I read several of the comments on post surgery emotional problems. It would be very helpful to hear from professionals who deal with these problems and explain ...Read more
I read several of the comments on post surgery emotional problems. It would be very helpful to hear from professionals who deal with these problems and explain the reason for these reactions to surgery. After surgery I was more than surprised that rehab included everything but the emotional and cerebral reaction to the surgery. There doesn’t seem to be discussion of it and there should be. We suffer from fear but there is much more to it. We are bombarded with new medications, a lack of physical mobility and are under anesthetics for hours. There should be some research and discussion about how this can affect a patient and what to do about it. My brief research leads me to believe that I have to develop techniques for dispelling the feelings of isolation and a reason to go on. I love life and lived my life before surgery with a feeling of purpose and zest for a new day. Now I just wonder when I’ll be able to go through a day without an ancelary symptom. I wonder if it’s the drugs, post operative depression or I’m just going crazy. I know I’m not going crazy and have seen a psychiatrist to talk it out. But I request that a concentrated effort be made to deal with this phenomenon. It’s critical that patients be given the opportunity to anticipate that this may happen and is possible for post heart surgery patients to experience a multitude of unexpected feelings. Just knowing it is possible
and not to be feared lessens the anxiety.
Civita Fahey Well said Patricia. its something I noticed also.. no-one mentions mentions the emotional part of th ... Read more
Civita Fahey Well said Patricia. its something I noticed also.. no-one mentions mentions the emotional part of the open heart surgery.
Anna Jones I've noticed it too. I've also noticed that no one mentions huge life changes like loss of employmen ... Read more
Anna Jones I've noticed it too. I've also noticed that no one mentions huge life changes like loss of employment or loss of relationships that also happen as a byproduct of the surgery. On the other hand, I'm not sure how you go about getting people to post about something they may feel is intensely private.
Susan Lynn My rehab facility offers a support group as part of their advanced Ornish program. Most people who wo ... Read more
Susan Lynn My rehab facility offers a support group as part of their advanced Ornish program. Most people who work aren't able to commit that amount of time. (4 hours 2 x week)
Kelly Stoll I've seen a few comments on it. The surgery itself can be a highly emotional journey. You are correct ... Read more
Kelly Stoll I've seen a few comments on it. The surgery itself can be a highly emotional journey. You are correct though that it is very personal. My rehab facility does look at the emotional aspects of surgery and care, as did my cardiologist, surgeon, and GP. I think it depends a bit on your care team and how much you are willing to discuss.
patrizia cioffi Thank you for all of your posts. I’m advocating myself and investigating the affects of my drugs on ... Read more
patrizia cioffi Thank you for all of your posts. I’m advocating myself and investigating the affects of my drugs on my mood and what can be removed without causing danger to my recovery.
10 weeks out from my double valve replacement, I'm having memory problems, ocular migraines and slight depression. Can anyone talk about these things? I wonder ...Read more
10 weeks out from my double valve replacement, I'm having memory problems, ocular migraines and slight depression. Can anyone talk about these things? I wonder if it's the interaction with the drugs, anesthesia post op. reaction or just recovery? HELP!
Adam Pick Hi Patrizia, here's a post with 200+ patient comments that you might like to check out. https://www.h ... Read more
I just received a very interesting email from Mandy about heart valve surgery, vertigo, headaches and vision complications after heart surgery. As you can read
https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - Find out important facts about pumphead after open heart surgery from Dr. Patrick McCarthy, cardiac surgeon at Northwes...
Rita Savelis Double valve surgery is a big deal. It's traumatic physically and emotionally. Anasthesia, memory pro ... Read more
Rita Savelis Double valve surgery is a big deal. It's traumatic physically and emotionally. Anasthesia, memory problems, drugs, recovery - can all be part of why you have the aftereffects/feelings that you do. Each patient has a different reaction but all feel some of the trauma. All reactions are "normal" and hard.
I empathise with you.
You've been through an ordeal and it's not over because there are physical and emotional repercussions that have to be lived through. Most of them temporary.
I wrote a post in my journal about depression and about some of the difficulties of recovery. Take care.
I'm eight weeks from my surgery on May 15th, 2018, at Columbia- Presbyterian Hospital. I spent one week there and 2 weeks in Kessler Institute. I had a wonderful ...Read more
I'm eight weeks from my surgery on May 15th, 2018, at Columbia- Presbyterian Hospital. I spent one week there and 2 weeks in Kessler Institute. I had a wonderful support system thanks to two friends, also open heart patients, who guided me into the surgery and I practiced Mindful Meditation for many months before surgery.
Planning this surgery for the past 5 years, I first met with Dr. Memet Oz who diagnosed my condition. Further research indicated that Dr Craig Smith, chair of the department since 1996, would be my choice for a surgeon. I was very lucky that he agreed to take my case as I had aortic stenosis moderate and severe mitral valve regurgitation, two surgeries that were predicted that would happen separately. The surgery went so well that Dr. Smith was able to do both valves in one surgery. I was told I had severe calcification. 50 lbs overweight, I was not a prime candidate for this procedure. So much went right that could have gone wrong. To date, my heart rhythm and valves sound great and I've been given a very good prognosis. No where in my imagination could I have thought that post op could be so exhausting. An active voice teacher, Due to my condition for the past five years, I had not been an avid exerciser, so moving isn't the easiest ( I also have sciatica and a torn achilles tendon for two years) but I make myself walk and am in home care rehab and will begin cardiac rehab three times a week in a week and a half.
