Personality changes!: Hi, just wondering... - British Liver Trust

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Personality changes!

Dawnejoy profile image
54 Replies

Hi, just wondering if anyone who has had a transplant, if they have had any personality changes or changes in their likes and dislikes since transplant.

I used to love chocolate, now can’t stand it! After my op I wanted to smoke desperately, age 55 and a total non-smoker and always had been, never smoked, ever! Until 55!

Love sweets now, strawberry pencil in particular, never ate anything like that before!

I’ve become incredibly chatty, talk to everyone, whether they want to talk to me or not, become more opinionated and dont suffer fools anymore and actually show I’m not happy, whereas before, I never said anything!

What’s that all about?!

Anyone else like me? Even a little bit? 😘

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Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy
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54 Replies
Yuiop profile image
Yuiop

My hubby got his transplant 4 weeks ago, and all of a sudden stopped taking sugar in his tea and coffee, he’s almost 63.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toYuiop

Hi, thanks for your reply 😊 I used to drink tea by the gallon, always ready for a cuppa! Now I prefer coffee or squash! It’s totally bizarre! 🤣😘

Will3 profile image
Will3

I made a good friend in Addenbrookes when we did assessment together, i’m 6 weeks ahead of him transplant wise and we speak regularly on the phone. He called me one day to ask if changes were possible after transplant, he told me has gone from being a microwave meal man to a first class cook and that he had answered all the questions on who wants to be a millionaire when before he’d get none. He was really struggling getting his head round it, he does make me laugh.

As for me, i’m kinder, more considerate and avoid all conflict, that’s probably more to do with quitting alcohol than transplant though.

Will

Isabelle2 profile image
Isabelle2 in reply toWill3

It might be the booze although I feel life’s too short to fall out about anything.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toWill3

Hi, thanks for replying 😊 it’s great to hear of others’ experiences, thank you. I’m not as weird as I thought I was 🤣😘

Isabelle2 profile image
Isabelle2

I’m like Will and am more easy going. I used to hate down escalators and need to hold on to someone when using them. Now I’m fine and don’t think I’ll fall.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toIsabelle2

Hi, thanks for your reply, it’s really bizarre isn’t it, how it changes the smallest of things! 😊😘

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak

I can't get enough tea and I never drank it before .... As for the confidence it never was a problem, but my honesty is brutal now if people like it or not I couldn't give a shit ... Life is too short and I think after everything we go through pre transplant it would be daft not to expect drastic changes but I see it as a plus 😁

I have also been more angry but I am slowly sorting that it's not a nice quality and I don't have time to waste being it x

in reply tojojokarak

Mmm tea 😋. I'm off to make a chamomile, rose and honey tea, hopefully it will help me sleep. Don't see it happening though after several naps during the day, last one being 5-7pm 😩

Wouldn't say my personality has changed, still witty and at times a little sarcastic 😏

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply tojojokarak

Hi, thanks for your reply, I too, think we go through a lot, both pre and post transplant, but I didn’t expect to have a complete aboutface over things like chocolate or coffee, that’s just weird!🤣🤣😘

Yuiop profile image
Yuiop in reply toDawnejoy

So strange you are saying this, my hubbys always liked a wee bit chocolate and one coffee in the morning. Now he wouldn’t thank anyone for chocolate and he’s drinking coffee like it’s going out of fashion. Hhhmmm

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toYuiop

Hi x if any chocolate had been left laying around, ie fridge, cupboard, it wasn’t safe at all from me and I was a tea drinker. Post op, initially if my husband even breathed chocolate on me, I would feel physically sick 🤢 I can look at chocolate now but don’t find it appealing in the least. Strawberry pencils on the other hand, may seriously become extinct because of my addiction to them! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 rarely drink tea now as much prefer coffee! Totally bizarre! Love to know more about my donor and his likes and dislikes 🤣😘

claygi profile image
claygi

I have not had a transplant yet, but have had to take a blood transfusion and felt creepy, skin crawled, and I generally felt like someone else was inside me. I know that sounds nuts, but it was real. I also got high blood pressure out of nowhere for about a month afterward and always had very low pressure. Also, I wanted to eat cheeseburgers, I was driven to do so.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toclaygi

Hi, thanks for response 😊 I’ve never felt like that over blood transfusion, so can’t comment on that, but do understand about feeling driven to do something as that’s how I felt about smoking as suddenly I was desperate to smoke and I smoked, not as a novice, but as someone who had smoked all their lives! 🤣🤣😘 now I need to quit!🤣🤣🤣🤣😘

Hi Dawnejoy,

I see you have several people who have answered you that have had transplants, so that is good.

My husband is the one with cirrhosis.

I just wanted to say I found this interesting and the answers from people also interesting.

Best wishes,

Mary

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply to

Hi Mary, I hope your husband gets the call soon if he is on the waiting list and I’m glad you found the topic and answers interesting. The reason for the question was because all bar one person experienced feeling a change, but hers was short lived, so just felt that maybe I was imaging the changes. It’s nice to know I’m not alone. 😊😘

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

I have read somewhere that human organs can store memories. Just like the brain can. I’ve not seen it happen though?

in reply toBrett11

Well my transplant failed, umm whatsyourname...

Miles or is it Giles hmmm

in reply toBrett11

Well my new liver must have been reset as I have zero new memories. Can barely recall existing ones 😅

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toBrett11

My son told me the same, but it was from some newspaper article rather than from a reliable source, but I’m sure there is truth behind the article.

