patrizia's Journal

I read several of the comments on post surgery emotional problems. It would be very helpful to hear from professionals who deal with these problems and explain the reason for these reactions to surgery. After surgery I was more than surprised that rehab included everything but the emotional and cerebral reaction to the surgery. There doesn’t seem to be discussion of it and there should be. We suffer from fear but there is much more to it. We are bombarded with new medications, a lack of physical mobility and are under anesthetics for hours. There should be some research and discussion about how this can affect a patient and what to do about it. My brief research leads me to believe that I have to develop techniques for dispelling the feelings of isolation and a reason to go on. I love life and lived my life before surgery with a feeling of purpose and zest for a new day. Now I just wonder when I’ll be able to go through a day without an ancelary symptom. I wonder if it’s the drugs, post operative depression or I’m just going crazy. I know I’m not going crazy and have seen a psychiatrist to talk it out. But I request that a concentrated effort be made to deal with this phenomenon. It’s critical that patients be given the opportunity to anticipate that this may happen and is possible for post heart surgery patients to experience a multitude of unexpected feelings. Just knowing it is possible and not to be feared lessens the anxiety.

10 weeks out from my double valve replacement, I'm having memory problems, ocular migraines and slight depression. Can anyone talk about these things? I wonder if it's the interaction with the drugs, anesthesia post op. reaction or just recovery? HELP!

I'm eight weeks from my surgery on May 15th, 2018, at Columbia- Presbyterian Hospital. I spent one week there and 2 weeks in Kessler Institute. I had a wonderful support system thanks to two friends, also open heart patients, who guided me into the surgery and I practiced Mindful Meditation for many months before surgery. Planning this surgery for the past 5 years, I first met with Dr. Memet Oz who diagnosed my condition. Further research indicated that Dr Craig Smith, chair of the department since 1996, would be my choice for a surgeon. I was very lucky that he agreed to take my case as I had aortic stenosis moderate and severe mitral valve regurgitation, two surgeries that were predicted that would happen separately. The surgery went so well that Dr. Smith was able to do both valves in one surgery. I was told I had severe calcification. 50 lbs overweight, I was not a prime candidate for this procedure. So much went right that could have gone wrong. To date, my heart rhythm and valves sound great and I've been given a very good prognosis. No where in my imagination could I have thought that post op could be so exhausting. An active voice teacher, Due to my condition for the past five years, I had not been an avid exerciser, so moving isn't the easiest ( I also have sciatica and a torn achilles tendon for two years) but I make myself walk and am in home care rehab and will begin cardiac rehab three times a week in a week and a half. My care givers have been my community: my two daughters, granddaughter, church and book club members, students and friends. I've been so lucky to have such attentive people by my side. I must remember my dog walkers who have cared for my sweet pets for all of these weeks. I am truly blessed. All is good and I have to sit on myself as my brain is way ahead of my body that wants to sleep. Does anyone have this phenomenon? I want to do so much but my body is tired and needs to heal. That's all for now and I am happy that I did my homework, chose to go to a hospital and doctor that was not in my neighborhood but instead in NYC and well known for the procedure. Dr. Smith has done over 3000 heart procedures and did the same for Barbara Walters and Bill Clinton among others and is the best in the business and Columbia Presbyterian has a wonderful staff of professionals who give 150%. How lucky I have been. Meanwhile, I have my local cardiologist and my attending at Columbia who follow my progress.

I'm due to have my aortic valve replacement on 4/18 at Columbia Presbyterian, NYC. Dr. Craig Smith is my surgeon. Three weeks ago I had an emergency dental extraction and implant and a post surgery infection tha'st being treated. I also have a mitral valve problem that may be replaced but I won't know until the surgeon sees the condition it is in. I anticipate that I will have to put off my surgery for the second time. Has anyone out there had a dental problem before a surgery and if so what have you done about it?