Depression after septal myectomy

[patkir]

I was wondering if others have experienced depression after surgery. I had a septal myectomy in mid-June. I did not experience post op depression for about six weeks after surgery. I had excellent results from my surgery so that is not a factor. I just find my concentration and memory are not what they should be and I generally feel blah. I have been put on anti-depressant meds but they have not kicked in as of yet. I thought when I got through the initial few weeks without a depressive incident that I was home free. Can anyone share their experience.

[shirleymahoney]

Re: Depression after septal myectomy

Patkir

I'm not an expert but when i had my myectomey 8 months ago, i experienced the same thing and my cardio doc said that it is common after a major surgery to have some degree of depression, but the memory loss is usually due to the heart lung machine and the confusion also is due to it, i asked the doc when that would return and he said it could take up to a year for that to improve, but it has gotten better not totally yet but better

I hope this helps

Shirley

[felixdacat]

Re: Depression after septal myectomy

I second what Shirley said. That fuzzieness from the heart/lung was very disconcerning.
I was unable to read and unable to write (and since I'm a technical writer these days, that wasn't good).
It all cleared up around 2 months out, but Shirley is correct when she says that it can take a year.

[mtlieb]

Re: Depression after septal myectomy

I'm so glad this thread was started...

My myectomy was in June, so i'm a bit over four months now... but i still have problems at school sometimes with concentrating and retaining information. When i'm reading, i often have to go over the text two or three times before it finally sinks in. I realize some of this is due to the beta blockers as well, but it has been noticeably worse since the myectomy. I'm glad i'm not the only one!

Thanks,

Jim

[patkir]

Re: Depression after septal myectomy

Thanks everybody. I really did not know what was happening. I did so well after the surgery and then the depression came on very slowly. I realized that it is common right after the surgery but I had a delayed reaction. I just have to hold on until it passes but it is frustrating when I can do so good physically but nothing cheers me up. I am normally very outgoing but it is an effort to be around people.

[Tigger1]

Re: Depression after septal myectomy

Patkir, My myectomy was in May 04. I had very little depression and that was when I was in the hospital. But the memory and concentration have gone down the toilet. I was really worried for awhile.

My recovery has been great except for my memory...


Tigger1

[sandylevitt]

Re: Depression after septal myectomy

I dont know if any of you watched the Clinton interview on Primetime
last night, but this was actually mentioned. Even though Clinton had
a different type of open heart surgery, he was still on the heart/lung
machine, he still had a cough pillow, and still had the same post opt
stuff as a myectomy in many respects. He even mentioned when the
tubes get pulled out.

At one point the issue of memory loss, depression, etc was brought
up and how it could last up to year. he mentioned talking to someone
who had the memory loss part of it for that long.

I thought the interview was pretty informative after having watched
my husband go thru this.

[Pam Alexson]

Re: Depression after septal myectomy

Yes I agree Sandy ,there were some flashes from the past hearing what Mr. Clinton had to share about depression and memory problems post open heart surgery.
I can relate , still have problems one year later. My kids still say , "What did you just say?" I am still making up words or calling things by their wrong name. Today I looked at my daughters sugar daddy and said, " oh a daddy long legs."

I wonder if some day as they learn more about everything like how there may be certain triggers to HCM and not everyone who is exposed to the same triggers developes the disease. As with some people who may have a problem or certain propensity to a memory problem may be more susceptible to memory problems post certain triggers, like anesthesia etc. I say this because also in the news today it was reported that our reaction to stress releases a hormone in the brain that impedes short term memory .

When I was involved with children who underwent traumatic situations , it was always believed that the trauma effected their nervous systems in such a way that they would develope differently had they not experienced the trauma. Makes a lot of sense as we are all very different and experience many different things in life.

Ok I am done rambling , have agood one.
Pam