Emotional And Behavioral Changes After Heart Surgery… For Beth & Erik http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/09/12/emotional-and-behavioral-changes-after-heart-surgery/#comment-15890 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:56:01 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/09/12/emotional-and-behavioral-changes-after-heart-surgery/#comment-15890 Bill, think this might be called "it's time to get on with MY life" syndrome. I had AVR in Feb. 09 and think my personality has change also. Many things I thought were important are not as important as they seemed and many things I put on the "back burner" for so long are now front and center. Every day I look at the big, blue sky and give thanks to be alive. When you confront your own mortality as so many OHS patients have done, I believe it does cause changes and that we will never go back to our old selves. Today when I am standing in line at the market and the lady in front of me has a really nice looking hairdo, I tell her so. When I see an attractive family playing at the park, I try to find a way to tell them how great it looks to watch them. Some people react like you are "bonkers", but the majority of them thank you with a smile on their face. I just feel kinder, gentler and more at peace with myself and where I am in this world. We have all been granted a miracle and should welcome this rebirth of ourselves. My mother died at about 56 years..had our types of surgeries been available then, she would have lived much longer. Take care and enjoy the new you....both physically and mentally. Midge Bill, think this might be called “it’s time to get on with MY life” syndrome. I had AVR in Feb. 09 and think my personality has change also. Many things I thought were important are not as important as they seemed and many things I put on the “back burner” for so long are now front and center. Every day I look at the big, blue sky and give thanks to be alive. When you confront your own mortality as so many OHS patients have done, I believe it does cause changes and that we will never go back to our old selves.

Today when I am standing in line at the market and the lady in front of me has a really nice looking hairdo, I tell her so. When I see an attractive family playing at the park, I try to find a way to tell them how great it looks to watch them. Some people react like you are “bonkers”, but the majority of them thank you with a smile on their face. I just feel kinder, gentler and more at peace with myself and where I am in this world.

We have all been granted a miracle and should welcome this rebirth of ourselves. My mother died at about 56 years..had our types of surgeries been available then, she would have lived much longer.

Take care and enjoy the new you….both physically and mentally.

Midge

]]>