Like you I am arguing that I don't need anti coagulation unless the Afib returns. My 3 AFib episodes all happened within 6 weeks of having my knee replaced. Therefore ,I think it's safe to assume the Afib was related to anesthesia and or the stress to my heart and body in general of having total knee replacement. However, if the Afib returns even once then I am back to taking full dose of eliquos until I can get a watchman device installed and or obtain successfull ablation. My view is that if must see myself at having a different form of Afib and I must do all I can to diffuse the risk of blood clots and stroke. Even now I am taking 1/2 the recommended daily dose of eliquos.
I believe this dose reduces the chances of bleeding but also reduces the chance of having a blood clot if someone I was in Afib and did not detect it with my watch or kardia device. You can see I like to have some insurance in case I'm wrong. A doctor wrote it's much easier to resolve bleeding then it is a stroke. Almost all patients have 100%
Recovery from bleeding. Most do not have 100% from stroke. Many can die. I am guided by that information and it persisits in my thoughts.