Advice needed! Anyone had amplatzer procedure?

[DizzyD]

Hi all I am seriously considering going private to have amplatzer procedure done to deal with AFib which is happening more frequently. Since being diagnosed with AFib over two years ago in a+e, and despite numerous admissions to a+e since then, I finally have an hospital appointment this week but I have no idea if I will be seeing a cardiologist or just a clinic nurse. Whoever I see I need to inform them that I have stopped taking apixaban because I was diagnosed (prior to apixaban use) with small vessel bleed (SVD) and due to this condition I am prone to having a intravascular brain haemorrhage dosing with apixaban.

Hence, my preferred option is amplatzer procedure which I will hopefully get done privately. Has anyone had this procedure. If so, was it a success?

Thank you have a rewarding evening.

[Angie06]

Hi Dizzy, yes I had an Amplatzer amulet device fitted about 4yrs ago due to being unable to take anticoagulants with another condition likely to cause brain bleeds. I had mine done under general anaesthetic at St Bart's on the NHS and it all went very well followed up with a TOE procedure 12wks later. Please feel free to message me for further info.

Angie

[DizzyD in reply to Angie06]

Hi Angie06 sincere thanks for your most welcome reply. At the moment I most definitely want and need to have amplatzer procedure ( going private) because AFib is occurring far too often...Got no quality of life anymore. As you know the requirement for this procedure is that the patient is unable to take anticoagulants due the possibility of bleeds elsewhere in the body due to a pre-existing health condition. Before I was diagnosed with AFib I had a private MRI scan done which concluded that I had SVD...bleeds in brain vessels. Overtime the bleeds get worse so I don't know if they have gotten worse. Perhaps they have because I been on apixaban for two years! Until recently I forgot about the MRI report but there is a copy of it some where in my GP medical records but the condition is not recorded in my GP health issues.

I am so hoping that this condition SVD puts me in the category of not being suitable to take anticoagulants, hence putting me in position whereby I am able to have Amplatzer device.

Going to see NHS cardiologist this Thursday and run things by him to see what he thinks. Let's hope he says that given my circumstances, I qualify to have device fitted. Will not be getting the procedure done by NHS anyway.

I hope all goes well on for me Thursday.

Have a rewarding day lovely. Thank you for your support. Hope still ok to message you with any questions in the future.

[Angie06 in reply to DizzyD]

Hi, I was put forward to have the Watchman device fitted but when I woke from the anaesthetic I was told I'd had an Amplatzer instead, due to it being a much better fit for me. One size definitely does not fit all as our hearts are all different sizes. All went well post op and now I can go forward with some peace of mind regarding clots, although a clot can still develop elsewhere. Hope you get on ok with the cardiologist and keep us informed if you should go ahead with the procedure. 😀

[DizzyD in reply to Angie06]

Hi Angie thank you your reply. So it's the watchman or the amplatzer due to different heart sizes....Thank goodness there is a option because I have an enlarged heart. At end of my investigation I may not be suitable for any of the devices. Peace of mind is a long way off for me but so pleased that you have hit the jackpot getting amplatzer treatment.

Have a rewarding day

[theohappy]

I had never heard of this until your post. Looked it up and it appears to be similar to the Watchman device, which is implanted here in the States. I have no idea how the two compare in terms of success or procedure. With the Watchman you have to stay on anti-coagulants for a certain length of time until the LAA closes off. So just check about all the details of the procedure. Sounds like you have a good resource with Angie06!