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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Depression With History Of Heart Surgery

I had a major heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in November, 2013. The surgeon replaced the mitral valve, repaired the tricuspid, plugged the hole in my heart, and did the MAZE procedure. I have been having problems with depression for the past three months. I do not want to take medication! However, I would like to regain my zest for life. Is this normal. And will the depression go away?
Fri, 2 Jan 2015
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

I understand that you must be going through a difficult time with your depression. Firstly, it is quite common for persons to develop depressive feelings following a major surgery, like a heart surgery. I'm sure this would have been a stressful time for you and it is understandable that you are feeling low.

However, it is important to tackle this problem at the earliest so that you don't slip into a severe depression. In my opinion, you would first need a detailed psychological assessment by a psychiatrist to determine the nature and severity of your problem.

After this, the appropriate course of treatment can be planned. If you don't want to take medication, then there are psychological therapies like CBT - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which can be very effective in overcoming these depressive thoughts and feelings.

So, I would suggest that you ask your doctor to arrange for referral to a psychiatrist for a detailed evaluation and further treatment. With regular treatment, the depression will go away and you will be able to regain your normal mood and zest.

Best wishes,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS, DPM, MRCPsych.(U.K.)
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Suggest Treatment For Depression With History Of Heart Surgery

Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query. I understand that you must be going through a difficult time with your depression. Firstly, it is quite common for persons to develop depressive feelings following a major surgery, like a heart surgery. I m sure this would have been a stressful time for you and it is understandable that you are feeling low. However, it is important to tackle this problem at the earliest so that you don t slip into a severe depression. In my opinion, you would first need a detailed psychological assessment by a psychiatrist to determine the nature and severity of your problem. After this, the appropriate course of treatment can be planned. If you don t want to take medication, then there are psychological therapies like CBT - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which can be very effective in overcoming these depressive thoughts and feelings. So, I would suggest that you ask your doctor to arrange for referral to a psychiatrist for a detailed evaluation and further treatment. With regular treatment, the depression will go away and you will be able to regain your normal mood and zest. Best wishes, Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS, DPM, MRCPsych.(U.K.)