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Depression after open heart surgery?

How common is depression after open heart surgery. I had OHS Jan. 3rd I'm only 39 years old and had to go with the tissue valve instead of mechanical, due to other health issues. This means I will have to face another OHS in approx. 10 years, but to be honest I just can't see myself doing this again. I feel guilty for feeling this way, but this surgery was HARD, VERY HARD. I'm wondering if this depression is from the surgery or from knowing that I will need to do it again, per my surgeon. What causes the depression anyway? Thanks for any comments, suggestions. Thanks to all of you. I guess I thought I was going to handle it better than I have. I do feel guilty, because I have a 20 year old son whom I love dearly. He says I will do it again if he has to drag me in by the hair of my head kicking and screaming the whole way. That's why I feel guilty about the way I am feeling. I do appreciate the comments I have a follow up appt. with my surgeon on Wed. I will bring up this issue with him. I am also hoping 10 years down the road it will be much less invasive. I had my aortic valve replaced. Thanks again. To Mike P: I found it interesting what you said about getting rid of friends. I actually called someone who I called my best friend for many years, and she was, but she let me down big time. Didn't show up at the hospital or call until my 4th day in CICU. I asked her where she had been, but got no answer. She is in an abusive relationship and has been for many years. She has had many chances to get out of this relationship, so when I called her up of course she blamed her husband for not being there for me, but at this point I told her it is her fault for what she is living through. I would have been there for her and she knew it, so I told her to just stay in her little world until he kills her and I'll fight to live in mine. We haven't spoken since, she never even attempted to call me back. I agree it was time to let her go; you just can't help someone who refuses to help themselves. Sorry for the rant; it just hit a spot with me.

Public Comments

1. Post-op depression after such a serious surgery is quite common. It should relieve itself after a while. The time it takes depends on the person. Current thinking is that you experience tiny little strokes in your brain that causes the depression.
2. Depression is VERY common after open heart surgery...especially in males...I worked in an intenist office for 2 years and remember him having this specific conversation with me after talking to a cardiologist. I am also in Nursing school, and we discussed briefly that cardiologists have to prepare the patient for this. I'm assuming yours did not.....you need to call the office as soon as possible and try to get in to talk to him about this, he can give you some medication to deal with this....it is more than likely situational depression and you will shortly get over this when things go back to normal...I hope this helps some..
3. VERY common..My mom, my brother and 2 of my sisters had open heart surgery...they are/were all over 40..of course..but the depression was really bad for them all..especially my Mom who is over 70..She really wanted to go back and NOT have the surgery. they all take medication now and seem to have a better grip but it was bad there for a few months..The fact of being dependent on others probably has a lot to do with it..Theyare all doing really well now though..and you will, 2 .Just please get some help with the depression. And good luck in future.
4. Yes very comon I went through it my self I'm 44 and had a tripel bypass. I got so frustrated ond night that I through just about evry thing in the kitchen I could get my hands on. Have faith my brother mabe in ten years the'l find a better way to treat heart problems. Hay it will get better.
5. This is VERY common after this type of surgery. Your body has gone through a major "insult" of very invasive surgery and anesthetic. It will get better. Ther are also support groups for this which help a lot. And sometimes patients take an antidepressant for a little while, it is nothing to feel bad about. Getting into a cardiac rehab progam really helps immensely. You will be in a tailored exercise program with others who have been through the same thing and they usually talk about diet and lifestyle changes that you can live with. As far as the surgery in the future, try not to think about thatright now. Take it one day at a time. You will change your mind about things a dozen times in the next few months/years. You are young. Think about now and building your life back up and finding things you enjoy. The depression will lift. The effects of anesthesia can stay with you for quite some time and gradually improve, this can be a cause of depression also. You have been through a lot. Take care and good health to you!!
6. First off, good job in getting through the surgery. As someone who is 35,and has had major surgery(gasterectomy, pancretectomy, splenectomy all emergency surgury at once) i understand what your going through. I suggest you acknowledge that you have some depression, and apprehension over your future. That's normal, i would be more worried if you didn't care. Your worring about something 10 years from now, but it seems that your really thinking about how crappy your life has been right now, and therefore self pity is coming up in the form of future worry. Thats normal, and its okay. Your going to have up and down days mentally, you will survive. My suggestions are simple: exercise helped me tremendously, even if i could only do five minutes of walking. It brought back my strength, my resolve, and the endorphins released helped me fight off the depression. It also made me hungrier, thus i ate more, and my energy level came back faster. When my energy returned to a more normal level, i began to change my thinking, i began to think" Hey this is a battle, and I'm going to win." I know it sounds corny but this is true: Warriors go to war, and you my friend are in for another battle. In addition to the exercise i stopped talking to people that stressed me out(its not an excuse to get rid of close friends that don't agree with the way you are, i mean the people you don't have time for because they weren't there for you, and probably won't be.) Good luck.
7. Depression is chemistry and your doctor can pull you through this with his chemistry. Discuss with him.
8. After any heart surgery,it is normal for depression to set in.Sometimes it is delayed and other times it seems to come out of no where,Your depression has a explanation but is treatable.During OHS you are switched to heart lung /machine.When on this machine,it looks after ur circulation and controls oxygen levels in blood.It is related to the heart lung maching and the depression.Please see a phycologist/family doc/or cardiac surgeon.You need to be started on an antidepressant.Not the old ones usually referred to as "benzos"(valium,ativan etc),The medications 2day are non addictive with none of the side effects as experienced by other types of "old meds"--Paxil is popular-does take 4-6 weeks to reach peak effect and doses will be altered according to how you respond.You ll feel 100% better--so see a qualified doc,start the meds. and feel like living again.The depression is caused by the surgery,Too bad no one forwarned you of this possibly happening. 3 out of 5 OHS patients develop it and feel as you do---until they seek attention and start meds.I suggest calling heart foundation as well,support groups are awesome.I wish u well :) E
9. It is quite common to have such depression after major surgeries. In fact I passed through that stage twice. One at 47 years old in 1990 and again at 58 in 2002, when I have CABG heart surgeries twice. It used to be very horrible and I used to get agitated due to healing of micro fractures occurred when opening the chest and palpitation normalization after surgery. But all should subside in 4 to 6 weeks time and you should be able to resume your normal duty with prescribed medication, etc. Patients who are depressed one month after undergoing bypass surgery are more likely to have chest pain and other cardiac problems five years after the surgery. So it is very essential you should try to get to relaxation technics and be active and cheerful. Your doctor and the hospital could have advised you in this regards. Just do not brood over the happening or the expenses etc. and spend time in the manner you like and you will be alright very soon. Best of luck.
10. Let me guess. You felt like you had been run over by a train, thrown from an airplane and a piano dropped on you all at the same time. I got depressed too. Look at the bright side. You are a proud new member of the "zipper club". Mention the depression to the cardiologist. He will give you some medication to help with it.
11. yes,YES,yes, the depression comes with the surgery, I had a valve re-placed in 06. They however do not warn you of this before so you can be treated as you recover. Don't worry so much about the re-operation as they are already trying a new way of this surgery and it should be perfected by the time you need another. It will take you about 6 months to completly recover ,, then things should level out for you. Good Luck
12. Lisa: By now you have started walking some. Do a nice gradual cardiac rehab, and you'll feel better week by week. Improving little by little you are, at 39, still capable of a very long life, and lots of different activities. The more fit you are the next time, the easier will be the recovery. Have faith in God, and yourself. And pray for that friend of yours.