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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
depression post open heart surgery
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
depression post open heart surgery
by ghostrider16, Mar 19, 2001 12:00AM
i had endocarditis in october followed by a mitral valve repair in november. the surgery went well. however, since the surgery, i have been depressed, not sleeping well, and beset by existential questions like what am i supposed to do, why did i make it through, etc. i had an episode of depression in 1994 and have really done well since. now i am on only 1 cardiac medication but ambien, paxil, and wellbutrin; i returned to work 7 weeks after the surgery but now am on a leave- what should i do and how can i feel better- it seems like everyone around me is uncomfortable- thanks stu
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 19, 2001 12:00AM
, Mar 19, 2001 12:00AM
I know a lot about your condition, and I can tell you it is not uncommon to have this kind of depression, and it is very important that you seek counseling about it. You can save yourself a lot of worry and cut the depression short with some help. The risk in not getting help is that it goes on too long and feeds on itself. You want to avoid that.
YOu are on medications but it doesn't sound like you are talking to anybody.I would encourage you to do that.
YOu are on medications but it doesn't sound like you are talking to anybody.I would encourage you to do that.
Member Comments (1)
by k, Mar 21, 2001 12:00AM
I am suffering the same sort of thing after removal of a tumor. There has been promising new research and results with the medication bromocriptine. Ask you doc about it or look it up on the net, it targets a certain kind of depression that the usual anti-depressants don't help. Good Luck!