My care givers have been my community: my two daughters, granddaughter, church and book club members, students and friends. I've been so lucky to have such attentive people by my side.
I must remember my dog walkers who have cared for my sweet pets for all of these weeks. I am truly blessed.
All is good and I have to sit on myself as my brain is way ahead of my body that wants to sleep. Does anyone have this phenomenon? I want to do so much but my body is tired and needs to heal. That's all for now and I am happy that I did my homework, chose to go to a hospital and doctor that was not in my neighborhood but instead in NYC and well known for the procedure. Dr. Smith has done over 3000 heart procedures and did the same for Barbara Walters and Bill Clinton among others and is the best in the business and Columbia Presbyterian has a wonderful staff of professionals who give 150%. How lucky I have been. Meanwhile, I have my local cardiologist and my attending at Columbia who follow my progress.
patrizia cioffi I had aortic and mitral tissue valves replacement.
Rita Savelis Exhaustion is so common after OHS. So, yes, while you want to do things, you also have to give your b ... Read more
Rita Savelis Exhaustion is so common after OHS. So, yes, while you want to do things, you also have to give your body rest and the time it needs to heal. Just doing one little thing can exhaust you for the day. Your heart has been through a lot, but since you can't see inside of your body it's harder to realise it needs time to heal and it's not back to normal yet.
Take care.
Marie Myers Rita is right. It is a big surgery, and your body needs time to heal. I went back to part time work a ... Read more
Marie Myers Rita is right. It is a big surgery, and your body needs time to heal. I went back to part time work at 8 weeks, but I loved that nap in the afternoon. Within a couple more months, I weaned myself off the naps and was feeling more energetic. I suggest keeping up with cardiac rehab, and lose the extra weight if you need to. Recovery is a process, and a lesson in patience!
patrizia cioffi Thank you Rita and Marie for your messages. It was a big surgery and it's hard to lay around. I hav ... Read more
patrizia cioffi Thank you Rita and Marie for your messages. It was a big surgery and it's hard to lay around. I have sciatica too so it's extra difficult but I try to stand up and be on my feet as much as possible. I really sleep well at night.
Not too many naps these days but when I hit the pillow, I'm exhausted.
I'm due to have my aortic valve replacement on 4/18 at Columbia Presbyterian, NYC. Dr. Craig Smith is my surgeon. Three weeks ago I had an emergency dental ...Read more
I'm due to have my aortic valve replacement on 4/18 at Columbia Presbyterian, NYC. Dr. Craig Smith is my surgeon. Three weeks ago I had an emergency dental extraction and implant and a post surgery infection tha'st being treated. I also have a mitral valve problem that may be replaced but I won't know until the surgeon sees the condition it is in. I anticipate that I will have to put off my surgery for the second time. Has anyone out there had a dental problem before a surgery and if so what have you done about it?
Phyllis Petersen I was able to put my dental work off until after surgery, since I didn't have an infection. Have you ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen I was able to put my dental work off until after surgery, since I didn't have an infection. Have you spoken to your contact at Columbia Presbyterian? I think that as long as there isn't an active infection they can operate, but each surgeon and facility has different criteria.
patrizia cioffi Thank you Phyllis for your message. I'm on antibiotics for the post op infection. Everyone is on va ... Read more
patrizia cioffi Thank you Phyllis for your message. I'm on antibiotics for the post op infection. Everyone is on vacation, surgeon and staff. Was unable to ask if I should go in for pre op testing in view of this new development. Yes, surgeon told me two weeks or more ago that I have to be clear of infection.I guess I have to go with the flow and have the surgeon guide me on this. Thank you again.
Barbara Wood I had a root canal & a bridge replaced before surgery, but about 6 months before. I'm guessing that y ... Read more
Barbara Wood I had a root canal & a bridge replaced before surgery, but about 6 months before. I'm guessing that your surgeon will want to hold off to make sure the infection is completely cleared. I had my mine rescheduled due to a cold -I had already done my pre op tests. I think that they told me the pre-op tests would be good for two months. I'd keep trying to get hold of the surgeon's office, but I'd go ahead and do the tests if I wasn't able to.
Best wishes, it's stressful to have your surgery rescheduled!
Susan Killian I had major dental surgery about 1 month ago, no infection however, just had sutures removed, my OHS ... Read more
Susan Killian I had major dental surgery about 1 month ago, no infection however, just had sutures removed, my OHS for mitral valve repair is Wednesday
Phyllis Petersen You'll be 5 weeks past the dental work, so keep up hope!
Dr. Trento is a world-renowned heart valve surgeon that has performed over 4,000 heart valve repair and replacement operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
I am from: montclair, new jersey
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