Dean, my primary care Doctor has become a friend over the 10 years we have worked together and I have found I can trust her judgment. When I got my ticket for the roller coaster, she recommended that I begin using a mild anti-depressant both to help with the period before surgery and, especially, afterwards. She said that, frequently, there is a period of depression following surgery and that this is much more likely if one has ever had a serious depression in the past as I did after my Father's death. Since it takes a few weeks for the mild drugs to begin working at full strength, she had me start at the beginning of August. I can say that a month later my mood is lighter now and I am sleeping a little better than I was. Finally, I am trying to never forget that surgery is the good thing that is happening because it opens a path to a healthy future. None of us are eager for surgery but surgery is not the enemy. I just met an 82 year old lady that was being discharged from the hospital who looked like my grandmother. If she can smile and laugh a few days after a valve replacement, I think I can do no less.
