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Anesthesia and Dimentia
In 2019 (age 57) I underwent by-pass surgery for a 100% blockage in my leg (Iliac Artery). the surgeon botched the operation and I had to be re-opened. Then, I developed a blood clot in my large right toe from the second surgery, and had to have it amputated. Since having all of this anesthesia, I have had three TIAs and am showing signs of memory issues, cognitive issues, and information processing issues. Is this related to a high amount, in a short period of time, anesthesia?
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Sorry to hear what you are going through. My husband at 71 had hip surgery and had cognitive issues for months afterwards. I only found out through several google searches that this was a common side effect in the elderly. However, you are younger and hopefully will recover sooner...good luck !
I underwent a simple surgical procedure to repair an incarcerated umbilical hernia in July of 1999. I was slow to regain consciousness in the recovery room, and after being taken home semiconscious, remained in a lanquid stupor for three weeks. I was getting up midday, sitting at the breakfast room table for four hours, wondering what in God's name was happening to me. It was as if my engine had been separated from its transmission. Doctors at the medical school where I had done research years earlier diagnosed my condition 'major clinical depression '. After 15 years of failed treatment with numerous different antidepressants and multiple combinations of antidepressants, including three weeks of hospitalization at Lakeside Behavorial Hospital in Memphis (a wonderful psychiatric hospital), I began seeing a new psychiatrist who had been educated , trained and practiced medicine in Europe for a number of years.She began slowly taking me off 90% of my medications and within a year, I began to slowly recover from the living nightmare of major depression.
Looking back on the horrible experience, there is no doubt in my mind that what triggered the depression was the anesthesia used to put me to sleep for the above mentioned operation. Other members of my maternal ancestors had problems recovering from surgeries, and one maternal uncle died after remaining in a coma for three months following a surgical procedure for biopsing a peasized nodule in his lung. When the pathology report returned, the lung node was reported to be benign.
Life goes on and fortunately anesthesiologists use totally different drugs today that have far fewer side effects. I hope sharing this experience helps validate what some of you may think about bad experiences with anesthesia following surgical procedures.