Question
My father-in-law was a very mellow, easygoing person -- until he had bypass surgery. Now he's turned into a cranky and difficult curmudgeon. Can heart surgery change someone's personality? What's the best way to deal with this?
— Anonymous Caring.com community member
Answer
Barry M. Massie is chief of cardiology at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Susan E. Ammon is a nurse practitioner. answered:
Heart surgery -- or even receiving a diagnosis of heart disease -- can change someone's personality, pretty much like any psychological trauma. Sometimes there can be changes in the brain related to the surgery that cause personality changes, but more often it's just the shock of recognizing that you have a serious condition.
Depression may also be a factor. Depression is fairly common following heart surgery or heart attacks, when patients feel scared or helpless. Counseling or support groups may help him to come to terms with his condition.
In any case, your father-in-law should discuss his change in outlook with his physician, because it's also possible that his mood may be a side effect of one of his medications.
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