safety of taking 325mg aspirin for Afib

My cardiologist has me on 325mg aspirin daily for treating paroxysmal afib.  I also take flecainide and metoprolol and simvastatin 20mg.
I have started to get concerned about the aspirin dosage, after reading many articles about the dangers of taking aspirin on a regular basis, since I have had bleeding problems in the past.  My cardiologist claims that my past history has not relevance to what is happening now.
When I questioned my cardiologist about this he simply said " would you rather be taking coumadin? "  and dismissed my concerns.  I agree, that I would not want to have to take coumadin.
However I have been in normal sinus rhythm now for over a year and a half.  I question the need to be taking such a high dose of aspirin, when I am having no abnormal rhythm.

I did have a negative chemical stress test however.  He never totally explained, but said it showed some possible "minor" blockage in one lower part of my heart, after rest.  He had advised a catheterization to check what it was.  However I do not have insurance, and the cost was prohibitive. He said the catheterization was not absolutely necessary.

As I said it's been over a year and a half.  I exercise regularly.  I also take 1000mg fish oil daily as well.  My BP and cholesterol levels are within normal range except my good cholesterol is low  (27).  That went down when I started taking simvastatin on a daily basis as well, as my other levels also did.

I really would like to get a second opinion.  However no other doctors in this area, will accept patients without insurance.  This is very frustrating, and only adds to my stress levels.  I still think my initial episode of afib was stress induced.

[Jerry_NJ]

I recommend taking the aspirin and seeing if you can get along with it.  A half aspirin may be almost as good relative to clot prevention, and either is much better than Coumadin, which I take along with aspirin.  

I have failed nuclear stress tests several times.... i.e., indicating a possible blockage.  I have at least two catheterization (one specifically for the stress test problem) and have never been found to have a blockage.  Looks like in two or three years Medicare will be a big help with medical costs, it to currently has some deductibles.  And we old folks can only hope Washington DC doesn't screw things up so badly that Medicate fails.

I "read" the risk of a stroke is 5 times greater for those suffering from AFib,  and even that is no more than a few percent per year (estimate) and the risk goes up with the duration, i.e., cumulative risk.  Given you are not in permanent AFib (as am I) your AFib risk factor is much lower than mine would be if I were not taking coumadin/aspirin.