Any changes in mood/behaviour since Heart Valve surgery?

[Gia2577]

HI 

My Dad had major heart surgery almost 3 months ago, it was his second, this time a bypass and valve replacement.  He had a heart bypass in the 90's also.  However this time he seems to have changed since the surgery, we keep thinking he is depressed about life, but he seems to have no energy, he has lost interest in things he used to love doing and even his voice is like a whisper most of the time.  His blood pressure is also always really low and they keep changing up his meds and trying to figure out how to get it sorted.  We thought he was just moping about.  Yesterday my mum called me (I live overseas) and explained that my dad was being weird and wouldn't talk to her, he wouldn't eat his breakfast and just wouldn't answer her questions, i thought maybe his moping has gotten worse.  We were on face time and I asked to speak to him, he was lying in bed.  It turns out he wasn't talking because he physically couldn't, I asked some simple questions like 1+1 and the capitals of countries (which he is super smart and knows all this trivia) and he struggled to answer and confused words.  He was struggling to talk.  He seemed a bit dazed and out of it.  I thought it was a stroke so I told my mum to call 911 and she did and the paramedics came and they said they don't think its a stroke as he has his strength and could pass those physical tests but he just couldn't verbalize.  I explained his confusion and wrong answers and they thought it may be a mini stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) or a UTI (apparently it can cause mental confusion in some).  Anyway he was taken to hospital and they have done some tests and nothing comes up so far, they are thinking an infection but he wont pee and so they are waiting till the morning to check his bladder.   I just find it all odd as maybe its unrelated but something has not been right since his heart surgery.  Has anyone had any experience like this in recovery? 

[Sassyseattle]

Well, I didnt have the issues with verbalizations and so forth, but I DEFINITELY noticed a personality change after my valve replacement surgery. My cardiologist said there was no known connection, but I went from a cheerful, energetic personality to one that seemed angry and unhappy and lethargic. I have been struggling to understand this change for the past 5 years. I have seen some small improvements, but I cant remember in the last 5 years feeling happy, and I seldom smile anymore.
I dont know the correlation  but I suspect there is a part of me that resents the lifestyle changes I had to make after surgery. I was self sufficient, independent , capable of just about anything I needed to accomplish. But not anymore and that has really deeply affected me.
I dont know if your dads abilities decreased a lot  but I would think its even more difficult for a man to see himself as less than capable.
But I have no guesses about his neurological changes, though I did have a lot of confusion for about the first year after surgery . That eventually went away.
I hope you find some answers  , you sound like an involved and concerned advocate for your dad and he is lucky to have you

[Ktucker0512]

I have had 3 open heart surgeries and my husband says I change every time, not for the good.  My husband said the cardiologist said that happens sometime.  After the first one I was so angry when I got home, I was throwing stuff and locked my husband out of the bedroom.  Lol! I don’t know what it was that made me mad, but you might be right that losing your capability affects your personality.  My immune system attacks my aorta valve every 16 months and when I get close to it I start hallucinating and lose my memory.  I feel your pain.