New liver, new personality/memories?

[acjb007]

I've heard of people having organ transplants and they take on some of the donors personality or memories. Also a man who took up boxing who was before a whimp yet only to find out the doner was a keen boxer. Has this or similar happened to you?

[RodeoJoe]

Mumbo jumbo!!!

I saw a film once where a man had a hand transplanted that had its own "mind". Can't remember the name of it but it was rubbish.

Any personality changes a liver transplant patient would report would be put down to the liver doing it's job, removing toxins, and the brain able to function properly.

The boxing story "if" true is just coincidence. Not many patients get to know the career's of their donors.

[Hidden in reply to RodeoJoe]

I agree with Rodeojoe. I think it raises interesting issues about who donors are and as a recipient, I often think of my donor and her family, even though I have no idea about who they are/were.

[Raksha1964]

Hi I often think of my donor, transplant last October, all know was perfect type organ & young female. Yes I do believe I have taken on some of her personalities & tastes, my family also agree as have totally changed.

[RodeoJoe in reply to Raksha1964]

Do you know what her personality and tastes were? I'd suggest that most personality and taste changes were due to being much healthier. I think your physical condition is much more likely to be the cause of these changes.

Memories and personality is in the brain not any other organ as far as I'm aware. If this isn't the case it opens up a whole can of worms about who you are now, and if you are indeed the same person as before. The ethics of transplants would then be argued. For example would you accept a transplant from a psychopath?

I know there can be some feelings of guilt after a transplant, perhaps it helps to imagine that somehow your donor also benefits and this might be the reason?

[Raksha1964 in reply to RodeoJoe]

Changes in taste, in my case, is not because feeling healthier. I was a healthy, non smoking, drinking, drug taking gym goer, so quite fit. I suffered total sudden liver failure, collapsed on the mon & in coma, diagnois & family told on Wednesday had 48 hrs, was lucky

[Hidden]

Sound's like a brain transplant to me can they do that yet?

[RodeoJoe in reply to Hidden]

I'm sure they've tried on monkeys or dogs in Russia. It's a bit frightening but I suppose if you had a brain dead body.

And anyway who would be the donor and who's the recipient?

[Hidden in reply to RodeoJoe]

could be interesting being a dog for a day!

[RodeoJoe in reply to Hidden]

Yeah, it's all right actually!

[Hidden in reply to RodeoJoe]

Cool

[pear-shaped]

Hello,

My husband was convinced his first transplant - donor was a female - as he thought he had become 'feminine' in that he would become quite emotional and also that she was a salad lover - only to discover that later on that the donor wasn't a female at all!

I think when the HE has cleared - you are given this huge breath of life - you need something to anchor your thoughts and feelings so this is a good starting point.

This time around he has been a bit more cautious on making such claims - but keeps thinking about the donor and their family.

Whatever your thoughts - here's wishing you all a wonderful life

Pear

[Hidden in reply to pear-shaped]

Hi , would you perhaps be able to message me in private re your experiences of HE and how you managed and coped. My husband suffers from HE but it is getting progressively worse and to be honest I'm struggling a bit at the moment. He is recovering from a stroke and a transplant is no longer an option. Thanks .....

[H1ghtower]

Cirrhosis can completely change the patients personality ive read. Maybe the knowledge of impending death is the reason but it was a dr at hospital who told me.

[Hidden in reply to H1ghtower]

Is it more pronounced with a 'near death experience'?

Certainly during my variceal bleed I visualised myself at an old railway station waiting with my bags packed, along with other shadowy figures. The train came and left me alone on the platform, when I came to with the paramedics.

For many months, I felt that I was in the wrong place and should've caught that train.

Regarding inheriting the donors part personality, do any of the more religious amongst us believe that the spirit or soul is contained solely in our brain, or in our entire body?

Personally, I don't know, I guess I never will. An interesting subject for debate though.

Mike

[Brummi]

An interesting subject, at my assessment a lady with a great personality gave us a chat. She said she knew her donor was a biker but she had no desire to jump on a Harley Davidson . More to the point the consultant said traits do not pass on to the recipient. Food for thought though.

[sheri44]

im not sure on this one. I keep saying my donor (he) must have hated sweet things and must have been quite fit. I used to love sweet things and wasn't really into fitness too much. That's all changed. Is it from my donor or is it that i have a new lease of life. I dunno but i do wonder. Great subject this 😁

[tillycindy]

Think we have time shifted. Interesting though, one of those questions always wanted to know but don,t like to ask. I thought they were experimenting with pig organs a few years back, (probably still are somewhere ) anyone know what happened? I know they offered a heart valve from a pig to my Aunt. she was into animal rights and refused though I imagine all ops first practised on them.

[RodeoJoe in reply to tillycindy]

Yes they are definately still doing things with pigs

bbc.co.uk/news/health-36437428

I had first hand experience of animal experimentation as I worked for the MOD at Porton Down. There are many rules and regulations in place to minimise any unecessary suffering. Animals are only used when there are no alternatives and then there are procedures to minimise any suffering. I hasten to add that I never took an active role in any of this neither did I witness it, but I was made aware of the tight regulations involved.

It is true to say that medicine would not be what it is today if it wasnt for these experiments.