Post Operative Cognitive Dysfunction

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Have any of you experienced something similar?
indeed, I did. In the first few weeks I had problems doing some sorts of basic maths which surprised me. I didn't know anything about this condition nor had anyone at the hospital mentioned it to me or my wife. I would find things just wouldn't "crystallise" as they did before (stuff like basic multiplication tables). I found taking my drugs correctly (had already put an alarm on my phone) and I was making mistakes in the doses when administering. I solved this with a pill box

At work (so at around 2 months IIRC) I was foggy about table relationships on database systems that I was (prior to surgery) pretty familiar with. So memory was definitely effected.

I became more than a bit depressed about this and wondered if I'd be able to do my job again.

I concerned that I'd become a drag on my wife.

So yes.
 
Exactly Pellicle. It seemed to be worse after the first surgery compared to the second. I remember reading a work document and I could not comprehend a certain paragraph. It was frustrating . I had read about it or was told to expect this, but still pretty scary. Another work colleague mentioned that it takes one month for every hour under anesthesia to regain all of your prior cognitive functions. Not sure there is statistical proof but anecdotally it fit.
 
I had/have it. My metric was doing math in my head. After OHS I lost that ability. I slowly regained it, but not completely. I still have trouble with figuring tips and the total bill in my head. I also became much more emotional, e.g. crying at funerals and movies. This has also diminished over time, but I still am not the cold hearted bastard I used to be :)
 
Tom, there’s a joke in my house about getting “popcorn” salt in my eye at movies or anything emotional. I went and saw the movie The Big Fish shortly after my father passed which was right after my surgery. The move could have been written about him there were so many similarities. He passed on day 3 post surgery so I was a bit scrambled and it was tough. So anytime my tears arrive we say popcorn salt.
 
After I recovered a bit, I picked up a book to read. However, after reading a few pages, I found myself needing to go back and reread the previous ones. Watching a TV movie was also challenging as I couldn’t follow the plot. This continued on and on. It was frightening because it wasn’t like me at all. Before my surgery, I was referred to as “the filing cabinet”😀…colleagues/FRIENDS/RELATIVES often relied on me to remind them of issues, situations, or people from years past, appreciating my excellent photographic memory. All of that was gone. Although I regained some of my memory over time, it was never quite the same. It was saddening. Yet,
When I accepted my new cognitive state, I began to improve 😊, though not to the level I was at before surgery.
Don’t let this be discouraging! In my case, I was in surgery for seven hours… after my chest was closed up, they had to reopen my chest because my heart stopped. No one told me this after my surgery until I read it in the surgery report months later!
Despite everything, I’m grateful to be here, able to manage extremely well and able to serve those around me in need.
 
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I had it pretty badly. Like Eva it was particularly my memory which got worse. My memory is better, but maybe only 80% recovered, which isn't the end of the world, but I have to be diligent in keeping lists of things to do etc.
We who have suffered this a long time call this Pump Head. I had it very bad when I had replacement valve and went back to work and forgot how to do my data entry, had to relearn a lot of it. Took more notes.
 
Yep. I had it and to be honest, I still don't think I'm back to where I was before the op. Much better now, 3 years on, but had it quite bad for the first 6 months to a year after the op. Kind of a foggy brain.
 
Wow! Thank you for this post Survived03! I thought I was going loony, or age was catching up with me...also...very glad to hear it gets better. I'm 2 months post op and I "thingk" it getting better, hopefully 6 months it'll all be behind me. Great post!
 
Wow! Thank you for this post Survived03! I thought I was going loony, or age was catching up with me...also...very glad to hear it gets better. I'm 2 months post op and I "thingk" it getting better, hopefully 6 months it'll all be behind me. Great post!
Unfortunately not one doctor warned me about “pump head syndrome” before surgery. Some don’t know (e.g. GP) but others do know (my new GP and my neurologist ).
 
I literally didn't know about it until I read your post. No one warned me I might have these issues, it's not right.
I guess that's the reason forums like this exist ... not that you can avoid it, and the extent of it is directly related to time on the pump (meaning longer surgeries are more of an impact).

Best Wishes
 
Hubby definitely has some of this. He is getting frustrated forgetting words. After reading this post and then going and reading studies regarding post-operative cognitive decline, I was able to explain to him it was normal, and usually temporary.

I had a really interesting conversation super late one night with the ICU nurse about it. It was fun. ;)
 
We who have suffered this a long time call this Pump Head. I had it very bad when I had replacement valve and went back to work and forgot how to do my data entry, had to relearn a lot of it. Took more notes.

They always say memory will get better, I don't believe them anymore. I went through treatment for Hepatitis C with Ribavirin and Pegylated Interferon. One of the side effects of the Ribavirin is memory loss. I felt it hard. I have never gotten more late fees for video rentals than during that period (shortly after Netflix mail rental started, and then streaming, so haven't tested if I would get them now). I would put the DVD on the seat next to me in the car when I went out, when I got home it would still be sitting there. Ugh. My memory is definitely not what it was pre-treatment. At least the rage side effect went away....
 
My memory is definitely not what it was pre-treatment. At least the rage side effect went away....
well for sure this is a common problem for all humans as we age, but of course there is a dent placed in that curve by the effects of the surgery. A lot of posts here on that and perhaps more good news than you'd expect. However the ball is 100% in your court on this. It can improve but you do have to fight a bit for it (especially if you want to have it improve faster).

There is no silver bullet and it takes time so just be dilligent and patient.

Best Wishes
 
well for sure this is a common problem for all humans as we age, but of course there is a dent placed in that curve by the effects of the surgery. A lot of posts here on that and perhaps more good news than you'd expect. However the ball is 100% in your court on this. It can improve but you do have to fight a bit for it (especially if you want to have it improve faster).

There is no silver bullet and it takes time so just be dilligent and patient.

Best Wishes
For mine? My treatment was... ummm.... about 2003. 21 years and my memory hasn't improved. LOL
 
You mean you guys used to function without writing everything down? 🙂

My memory has always been ****. Maybe that’s why I’ve noticed zero mental changes since OHS lol. Hasn’t held me back any in life. I have systems out the wazoo to get through every day. Hit me up if you first timers need any troubleshooting .
 

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