My 72 year old Dad is not the same after Heart Valve replacement surgery.

[Guest]

HI

My Dad had major heart surgery almost 3 months ago, it was his second, this time a bypass and valve replacement. He had a heart bypass in the 90's also. However this time he seems to have changed since the surgery, we keep thinking he is depressed about life, but he seems to have no energy, he has lost interest in things he used to love doing and even his voice is like a whisper most of the time. We thought he was just moping about. Yesterday my mum called me (I live overseas) and explained that my dad was being weird and wouldn't talk to her, he wouldn't eat his breakfast and just wouldn't answer her questions, i thought maybe his moping has gotten worse. We were on face time and I asked to speak to him, he was lying in bed. It turns out he wasn't talking because he physically couldn't, I asked some simple questions like 1+1 and the capitals of countries (which he is super smart and knows all this trivia) and he struggled to answer and confused words. He was struggling to talk. He seemed a bit dazed and out of it. I thought it was a stroke so I told my mum to call 911 and she did and the paramedics came and they said they don't think its a stroke as he has his strength and could pass those physical tests but he just couldn't verbalize. I explained his confusion and wrong answers and they thought it may be a mini stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) or a UTI (apparently it can cause mental confusion in some). Anyway he was taken to hospital and they have done some tests and nothing comes up so far, they are thinking an infection but he wont pee and so they are waiting till the morning to check his bladder. I just find it all odd as maybe its unrelated but something has not been right since his heart surgery. Has anyone had any experience like this in recovery?

 

[tom in MO]

I was 20 years younger than your dad, so my experience isn't relevant. From what I've read, usually after 3-months and good reports from the cardiologist and surgeon, a valve replacement patient is doing OK. That was my mother-in-law's experience. My father had a bipass, and he never got really better, but wasn't worse afterwards. Your pop's problems could be related to something else.

Sorry I can't be more help.

 

[dick0236]

Have him visit with a therapist that understands "post traumatic stress disorder" (PTSD). Post surgery mental trauma is not uncommon and you don't have to be veteran of war for it to occur.

 

[Jimmyk]

Yes,
I’m a lot younger than your dad, but after AVR last year, I fell into a deep depression. Already being a sufferer from anxiety,this was totally different. Motorcycle’s were a big part of my life before surgery, but I have since lost interest.
Also, I’ve been an industrial electrician for over 30 years. I went back to work 4 months after recovering from surgery, luckily working with a group of guys who all know what I’ve been through. After about 6 months, I was laid off, a good friend told me that management saw a big change,and decided to let me go.
Before surgery, so many people were telling me how great I’d feel afterwards, but it’s been the complete opposite. My wife is the most beautiful person in the world physically and mentally, and has been getting me through this a day at a time.
I keep telling myself that it might be the different medications....hopefully something changes for the better.

Once again, I start rambling.
Has anyone told you or your dad, that expiriencing such a traumatic change to the body, could cause this? I’ve been told quite a few times.
God Bless you and your family, will say a prayer for your dad.

 

[pellicle]

Jimmy

Yes,
..., but after AVR last year, I fell into a deep depression. ...
Once again, I start rambling.

I strongly believe you need to seek proper professional help. Post Surgical Depression is a real issue, to me your expressions make this clear that you have it. I'm sure it can be dealt with as in the case of post surgical depression its often as much a chemical imbalance (hormonal).

... would you let alcohol or drugs destroy you? Don't let it destroy your life.

Best Wishes

 

[pellicle]

worth reading

https://www.healthline.com/health/depression-after-surgery#symptoms

 

[pellicle]

Jimmy

Once again, I start rambling....

you are not rambling you are sharing, and you must have felt it important to say (and it was).

When I had my 2011 surgery I was pretty bashed up by it, however I knew deep inside myself that I'd done this before, that if I put my mind to it I'd get there and that I did not want to be a bad husband to my lovely wife.

I was determined to eat every scrap on my plate in hospital, determined to go for walks even if I just wanted to die when I got home, and determined to work through the many things ... not least because I wanted to be able to again be a good husband for my wife (not just an albatross around her neck).

It takes time and it takes you being able to accept help too, but remember:

keep trying and if what you're trying isn't working, try something different. We are all different, but for me pretty much the first thing I gave up that made a big difference was belief in any god was going to help me. You seem a practical man (being an electrical specialist), turn to the practical things.

Work on your bike.

Since we're having a "virtual visit" here's what I did these last few days on my bike:

http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com/2018/07/t-max-using-my-new-sheave-holding-tool.html

Best Wishes

 

[honeybunny]

How was your dad doing up until the surgery? Was he upbeat or anxious? Did he have any signs of dementia at all? If he was at all “off”, recovery could be exacerbating these symptoms.

Also, There is a condition I’ve read about here (I forget the term) that is a result of being on a heart-lung machine. Sorry I can’t remember more but if I recall correctly, it leaves one feeling foggy/confused.

pelliclePaleowoman , can either of you elaborate on this? I thought one of you addressed this in a post.

I am 63, was 61 at the time of surgery. Recovery was not a snap for me. Some, if not all, of your dad’s symptoms may be a result of age-related recovery. It sounds like you and your mom are doing all the right things. Keep him as engaged as possible. Have his meds checked by a pharmacist; they are more familiar with drug interactions than are Physicans.

