I would find out from this doc why he wants you to stop the xirelto.
Some doctors don't realize that the patient has some say about these kind of decisions.
I was advised to stay on warfarin until 6 months post-ablation, then switched to aspirin. My CHAD score is 0.
Were you started on xirelto in the hosptial?
D.

Runninghorse: Are you familiar with CHA2DS2Vasc scores for determining whether or not anticoagulation should be considered?

Look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHADS2_score
If you have certain medical conditions, had a previous stroke are

female, have reached a certain age, high blood pressure, etc. you get points. If you have 1 point, anticoagulation should be considered 2 and above definitely. Even people with a zero could have a stroke.

Skip the CHADS2 section and go down to the CHA2DS2Vasc section.

Is your doctor an EP?

petey

I would not worry as there could be good reasons your Doc did this.

As D suggests find out why doc stopped the xarelto and switched to aspirin.

You are new to afib and you need to get educated on anticoagulation. Knowledge is power - the link that Petey provides is a good start.

Once you are educated then if you don't like your doc's recommendation and reasoning for stopping the xarelto then get a second opinion.

From personal experience I can tell you that ep's will differ on their anticogulant recommendations. I went to an ep that suggested anticoagulation and went to another ep to get a second opinion and the second ep suggested no anticoagulation.

My CHA2DS2Vasc is 0.

opsyn

I guess everyone on here knows by now that I believe in anti-coags.
I was into my afib about 11/2 years, had not had an event for 3-4
months and developed 3 clots. My Doc had wanted me on blood
thinners from the beginning.

I am lucky to be alive. However you need to read all you can about
the blood thinners and ask your Doc lots of questions, some people do well on aspirin. Everyone is different.

Having had a stroke three weeks ago with a CHADS score of zero , low cholesterol, generally good health. and on aspirin, I definitely would NOT PUT OFF anti coagulants!!! I just spent 3 hours at the rehab hospital getting cleared to drive. (see my post stroke thread) Believe me, you DO NOT WANT to even look at what can happen to you as a result of a serious stroke.

Paul: I have heard too often people who have afib and CHADS of zero getting a stroke or TIA. Or finding out they had a TIA in the past. So I agree with you and others who are kind enough to share their experiences. Thinks have really changed for us baby boomers... we went from anti-war to anti-coagulation. (I was in the Navy, so don't jump on me Bill :-) ) petey

Things not Thinks

afib, stroke, ablation, cardioversion....isn't it great to be a boomer!!!

Paul so glad you were cleared to drive and put this all in the rear view

Thanks for the experience, strength and hope. Being 55 and chad score of 1. My cardio doc i saw first time today said aspirin ok because i was low risk. very confused. however, Paul's post really made me perk up and listen. Dont want any clots or strokes for sure. he also put me on Sortalol 80 mg's. This looks worrisome also. I know i have Afib, i just want to treat this and live normally.