Aortic Stenosis, Joined March 2, 2015
Aortic Stenosis
Joined March 2, 2015
May 21, 2015
May 3, 2015
March 10, 2015
March 6, 2015
Lynn says, "Everything went well. I am released from the ..."
Cheryl says, "T minus 10 days til go time for me - I can feel the ..."
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January 7, 2016
Asymptomatic, I reluctantly elected surgery based on increasingly ominous echocardiograms & advise of 3 cardiologists & 2 surgeons. Surgery & immediate post-surgery went fine, described as “uneventful.” My worst surgical fears were not realized: These fears included: death, life-long paralysis, months of dependence on others, waking up during surgery, waking up with the breathing tube, torturous pain, surgical complications or various other problems involving, sex, excretion or losing my sense of humor. However, I do feel like surgery, while saving my life, changed & aged me, from 69 to about 75. My incision still pinches while driving or unscrewing a cap. My hair is significantly thinner, even balding in spots. I’ve lost 20 lbs that I think is a good outcome, but my wife and children think is too much. Mostly, I’m tired and irritated. Sure, I like to read, listen to music and watch TV/Movies, but I’m unproductive - doing things is a real struggle. Even after a rare 8 hours sleep, I wake up tired until I take medications (tramadol & cannabis). While still retaining the capacity to occasionally be a nice person, I’m meaner, angrier & more annoyed than ever. Despite regular boring exercise, I’m exhausted with everyday life.
I’ve seen a $200 cardiac therapist (covered under health care), who told me I’m clinically depressed and recommends a $425/hr psychiatrist (only 20% covered) who told me that at my age “people start coming to terms with the world.” She wants me to stop taking tramadol, cannabis, and Xanax; she substitutes her prescriptions for Wellbutrin (for depression), Gabapentin (for fibromyalgia in legs) and Doxepin (for sleep). I cannot afford this doctor and her prescriptions help less than my current medications. So, I’m frustrated & wonder if this is still post-surgical blues or simply old-age depression or some other mental deterioration.
My cardiologist also acted as if what I was feeling was "outside his expertise". His treatment stopped at the body. Forget the mind or the soul...