Good explanation. I would only add that assuming the watchman device has been optimally sized to occlude ( close off / block ) the LAA , the safety and efficacy of Watchman is well established at this point for folks with atrial fib. Lots of skiers sidelined by blood thinners needed to prevent AF complications can eventually get back on snow… and shift their skiing related medical concerns from cardiology/ neurology back to orthopedics!The Watchman is not a filter but rather a "plug". People with atrial fibrillation(uncoordinated contraction of the upper chambers of the heart) can develop blood clots, predominately in the left atrial appendage, a small sack area of the left atrium. This happens because the atria do not contract properly and therefore do not empty well and the blood sits in the left atrial appendage and clots. The danger is this clot can escape and travel to the left ventricle where it is pushed into the aorta. The aorta takes blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The fear is that the clot will go to the brain, causing a stroke, but it can also create havoc by lodging in a blood vessel to the bowel or leg.
The Watchman is placed into the opening of the left atrial appendage and closes it off over time so that blood cannot pool there or clots escape. It will eventually seal it off with tissue ingrowth. One will need to stay on blood thinners for a couple of months while this ingrowth happens and then on platelet inhibitors forever.
also not enjoying this aging thing.
Did you roll over in bed or some other foolishness like standing up? I swear, it's the little things that get you.what’s up with my RT knee, I don’t recall an incident?
Oh yea, getting off the couch can be treacherousDid you roll over in bed or some other foolishness like standing up? I swear, it's the little things that get you.
I had two rounds of steroid shots and it kept on coming back and was getting worse. Procedure took about 20 min. Worst part was that I could not feel most of my hand for close to 24 hours due to local anesthetic. Pain is minimal and stitches come out in 10 days. Full recovery is about 6 weeks, though I can go back to full activity as soon as my stitches come out. Hand doc said this is a common condition that really only gets worse over time if not treated. In my case when they went in to correct my trigger finger (right middle and ring fingers) they found some cysts on the tendons that they took out as well. Looking forward to getting the stitches out so I can go mountain bikingInteresting about the trigger finger; mine seems relatively benign - same two fingers but on my left hand (I'm a righty). By simply lowering my left arm while sleeping on my left side, it completely went away ..... for now.
Encouraging news!I saw the surgeon today for my 6 month followup.
And now I'm in the same place where I've been for two months. To my surprise, the surgeon didn't jump up and down and forbid skiing. He said that the knee is ready for skiing. But...if I fall...it might be a disaster. I will see him again on December 23. So the decision is back on my shoulders.
He went from "You will never ski again" to "You may ski if you want to." My physical therapist made exactly the same leap and was not surprised that I was considering skiing again though he was completely against it when I first saw him.That's a big change and indicative of the progress I have made.
He said that the knee is ready for skiing. But...if I fall...it might be a disaster.
Are you more likely to break it when you fall? If not, is it any more risky than anyone having osteoporosis going skiing?A second revision might be very difficult, depending on the damage.
Are you more likely to break it when you fall? If not, is it any more risky than anyone having osteoporosis going skiing?
(I have osteopenia. Had a couple of broken bones that refused to heal as expected. So I'm terrified of hard falls. But for me, skiing isn't the top of the risk profile in terms of falls )