance for any info that anyone can share.by tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had two ablations by Dr. Natale in 2013. Since the second one, I remain in NSR, but my LAA was zapped so much during the last ablation, that it is basically dead (no velocity etc.), so blood pools in LAA and I must stay on Warfarin or a NOAC forever, ... unless I have the Watchman implanted to close off my LAA. My insurer, Regence Blue Shield in Seattle, won't pay for the Watchman procedurby tmac52 - AFIBBERS FORUM