11 days post-op, is anxiety common?

[MamaHen]

Hello, I am new to the forum here.
My son (24 years old) underwent mitral valve repair 11 days ago. He was on the heart lung bypass, and the surgery took about 4 hours. Post-op, he had severe pain from the drainage tubes. The one on the right had irritated the lining of his lung and caused severe pain for 5 days. Finally on the 5th day, they could remove the tubes (there was more than normal drainage so they couldnt remove them earlier). After the tubes were out, he was pain free, not even requiring tylenol. However I think the 5 days of pain that even narcotics could not touch (he would lay there and cry and be totally drugged out to the point of near overdose from so much meds), mentally challenged him.

He has been home for 5 days now. Some nights are good, others are awful. He is taking Ativan to help him sleep and to help the restless legs. Last night, he had the most intense anxiety since surgery, and I hate to see him feeling like that.

He has been in atrial flutter since day 3 post op, and is on amiodarone 200mg twice daily, propranalol 20 mg twice daily, warfarin 3.75 mg once daily, and paxil 10mg once daily. The paxil was started because he had severe post op depression and mood instability (he would cry for no reason... often.. and it really freaked him out that he was feeling so emotionally all over the place and crying at the drop of a hat). The paxil has helped with the depression, but the anxiety seems worse.

Did anyone have anxiety issues in the first few weeks post op?

Thanks so much
Darlene

 

[Guest]

Dear Darlene, I send a welcome to your son to the world of Post Op Open Heart Surgery. I'm 5 1/2 weeks post op now and still have anxiety issues. We've been thru alot, and while healing we keep wondering if what we're feeling is normal and okay. Atrial Flutter or A-Fib is normal too, but is also scary. Nighttime seems to be the worse time, when its just us and our heart. Remember the mind is a powerful thing. While I can say don't think about it, he will be. As time passes and the heart heals, the anxiety will pass too. Just be there for each other and be grateful he is alive. I know I am. Good luck and God bless you both.

 

[Mentu]

Darlene, problems with anxiety and depression are not unusual and I'm glad to hear that your son's doctor has started treatment. My doctor had me start taking an antidepressant about 6 weeks before my surgery to help moderate what I was feeling. As for crying easily, reading a sad story or watching something sad on television or listening to a moving piece of music brought me to tears at the drop of a hat, also. When you are alone it is easy to image that no one else has ever felt that way and to wonder if you are ever going to feel normal again.

Perhaps, your son might find some relief if you could suggest that he share his feelings with us here in VR. Many of us have found a lot of relief in reaching out to others who have shared the same experiences; that was certainly true for me.

Larry

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Hi Darlene and welcome to you and hopefully, your son. He's so fresh from surgery and ALL the drugs that his system will be in a turmoil for a little while. Let him cry...it's a safe release of emotion and most likely caused by the enormous amount of drugs he got in the hospital. We have young folks on here and I really hope your son joins as I know he will get comfort knowing he's not the only one..

 

[bigsidster]

YES DARLENE anxiety is real after open heart surgery.It plays differnetly with each person but it is surely lurking there in the wings.Being in Montana in the snow most likely doesn't help.I had issues just about the same post op time as your son.You feel like you are never going to shed the soreness and tiredness from this trama of OHS and it starts to over whelm you.It will pass.I was starting to feel much better after 5 weeks and the anxiety left with the other pains.Tell your son we are pulling for him.

 

[TXWildflower]

Bless his heart - so horrible to feel like that. I agree with others though that it is absolutely normal. I'm pre-surgery and very anxious too. I'm on anti-depressants, as I was irritable, lashing out at everyone and well just plain depressed. I also take an anti-anxiety medication at night to try and turn my mind off. You might ask the Dr. if anti-anxiety meds (like xanax or clonazepam) are indicated and can be taken with the Paxil. Of course he is already on so many drugs he may not want anymore and these anxiety drugs are narcotics and can be addictive, but they have helped me immensely. I'll wean myself off when the time is right.

I agree with Janie - he can post all his frustrations on this forum and many young folks around who maybe can help him realize he really isn't alone in how he is feeling.