Know the rock and the hard place well. The question is so reasonable. If this afib was directly due to electroyte depletion, and you were electrocardioverted to normal sinus rhythm, I can see a short-term (4 months?), treatment with an anticoagulent because of the possibility of the conversion itself setting up a scenario for an embolism.
What we're struggling with here is not dissimilar. Excruciating and fluctuating mid back pain, sent 44 year old female to the emergency department. All tests normal. ECG done at the time was normal. She was given iv morphine for the pain. No diagnosis. Sent home. On the way home, she vomited. Vomited more after getting home - 3 or 4 times. Fell asleep for an hour and half. Awoke, vomited. Was in high tachycardia - 203 bpm, and heart rhythm was beyond description. Back to the emergency room.
ECG showed afib. Blood tests were again normal. CT scan normal. IV diltiazem attempted for chemical cardioversion. It didn't work, so she received electro cardioversion which put her in sinus rhythm. Monitored for an hour after the procedure and sent home. Told to take 81 mg of aspirin a day.
A holter monitorwas worn for one week, showing PVCs only. Then, 5 days later, a cardiologist started Eliquis, 100 mg 2x per day because she had had the electrocardioversion. Told to take it for 30 days then stop it, and resume 81 mg aspirin 2x a day for life. An echocardiogram showed a never-before diagnosed mild heart murmur, (mitral valve regurgitation).
Needless to say, there will be another consultation, but if, as some suggest, there is a vagal nerve issue that is solely responsible, then how long does a patient take any medication at all, whether aspirin at 81 mg x 2, or 325 mg., or something like Eliquis, or whatever.
On drugs dot com the indications for use for MULTAQ, used to control heart rhythm, are "Use: To reduce the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL), with a recent episode of AF/AFL and associated cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., age greater than 70 years, hypertension, diabetes, prior cerebrovascular accident, left atrial diameter 50 mm or more, or left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] less than 40%), who are in sinus rhythm or who will be cardioverted."
I don't think you mentioned how often you saw the cardiologist. In this case, the cardiologist prescribed the 81 mg of aspirin 2x a day and said, "I'll see you in two years." There are words here that I cannot print. So, is it just a matter of covering liability? If you get more answers - if anyone gets more, and better answers - it would be good to hear them. This is hell.