NO SYMPTOMS

Hello Chrstine - paroxysmal AF can be very minor and episodic. You might not know its there. But and there is a but there is every possibility of the AF getting worse over time as mine did. Your nurse should know better, paroxysmal AF means its not present all the time so yes your pulse will be ok most of the time. An anticoagulant is necessary to stop stroke. If you manage to keep a stable INR of 2.5 youre very lucky. Mine was so difficult to keep on an even keel the GPs put me on on Dabigatran.... bliss!  I had felt as if I was on a giant eleastic band to the GPs surgery. I did resist an anticoagulant for many years when the eposides were infrequent and minor.... but what you do is all about your own perceptions of risk....

Me, I think. They first tell me I have SVT, then the drugs were not good for a year, I kept rattling. Next year they tell me I have AF, give me Amiodarone one daily.So as I have had no episodes for more than a year now I cut the Amio in half ( has worked for 4 months) and next I wil cut it into quarters and see what happens. I refused the Warfarin. I have no faith in doctors whatsoever.  Good luck.

Christine,

Like you I was diagnosed with PAF inn 2012 and immediately put on Flecainide and Warfarin.  I suffered frequent attacks for about a year but my heart seemed to 'settle down' and now I get an episode perhaps once/twice ayear - I haven't had one since Dec 2015.  My cardiologist, at a recent check-up, told me that there was no evidence of AF but don't stop taking the medication.  My INR is stable at around 2.2 and my blood is only checked every few months now!  My pulse is also stable at 65-70.

I count myself lucky that I don't experience the symptoms I see on this forum.  PAF seems a strange condition that never goes away but can be controlled by medication.  I have  asked a number of times about stopping the drugs but get the same answer each time - no-one knows what causes it and no-one knows how to cure it but the drugs seem to do the job (in my case at least!).  BTW I have also given up caffeine and only drink alcohol in moderation.

I have had 3 episodes of PAF in 2 years and have no medications at all, except carry around a pill in the pocket, being bisoprolol . I am not called for bloods, tests, have no blood thinners, nothing, which suits me! All 3 times I have had to have drugs to get me back in rhythm at hospital, but I am not checked on at all. I am told that if episodes become more frequent then I MAY have to have regular meds, but nothing yet. My episodes were 11 months and 4 months apart, none now for a further 5 months, but still I am told I have Paroximal Atrial Fibulation, so have to live with it.

hope this helps!