Sending positive energy to your dad.

 

[Paleowoman]

There is a condition I’ve read about here (I forget the term) that is a result of being on a heart-lung machine. Sorry I can’t remember more but if I recall correctly, it leaves one feeling foggy/confused.

pelliclePaleowoman , can either of you elaborate on this?

There’s something called ‘post perfusion syndrome' or ‘pumphead’ which has been mentioned on the forum before. Here’s something about it, though it seems that some of it can be due to other causes: https://www.everydayhealth.com/hear...ent-after-coronary-artery-bypass-surgery.aspx. The only side effect I had from the heart lung machine has been migraine auras without headache and double vision.

 

[Jimmyk]

Ahh, the Tmax.. nice bike,
Before surgery I rode a 2006 Vmax.
After it was advised to stay off of motorcycles, I decided to get a scooter, a2009 Honda Silverwing.
If I may Pellicle, are you more cautious after surgery to ride your bike? I seem to be very more cautious, to the point where I don’t ride for months at a time. Even living in a area where we can ride year round.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

pelliclePaleowoman , can either of you elaborate on this? I thought one of you addressed this in a post.

I believe Anne has it right, Postperfusion syndrome is associated with things as she mentioned and short term (perhaps years) cognitive decline. Its not commonly associated with depression, but if you follow that link I put above on surgical depression it explains a lot.

 

[pellicle]

Good morning Jimmy
a sparkling -8C overnight here (and my kitchen is still 3)

Ahh, the Tmax.. nice bike,
Before surgery I rode a 2006 Vmax.

the V-Max is perhaps the best of the "cruiser" muscle bikes in so many ways. I've ridden a few (owned by mates) but never owned one.

After it was advised to stay off of motorcycles,

Hah ... my first surgeon (whom I met yearly from 5 years old was agast at hearing (over the years) that I loved motorbikes, and would regularly chide me about this. He also did my homograft (yes, at 28yo) and when we were discussing it he said that I'd have to be prepared for short term notice when a suitable tissue donor became available. I was was carrying my jacket and helmet and said to him "with any luck it'll be someone young killed in a bike accident not some elderly patient". I never knew, but given that I got 20 years from that homograft I assume it was young. Also (if youre looking at homograft data, you'll see there are 2 types, dead tissue that's preserved in antibiotic solution and cryopreserved ones, I had the latter)


When I had my last surgery, the surgeon was a different fellow and he said "well you'll have to give up riding motorbikes now that you're on warfarin ... I said nothing but thought "yeah, right, like that's going to happen"

I hate the way that these folks instill a sense of dread as a method of getting you to be cautious. Bad strategy.

I decided to get a scooter, a2009 Honda Silverwing.

I looked at them, but I've always been a more "sporty sort of rider" ... and I had a T-Max in Japan in 2002 and loved the thing.

If I may Pellicle, are you more cautious after surgery to ride your bike? I seem to be very more cautious, to the point where I don’t ride for months at a time. Even living in a area where we can ride year round.

Short answer: No

Longer answer:
I started riding on farms at about 8, bought my first motorcrosser

at 15 a few years after my surgery (yes, I bought it, saving my mowing money income). I was always only a dirt bike rider then. After I went to Uni (1983) I decided I'd like a motorbike, so knowing that traffic was risky (I lived in Brisbane then) I went and did a rider training course which focused on road riding, including traffic awareness, braking and cornering (although I'd had plenty of experience in the last two).

I regularly (to this day) ask myself how I'd feel if I became paraplegic as a result and if I should give up ... the answer has always been no.

I spent some time back in the 90's doing volunteer training of new riders (learning cornering, emergency braking, proper use of steering, stuff like that) and asked many of those that same question ... a couple gave up within a short time (months).

In my life the only time I've been without a bike was in Finland (due to lack of money and "winter")

Here is a small gallery of some of my bikes (I've had over 20) but because of film and not having carefully stored negatives some of my bikes are missing from this list:

http://home.people.net.au/~cjeastwd/parade.htm

I still regard safety highly, but two of my mates who recently bought back into bikes (XSR700 and 900 respectively) prefer to "follow my white helmet" though the mountain twisties because they figure if they follow my line they'll be ok with the corner ... when there's high roadside grass all they see is my helmet

On the subject of helmets and brains I wrote this some time back, you may find it interesting reading

http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com/2014/06/skid-lids-aka-helmets.html

anyway, enough rambling from me ;-)

Best Wishes

 

[Jimmyk]

Those bikes are beauties,
Where I live , there are a lot of country roads, lots of other bikers riding around.
My favorite ride was in the state of North Carolina. My dad and I both went there for the first time when I was about 14.
It’s a long mountain ,winding road called tail of the dragon. It’s designed for bikers.
If you google it, you’ll see what I mean.
sure miss that place. Since going there for the first time, I must have been back 20 times or so.
We live about 9 hours away from there now. A few years ago, I had a trailer hitch installed on my car, hoping that some day I would make it back there.

 

[pellicle]

Those bikes are beauties,.

Thanks

I just went out and shot this for you



Now it's bacon and eggs and a coffee