Open heart surgery just before the corona virus lockdown. I feel emotionally drained.

[Polyjuice]

I had an open heart surgery on 25th Feb, 2020. I was on the path of recovery and ready to return to the world when we experienced the pamdemic and suddenly there was a lockdown in my country. I hadn't gone out anywhere in the month on March. I joined work in March end and exactly then the lock down started.

I haven't been able to concentrate on work. Even do anything I liked to do before. I just sit and try to do something and the whole day goes by. I'm doing regular exercise and yoga. But it's not helping me with my work.

I feel very empty. Please help.

[Shar28]

Hello Polyjuice and welcome to the forum. You’re going through a really big thing with your heart at the moment and it’s hard. Then on top of that there’s all this Coronavirus stuff. It’s absolutely normal to be mentally and emotionally up and down and all over the place when dealing with heart issues so please don’t be too hard on yourself about this.

I’d suggest talking to the BHF nurses on 0300 330 3311 during weekday office hours or asking your GP about Cardio rehab or some counselling to help you deal with this constructively.

In the meantime, please be kind and gentle with yourself, mentally and physically. All the best to you and your loved ones.

[080311]

Hello and welcome, when we go through open heart surgery I don’t think we realise what a major op we have gone through, your emotions will be all over the place, as Shar28 says talking to a BHF nurse is a good place to start, I know talking to family about how I was feeling was quite hard as they were worried about me without me making it worse. I found when I started cardio rehab things were much easier, I was with people who had gone through the same or similar experiences as I had and all those aches and pains I had they did too and it was just the body healing. Because of the virus everything is a bit harder, try to be kind to yourself take baby steps and build your stamina back up. I am 3 1/2 years down this mended heart road we are all travelling on, things do get better I am thankful every day to the wonderful medical team who gave me my life back. Remember you can always post here and one of us will respond.

Sending you best wishes stay safe Pauline

[Polyjuice in reply to 080311]

Thank you Pauline.

Your kind words gave me immense relief.

I am from India so I'm not sure how I can get support from BHF.

I'll try talking to a close one and try to figure out how to go about this.

Thank you so much for your kindness

[Fredders]

Hi, it is still very early days in terms of recovery. I’ve had two aortic valve replacements and both times it was 12 weeks before I went back to work. Initially my memory and concentration levels were awful. I could read a few pages of a book and then forget what I’d read. I gave up in the end and stuck to doing puzzles etc. It does eventually come back, but does take a while. I was told it is due to being on the heart bypass whilst having the surgery.

Try not to be hard on yourself, it will improve and you will have good and bad days, completely normal. This isolating isn’t helping, so use forums like this and join the Positive Wellbeing community too, just so you can chat to people if you’re feeling down.

All the best for your recovery, it does get better.

Wendy

[Polyjuice in reply to Fredders]

Hi Wendy,

This really helped. I have been at home for 2 months. Trying to start work but it just isn't happening.

Your experience has given me some relief and hope that it will be okay.

Could you please send the link to the Positive Wellbeing Community? It would be really helpful.

Thank you.

[Fredders in reply to Polyjuice]

Glad to help. The Positive Wellbeing Community is on this Health Unlocked site. This is the web address, but you can also do a search for it.

healthunlocked.com/positive...

All the best.

Wendy

[Chickenlou]

My fiancé had x3 bypass at the very end of Jan 2020 exactly as the corona virus hit the U.K.

He was doing so well but has been really mentally struggling since the lockdown. (Which has also negatively impacted on his physical recovery.) He had his rehab postponed indefinitely and has had zero support from the cardio dept.

Him (and you) have been through a huge ordeal and with this virus on top it’s a horrible time.

Try to look after yourself as best you can and know that your not alone in all this.

[Polyjuice in reply to Chickenlou]

Thank you. I hope he feels better. Please do let me know how he's dealing with it.