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What Causes Weight Loss After An Open Heart Surgery?
Question: My 68yo husband had open heart surgery Sept 22 for aortic valve. The op was successful but he has been very slow in overall recovery. There were medication problems that we blamed his fatigue on, but fatigue has persisted from months before the operation and cotinue. I worried about depression but his weight loss has bEcole alarming. Before sugary he weighed 217 last visit at dr he was 204, but thought that since heart is better that might be fluid. Anyway today he is 194 and I am worried. He has been unbelievably sedentary and often complains of fatigue. Your thoughts
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that his weight loss could be related to surgery and the sedentary life he has done. It is true that he may have lost some fluids, but this does not explain his fatigue.
From the other hand it is necessary to evaluate his heart function and a complete check up to exclude other possible causes. That is why I would recommend performing further tests:
- a cardiac ultrasound and resting ECG to examine his heart function
- a chest X ray study
- thyroid hormone levels for possible dysfunction
- complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate for inflammation or infection
- kidney and liver function tests
- an abdominal ultrasound.
If all these tests result normal, you should consider depression related to the surgery as the possible cause of all this clinical scenario. In such case, I would recommend consulting with a psychiatrist on the possibility of starting an antidepressant, to help him be more optimistic and also stimulate him.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that his weight loss could be related to surgery and the sedentary life he has done. It is true that he may have lost some fluids, but this does not explain his fatigue.
From the other hand it is necessary to evaluate his heart function and a complete check up to exclude other possible causes. That is why I would recommend performing further tests:
- a cardiac ultrasound and resting ECG to examine his heart function
- a chest X ray study
- thyroid hormone levels for possible dysfunction
- complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate for inflammation or infection
- kidney and liver function tests
- an abdominal ultrasound.
If all these tests result normal, you should consider depression related to the surgery as the possible cause of all this clinical scenario. In such case, I would recommend consulting with a psychiatrist on the possibility of starting an antidepressant, to help him be more optimistic and also stimulate him.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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