Had a double bypass on the 13th May. All went well and my wounds have healed really well and now discharged back into the care of my GP.
My problem is my very low mood and my anger. I'm extremely sad to the point of crying nearly every single day. Then out of the blue I become very angry at the slightest thing and I'm ashamed to say I'm upsetting my lovely daughter by my behaviour. I know this can happen to people who have had heart surgery and I try hard to control it but I'm just so bloody angry and upset all the time and I totally hate it! Haven't had heart rehab due to covid but have had telephone conversations with various people from heart rehab.
It would be lovely to hear from someone who has maybe felt the same and who could possibly help me find my way through this emotional forest! Thank you in advance for any help.
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EwaUK
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Hi, I just wanted to say hello. I'm waiting for my bypass so I'm sorry I can't help with your question , but I'm sure someone will be along to help you soon with good advice .Best wishes
Same here just wanted to say Hello & Welcome before others will give you some feedback that have been through this and will reassure you I am so glad you Bypass went so well and you are recovering , I am also waiting for a double Bypass in just over a week I keep crying already and getting angry , I think it is the shock , the fact we realise these things can happen and we have no control but before this we always thought we had and we are angry because it has as well as we have been through a heck of a lot !
Try not to be harsh on yourself I have read this is normal but settles down talk with you Daughter tell her you don't mean to be this way but it is normal after what you have been through and that she will get you back soon just the way you used to be and she will
I am sure you will get lot's more better advise as people log on x
Thank you . Have spoken with my daughter and explained and apologised and she is so gracious in her understanding but hate that I have to be this way and I know it hurts her
I know I understand , I am a Mum of three and I have been snapping at my Son who is still at home , feel so guilty afterwards but we are not doing it on purpose and it will pass , it is the shock you have gone through you are human and you should be proud what a lovely understanding Daughter you have brought up , I am sure when you settle down you will spoil her and all she will care about is that she has you x
Had my surgery nearly 5 years ago, so quite a long way down the road! A couple of things remember you have had a huge dose of anesthetiser and it takes longer than we realise for it to completely work it’s way out of our system. Secondly our brain needs to catch up with what as happened to us, going on bypass is a terrible shock to our system.
I can’t say I was angry, though it took me quite a while to get get my head round the thought that someone had my heart in their hands. It used to freak me out and I would have floods of tears. In the end I suddenly realised I had been given a wonderful gift and a second chance at my life. I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done and without it I wouldn’t be here. So every day I am very grateful to the medical team that gave me my life back.
I think sometimes we forget what we have been through, be kind to yourself I am sure you’re daughter will be understanding. Sure she would rather have you here a bit crotchety than not here at all!
You have come through now have a mended heart and the rest of your life is there for you. Don’t be hard on yourself, things will get better.
Thank you Pauline. I always read your replies to people. You are wise and kind and know what your talking about. Yes I have been given a second chance and am grateful for all I have in my life. I know it's a big thing I/we have been through and yes it is all a shock... more than I thought it would be. Thanks for taking time to read and reply 💐
Thank you for saying such lovely things, I always try and reply to the posts that I can relate to, going through surgery on our hearts is a big deal and we all have different problems to over come. Once you get all your ducks in a line you will be able to help others coming up behind and maybe having the same things to deal with as you have. That’s the beauty of the forum we all bring different things to the table.
Hello I had OHS on 6th May. I know you probably will have heard ‘it’s normal to feel this way’ but it truly is! We have been through something so massive!! And as much as family/friends try, they can never truly understand. It is not just about physical healing, it takes time mentally too.I still have tears some days! Mine was very unexpected and sometimes I sit back and think oh my gosh I can’t believe that actually happened to me! Some days I still feel scared which In turn leads me to being snappy and cross. Allow yourself to feel this way, you have been through major surgery! Maybe have a chat with your GP if you’re finding things a struggle. Or just keep chatting here. We’ll always understand 😃
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and reply. I've taken on board all the helpful advice and kind words of encouragement for everyone. Wishing you well for the future 💐
The surgeon said to me post op that I may get mood swings and feel a bit low, this is due to the anaesthetics and drugs used during the op some of which he described as fairly ‘exotic’ and that would take a time to flush completely from your body. It will pass and you can look forward to a better lifestyle after the op, so think on the new lease of life you have and the good things you will be able to do. Good Luck.
