I’ve been taking Xarelto for eight years now since being diagnosed with Afib, without any major problems (though even minor kitchen scrapes require a bandage). One thing to keep in mind is that if you’re not on a blood thinner and need a cardioversion due to an Afib episode, your doctor may do a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) first to check for blood clots in your heart, since shocking the heart with a clot inside could cause a stroke. During the TEE, you’re given medicine to make you sleepy while a small probe is passed down your throat to look at your heart. I have always wanted to avoid that procedure, and this is why I’m religious about taking my Xarelto. One recent development is that Xarelto is now available in a generic form, which should be cheaper.