Depression and OHS

[Barb62]

Hi there,
I have not been on these forums for awhile, but everyone here has been so helpful with my questions in the past. I had AVR surgery on January 19th of this year and have been doing great. I occasionally feel as if my heart is racing and I have had a couple of episodes of ventricular fibrillation.
Lately I seem to have lost a lot of excitement for life. I feel as if I am just going through the motions everyday. I realize that depression can occur after OHS, but would it occur almost 9 months after surgery?
Has anyone else experienced this?
I am 49 years old, happily married with no children.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Barbara

 

[ski girl]

Hi Barbara!

Yes! I cried (like, bawled my eyes out) every single night from about four months to nine months post-op, then it eased and now one year and one month post-op I think I'm finally coming out of the fog.

The post-op depression is something I wish doctors would tell us more about. My take on the reason for it is that during surgery our hearts are turned off - the brain must be freaking out!! And then after a couple hours our hearts come back to life - what must the brain be thinking?? I imagine those heart-brain connections take a while to sort themselves out again, and the pace at which they do so are different for everyone.

I've actually had two AVRs, 11 months apart, and the depression for the second one was MUCH worse than anything I went through with the first.

I guess we just have to give ourselves time, and permission, to heal - physically, mentally, and emotionally. But there is no shame whatsoever in asking for help with the depression, we've been through enough so if someone can help ease this symptom, we should take advantage of it!

 

[Allisoninoz]

Hi Barb,
I wasn't clinically depressed - but I think that's only because I was already on a mild anti-anxiety before the surgery for about a year, and now, 18 months later, I'm still on it It's absolutely a tough time .. the waiting and the fear that goes along with it, the exhaustion after the surgery, the hospital time, how sore and useless we are when we get home when all we want to do is getting moving again. My surgeon told me it takes about six months to heal physically and about nine to 12 months to psychologically heal. I think that was spot on. Every now and then, it's just overwhelming to think about what your body has been through and that you could have died.
I think the absolute best thing to do is see your local/family doctor and have a good cry on him/her and say you need some help and advice. Don't be fobbed off - if you don't get answers or help, go elsewhere. You might not need medication, but you may need an action plan - exercise, meditation, regular visits with/from friends/family etc. Are you working? If not, could you do some volunteer work, maybe even with heart patients?
Hang in there

 

[Barb62]

Thank you. I am working, but I have not been working out as much as I have been. I think if this continues I will call my Doctor.
Your answers have been very helpful.

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Barb,

I also went through a periods of depression after my first AVR. I call it the "Why Me" syndrome.
Some of the lack of excitement in life can also be caused by your medications.
Are you on any type of Beta Blocker? These can take the highs out of life, as they lower your BP and also your pulse, causes you to just cruise on without the excitement. At least on my case that is. It is hard to get your pulse rate up while on this medication.

Rob

 

[ladylunte]

Hi! I developed pretty bad anxiety after my OHS in 2009. Seeing a psychologist helped more than anything in the world. Strongly suggest that!

 

[ChicagoMammy]

Hi there,
I have not been on these forums for awhile, but everyone here has been so helpful with my questions in the past. I had AVR surgery on January 19th of this year and have been doing great. I occasionally feel as if my heart is racing and I have had a couple of episodes of ventricular fibrillation.
Lately I seem to have lost a lot of excitement for life. I feel as if I am just going through the motions everyday. I realize that depression can occur after OHS, but would it occur almost 9 months after surgery?
Has anyone else experienced this?
I am 49 years old, happily married with no children.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Barbara

I would say I was slightly depressed for a couple of years on and off. Sometimes I'd bawl for no reason and other times just feel down. It's been 6 years next month since my only OHS (so far) and I've been mostly fine for a long time. Now and again I got mad about it and had the "why mes". Not so much anymore.

 

[lee1lpool]

Hi,

I had depression for 2 years after my 1st op. Pretty regularly the first year, like a feeling of doom and felt tearful and emotional. In my 2nd year it was a lot less often. After 2 years I never had it again and was great for many years.

For me it was my body heeling from a major traumatic experience.

Lee