Home > Heart Surgery Blog > Recovery > "Anemia After Heart Surgery?" Asks Everitt

"Anemia After Heart Surgery?" Asks Everitt

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: July 16, 2025

I just received an email from Everitt, 65, about anemia after heart surgery. He writes, "Adam: I had mitral valve replacement two weeks ago. That was some experience. I'm glad to be home but I'm also concerned. I'm very pale and lethargic. By pale, I mean I'm white as Casper the Ghost. Do other patients become anemic after heart surgery?"

Normal Blood and Anemia Sample - Red and White Cells

According to the Mayo Clinic, anemia occurs when you have less than the normal number of red blood cells in your blood or when the red blood cells in your blood don't have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein. It gives the red color to your blood. Key symptoms of anemia are... tiredness and looking pale.

Everitt's question brought back memories of my early recovery from aortic valve replacement. I was 12 days post-op and I, like Everitt, was incredibly pale. During my first check-up with Dr. Rosin (my cardiologist), he quickly diagnosed me as being anemic. Dr. Rosin immediately put me on an iron-rich diet of bananas, brocolli, red meat and chopped liver.

That was good advice. My anemia after heart surgery went away in 72 hours as my natural skin color returned.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Follow 450K