Hello,kmj126, I doubt that comments from a total stranger will relieve your anxiety, but the "5X" stroke risk w/ AF is highly overblown, since it does not take into consideration YOUR particular history. You are scaring yourself--stop thinking that "I'm gonna have a stroke now" simply because you had 1 episode of AF. The pharmacy industry makes a constant fortune from anticoagulants, and they have convinced cardiologists to push Eliquis etc. on everyone with AF. So if your drs. say you do not need it--believe them. You know there is a bleed risk on anti-coagulants, right? If you had a history of TIA's or strokes, had high blood pressure, diabetes, other conditions that increase stroke risk, or a high CHaDS/Vasc score, your doctors would have prescribed Eliquis (or other anti-coag). A number of doctors now believe that people who have low burden, ie., who only have occasional episodes of AF such as you, do not need anticoagulation because the risk of stroke in that case is so extremely low. My own risk was less than 1%, far less than the scare-statistic of 5% which I'm sure sells lots of Eliquis. (Yes, I am one who chose not to take Eliquis for 14 years because I had only 1 episode every 3-6 months.) Try to calm yourself, take some restorative walks, breathe deeply, pet your dogs and cats, and live your life each day free of fear or pressure about this issue, because anxiety itself will bring on atrial fib episodes. If your AF burden increases in future, believe me, the drs. will be pushing Eliquis on you. I hope the best for you!