Memory problems post heart valve op?

[Topjen]

Hi my mum had mitral valve replacement 15months ago and is doing well but has bad memory problems. Has anyone else experienced this or is this common? Any comments welcome. Thanks.

[road2ruin]

Hi,

Me too. I had a heart op (Aortic Valve) last year and my memory has got slightly worse. I would say I am just more forgetful, but remember most things in the end or with prompting. I have no idea if there is anything that can be done or not though, I just live with it.

Good luck

[STUBAX]

I had this following a HA 3 1, /2 years ago, things slowly improved. Think its caused by the medication.

[TimEllershaw]

Hi.

Yes, it is pretty common. Sometimes it can be the meds, or in other cases it is a side effect of being on by-pass machine for so long. Officially called postperfusion syndrome, In the US they often refer to its "pumphead".

I had mitral Valve repair 4 months ago and my memory was terrible for the first couple of months. I'm back at work now and getting better, but still not 100%. Surgeon gave the standard response of "early days", "give it time".

[13allit]

Hi. I had my mitral valve repaired in May 2018. I’ve experience memory problem on and off since then. It’s worse now when I’m tired or ill. I can get half way through sentences and then get stuck with the next word. Strangely I can visualise what I want to say but can’t get the words out. I also cant read something and listen to someone talking, which I had no problem with before. It has got better as time has gone on and people who know me now give me a bit of slack when I’m talking and suddenly stop. I’m on no heart medication so can’t even blame that! Hopefully your mum will improve even more and it’ll become a minor inconvenience.

[Curlyman83]

Same here. When I came round after being in ICU my memory was wiped. My dad asked me to name Henry VIII’s wives (we’re into our history) and I asked him “who the hell is Henry VIII? 😂

I forgot people who I’d know for several years and people I worked with, which was quite awkward when they called to ask how I was doing.

I forget what car we had and my address. I forgot we’d just had a kitchen fitted before my incident and asked my wife what else she’d bought whilst I was in hospital!

Thankfully, things are getting better. I do still have a tendency to repeat things (quite often really) but those incidents are getting rarer. Like someone ruse has said, the docs say “it just takes time” and so far, they’ve been correct.

Hope your mum is feeling better soon 👍🏼