Posted by Tim Hawkins on November 04, 2002 at 10:09:42:
In Reply to: MAZE / DEPRESSION posted by Rodger Ellison on November 02, 2002 at 18:51:09:
I think it is great that everyone contributed something to this topic. I am certainly not an expert but did have the maze on 3/29/2002 at the CC. I was lucky and didn’t have any problems with depression that I remember. I do think that the heart lung machine could certainly cause some temporary brain chemical problems. For example in my case I noticed that at 2 or 3 weeks post maze my vision had changed. It never occurred to me that it was only temporary so I went to the eye doctor for a new prescription for glasses. I then selected new glasses to the toon of about $500. About a month later my vision changed again but this time back to my old prescription. I had just wasted $500 because of a temporary condition. I have heard mention on this board about all sorts of short-term changes after the maze. I would try to remember that it is probably just a short problem and will pass shortly. I have found for me that a walk in bright sunlight is very good medicine for depression. I use to live and fly planes in Alaska. I would get a huge rush after spending several days in overcast conditions and then climbing up above the clouds into the sunshine.
Tim