@ernie4040 both my cardiologists now agree I should not (and never should have been) anticoagulated. At this point I have gone 28 months without a problem. Knock on wood. I am not opposed to it when needed.

If an episode lasts less than 5 hours, it is less risky, I was told. And for a 7 hour episode, I had an echocardiogram to check for clots. Not fool proof but helpful. Most of my episodes are about 2-3 hours. They are dramatic with heart rate 180+ , shortness of breath, chest pain, etc.

I don't eat after 5 and if I get a certain feeling in my chest I take GasX rather than a heart med. Everyone is different. I am not at all saying the everyone should follow my path. Only that I had to think for myself a bit rather than follow the first doc's opinion (which has changed).

It seems most people with afib do need blood thinners. But remember those come with risks too , including stroke.