Hi Ewa,I am post Quad bypass. 6 months now and am sitting outside my local coffee shop in the sun as I type. Believe me, it gets better. You have to try and exercise as much as possible and eat well, also cut back on booze if doing so.
Thanks for the reply. I am exercise and walk as much as I am able while waiting for a hip revision . Have adopted a Mediterranean diet which I love, gave up smoking as soon as I had heart attack and very rarely drink....odd glass of red wine. I know it will get better and grateful for being given a second chance but just find it hard to cope with the crying and bad temper over nothing. Keep reminding myself that ...."this too shall pass" .
Yes I know how you feel, I had a heart attack out of the blue at the end of June and had a quintuple bypass just a week later due to a diagnosis of acute CHD. I had no warning signs, didn't smoke or drink and walked 3 miles a day to work and back . To say I was in shock was an understatement. It is now 4 weeks post op and emotionally I have very up and down. I am getter stronger physically but I of course, have the Why me moments and even resented my late Mum who had a bad heart and as my illness is genetic and I was blaming her. My 2 older brothers who live unhealthier lifestyles have both been tested and are OK. Although I am pleased for them, again the dark part of me thinks why is it just me. These feelings are perfectly natural and the flip is I survived the heart attack, they diagnosed me and fixed me. The recovery is slow but I am getting stronger every day and I do have the odd "wallowing" day but my wife is very good and snaps me out of it. You are still here, a lot don't make it. You have a second life, make the most of it, I sure intend to. These forums are magnificent as we are all in the same boat. We all have to keep rowing forwards and not look backwards. Good luck and stay strong 💪.
Thanks so much for the good advise. Feeling a lot better this morning with all the great uplifting messages. Best of luck with your recovery and yes...so happy to have made it and being given a second chance 😃
My heart journey started with a Hart Attack December 2016.
Five stents March 2017.
Angina again 8 to 10 months later.
Five bypasses March 2019, I was 65 yrs of age.
Like you, and most on this forum apparently, I’ve experienced mood swings. One minute I’ve been in tears and the next laughing.
One minute I’m being angry and grumpy and the next I’m being angry and grumpy ( no not an error in writing but the true account according to my wife😂).
It two years and four months (I think 🤔) since the op and even though the mood swings are getting less they are still with me (can’t blame the anaesthetic anymore I guess).
I still get "touchy" but the one thing I do that makes things back ok is the words "I’m sorry".
I then blame what I’ve been through and my wife says "you were like that before the operation". 😳
I mean there’s no need of that is there. Even people like me who’s perfect has feelings you know 😇
Thank you for that....I always read your replies to anyone who posts and they never fail to make me smile. Hopefully things will improve for me as time goes by...I do hope so as I feel so lost and alone at the moment
Had my bypass March 30th, had collapsed lung, pluracy, dvt so had a lot of post op breathing problems which is almost better, still have weird numb but nervy chest pain (on the outside) still waiting on 2 stents
I am a big grumpy builder, I don’t believe in mental health or depression, I am strong of body and mind, nothing phases me.
Or not! so it seems, wow what an emotional rollercoaster, I don’t even have the words to express how bad I have felt this past few months, I just feel sorry for my wife (kids are grown at 18 & 20) I feel so grumpy, angry, impatient, depressed? I guess and worst of all I feel self pity. I have no answers I’m afraid but wanted to let you know, I think you or we must be normal because I am the least crazy person on the planet and feeling kinda crazy so I think it will pass and we will forget how terrible we was for a while, our loved ones will go on loving us because they can’t help it.
I wish you all the best and thanks for helping me feel normal by posting.
Wow! No thank YOU! So glad I'm not the only one. Thank you so much for the great reply and helping me feel less alone on this journey....crying now as I write for no other reason than you understand.I wish you well on your journey and very best wishes for the future
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