Brain Fog After a Heart Event: The Part Nobody Warned Me About
- maryrburrell
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
There’s a part of the recovery manual that’s missing. Hell, there is no recovery manual.
After my heart event, my brain changed. And I’m not talking about ‘oops, I forgot where I put my keys.’ I’m talking about a system failure. I’m talking about the lights being on, but the wires being frayed.
I’ll be in the middle of writing a blog… or sharing my lived experience… something I know in my bones… and then my mind goes blank.
📖 The word disappears.
📖 The thought disappears.
📖 The point I was about to make? Gone.
📖 The harder I try to force it back, the more it slips away. It’s like my brain locks the door and throws the key in the ocean.
The Invisible Side of Heart Recovery
We talk about the heart. We talk about meds. We talk about "getting back to normal." But we rarely talk about the brain fallout. That silence makes people feel like they’re losing their minds.
Here is the reality they don't put on the discharge papers: Your brain is a casualty of the crisis. When the heart struggles, the brain pays a physical tax. The word-loss and the blank stares aren't just "stress." They are your biology reacting to trauma.
Why Is This Happening? (The Real Science)
When your heart stops or slows down, your brain feels it instantly. It isn't "all in your head." It is in your biology.
Low Oxygen: Your brain needs 20% of your body's oxygen. If the heart slows down for even a few minutes, the brain experiences a "brownout."
Inflammation: A heart event causes swelling in the body. That inflammation can reach the brain and cause a "foggy" feeling.
ICU Delirium: If you were in the ICU or on a ventilator, the medicine and lack of sleep can cause long-term "brain glitches."
Surgery Risks: During valve or bypass surgery, tiny particles or bubbles can travel to the brain. Your brain has to work extra hard to heal from this.
What It Feels Like
It feels humiliating. It feels scary. It makes me mad because this is my story, and I shouldn’t have to fight my own brain to tell it.
There is a specific kind of grief in knowing what you want to say, then suddenly losing the words — and then the thought. That kind of loss hits deeper than people realize.
Remember These 3 Things:
Your brain is busy using all its power to heal your body.
Brain fatigue is just as real as a tired heart.
Most heart patients deal with this, but we are often too embarrassed to talk about it.
🚨 Important Safety Note: If you have sudden trouble speaking, a drooping face, arm weakness, or a severe headache—call 911 immediately. These are signs of a stroke.
Let’s Talk About It
The quiet around this part of recovery does real damage.
It turns normal healing struggles into private fear.
Your heart may be “fixed.”
But when your thoughts feel scattered or fragile, healing doesn’t feel finished.
And that kind of weight shouldn’t be carried alone.
Have you struggled with brain fog or losing words?
If you feel comfortable, you’re welcome to share in the comments. There’s no right way to say it.