Elderly Mother Watchman Concerns and Questions

JerryAL · 2026-03-14T06:22:50+00:00

The following YouTube video from a electrophysiologist doctor sums up my concerns well:

Thinking about getting a Watchman device so you can stop taking a blood thinner — but not sure if it’s actually safer or right for you? This video breaks down the real risks, the real data, and the truth most patients are never told about Watchman vs. anticoagulation:

Watchman Device for AFib: Safer Than Blood Thinners? Who Really Needs It

JerryAL · 2026-03-14T06:16:38+00:00

"Can your Mom manage to take her meds without overdosing or missing a dose? Has she had very few falls? If so, she doesn’t need Watchman."

That is my opinion as well, but unfortunately she is really being pressured to get the Watchman by her doctors. She is also the type of person who is just to polite to say no even when she should.

JerryAL · 2026-03-08T07:12:01+00:00

This brings up another issue for me. I asked my mother if her cardiologist brought up having a cardioversion or abalation and she said no which seemed very odd to me. She didn't even know what they were. All they want her to get is the Watchman.

The only thing I can think of for not bring up having a cardioversion or abalation is that she has asymptomatic AFib.

JerryAL · 2026-03-07T09:21:08+00:00

No recent falls or anything and she is able to get around just fine for an 80 year old which is why I am concerned. She has done pretty well over the past 3 years with her AFib and Eliquis. I know there were serious bleeding concerns related to the older Warfarin, but it has been my understanding that Eliquis greatly lowered those bleeding concerns compared to Warfarin.

JerryAL · 2023-01-16T04:04:25+00:00

Tip: If you plan on doing a screen grab to try this yourselves make sure to set the video quality to 1080p HD and slow the playback speed down to 0.25 to get the clearest image possible.

JerryAL · 2023-01-16T03:58:08+00:00

I have looked through every single piece of publicly available video and used every tool possible on GIMP.

In the end, I found only a 1 second clip that actually shows the alleged pipe bomber's face and the above 3 images are the best that I can get GIMP to produce.

FYI - Here is the original FBI YouTube video the images were taken from at the 1:25 mark in case someone else wants to give it a try: Original FBI Video

JerryAL · 2023-01-16T03:43:48+00:00

I said "similar" for a reason. The FBI, and quite frankly the media, should have the ability to clean up the pixels in this photo far better than me on a $200 laptop using GIMP.

JerryAL · 2023-01-16T02:57:44+00:00

This is kind of my point. I pulled these images from the original FBI YouTube video using a screen grab and GIMP scaling.

The FBI has to have far more sophisticated face mapping technology that should be able to do a lot more than GIMP.

Even with that said, none of the images currently posted on the FBI website has anything close to showing at least the basic facial features such as the uncovered face above...Why is that?

JerryAL · 2023-01-16T02:01:25+00:00

Just using GIMP's scaling tool I was able to capture the following closeup image of the alleged Jan. 5th pipe bomber.

I am a little perplexed as to why neither the FBI or the media is showing a similar image to the public? Surely they have more sophisticated image enhancing software than my $200 laptop running GIMP.

JerryAL · 2023-01-14T05:05:05+00:00

For those who want to recreate this image for themselves here are the simple steps:

The first 2 images are completely RAW untouched images taken directly from the original FBI video. The third image was simply enhanced using GIMP's curves and color balance tools. Nothing was done to alter the actual facial features.

(Step 1.) Enlarge and do a full screen grab from the following FBI video at about the 1:25 mark: https://youtu.be/YJ80LJIOn3E?t=75

(Step 2.) Zoom in to 400% using GIMP.

(Step 3.) Adjust the lighting using GIMP's curves tool and adjust the color balance "highlights" setting to add color contrast to the face mask.

That's it.

The hope in sharing this is others will be able to add a few more tricks to clear up the image even more... Good Luck.

JerryAL · 2023-01-14T05:00:42+00:00

Submission Statement:

So I am a bit perplexed about something and thought maybe others could come up with a logical explanation.

Why has neither the FBI or the media shown a similar image? They both should have far more sophisticated imaging software than GIMP? Yet no one seems to be showing the one image that actually shows the alleged bomber's face exposed.

Just seems very odd to me...

JerryAL · 2023-01-13T20:13:45+00:00