DnvrFox-keep posting your info-very interesting and informative.
I'm not totally clear on the stroke issue either. However, my cardiologist said that prolonged issues with Afib could potentially lead to a higher probability of strokes. Obviously you have seen enough pro's who seem to be more versed in this field so not sure why the two would be connected. It's great your still able to keep up the exercise, though.
Related story-my very good friend (also boss at the time) and I were out of town on business. We had a pretty long evening of various alcoholic beverages. My boss is a really huge guy (big frame but could stand to lose quite a few pounds) so he usually tolerates the beverages with no issues and there weren't any problems that night. The next morning I went down to his hotel room for us to make the rounds with customers that day and he was really frightened. He told me about the heart palpitations he was having in addition to feeling like he was going to pass out. I asked him a few questions related to my previous experience with Afib and it sounded to me very much like what I had experienced.
We immediately went over to the local hospital and they admitted him. They did all the tests and confirmed Afib. They started IV's to try and get the heart back in normal mode. The IV's just didn't do any good and he was really getting worried. Again, he was a really big guy so the doctors upped the dosage of the medication. After laying in bed for several hours he had to pee. Immediately after relieving himself in the container in bed he remarked--"my heart just just went back into normal rhythm" and felt relieved in more ways than one!!
We guessed that his moving his arm around may have opened the flow up and allowed the meds to get into his system. Or maybe it was just getting rid of some additional stress. We still enjoy that story......
He didn't want his wife to know that he was having problems so she would not worry so he told me NOT to call her. Needless to say when she found out she was very irritated and I think still has not totally forgiven me for not calling. Hey-he was my boss and my friend and I was just following orders!!