I did speak to my liaison nurse, she told me that there had been evidence of ‘muscle memory’ in heart transplant patients, but that it was rare, so who knows! 😊😘

Dave5 profile image
Dave5

There's a book called 'the hands of orloc' and several film adaptations including 'Hands of a Stranger' and even a short in a Simpsons episode based on it about a man who receives a double hand transplant from a murderer and develops murderous intentions themselves as a result!

In the Simpsons episode it's a hair transplant instead that you can see here - youtu.be/LZ1A5Bi_9KE

It's all fiction of course though!!! :)

Big changes in your life are bound to have some effect on your personality and behaviour.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toDave5

Hi Dave, maybe it’s just a result of huge amounts of sedation and pain relief that just changes brain wiring somehow, who know? What I did learn from 8 days in ICU is that the brain can convince you of absolutely anything, no matter how odd they are the feelings and emotions felt and left behind once lucid again are as real as any other memory. So maybe my mind just did it all! 😊😘

Identity75 profile image
Identity75

I’ve posted previously that know seem to have a very short fuse. Things frustrate me a lot quicker than they used to, especially other people’s opinions which are nearly always (always always) wrong 😏

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak in reply toIdentity75

😂😂😂😂 snap and that's why I don't comment half as much 😂😂

in reply tojojokarak

Half as much as what jojo - you do alright on Facebook 😁😁😁

Miles

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak in reply to

Everyone on Facebook used to moi 😂 only certain people can handle honesty 😘

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply tojojokarak

True, most people asking for an 'honest' opinion don't really want the truth.

in reply tojojokarak

Ah it was only a lttle tease jojo coz I know you can take it 😁👍

Moles

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak in reply to

Tease me more 😂😘🙄

in reply tojojokarak

I’m all out of tease atm 😑

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toIdentity75

I totally get that! 🤣🤣😘

Pre transplant lived of tea, had fads where I binged on bananas, then apples

Post transplant hate tea and coffee, lost urge for any fruit, seem more less patient at strangers pushing in or just being there! Mind you love to chat to them

Hate stodgy food i.e. mash potatoes. Not really sure any more on what food is my favourite.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply to

Seems to me, that the things we really liked and would choose over other things, have had a complete 180 def change of direction 🤣🤣😘

Dawne

“I’ve become incredibly chatty, talk to everyone, whether they want to talk to me or not, become more opinionated and dont suffer fools anymore and actually show I’m not happy, whereas before, I never said anything!”

That’s me to a tee. Never spoke to anyone anywhere except at work. Now my wife want to know why I don’t shut up tallking to anyone and everyone on bus, train, hospital, doctor, consultant (glad to get rid of me), dentist (yes honestly), anywhere! Had some very very interesting conversations though and some umm rather weird ones. Ah well 😁

At least we’re here eh Dawn 😁

Miles

🇧🇧

in reply to

Spot on Miles, nothing I cannot add to that one.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply to

Hi PhiloMilo, my thoughts exactly, the changes are fine as they are know my new preferences 🤣 just think it’s totally bizarre tho and must admit to feeling happy that others are like me 😊

Incidentally my husband now calls me the ‘hello woman’ and is always asking me if I know people when I randomly speak to strangers especially when standing in a queue 🤣🤣🤣😘

in reply toDawnejoy

Hehehehe snap 😁😁😁😁

Poobear69 profile image
Poobear69

Oh yes!

1. Awful lack of grammar, I have a 2.1 in History

of Art?

2. Handwriting completely changed?

3. NEVER ever drank tea, drink it in gallons now?

4. Cannot put down books related to relating to anything to do with, wait for it, Tbe Plantagenets? Now that is really random and odd.

4. Love gardening?

It’s all quite insane!

I😊

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toPoobear69

Hi Poobear69, I know how you feel, I am fascinated by WWII History, especially the Nazis! Odd for a woman of 56, my age now 🤣🤣🤣😘

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat

I seem to have lost most of my sense of smell but maybe that's the meds. I've become a lot more emotional. I find that sad stories and sad films can bring me to tears.

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak in reply toalfredthegreat

Ooh I have the opposite my sense of smell gone through the roof and it isn't a good thing on public transport 😂😂

Poobear69 profile image
Poobear69 in reply tojojokarak

I can imagine 🤮!

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply tojojokarak

Must be difficult jojo if there are no spare seats to move to. Be a good idea to keep a perfume soaked tissue in your pocket on trips out and pretend you've got a cold, lol.

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak in reply toalfredthegreat

I wish I could but I suffer from asthma 😂😂

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply tojojokarak

Plan B jojo, fake a huge coughing fit and they will move as far as they can from you, lol.

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak in reply toalfredthegreat

I am a bit more blunt than that 😂😂

Kate50 profile image
Kate50 in reply tojojokarak

I feel your pain 🥴🤢

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply tojojokarak

Wear a surgical mask, then probably no one will sit next to you 🤣🤣😘

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toalfredthegreat

Hi, alfredthegreat, I can’t watch a thriller unless I’ve watched it before or someone has told me about it in detail, can’t stand the tension and sometimes, where there is no speech, have actually turned the sound off, as the ‘background music’ is even too much and just raises the tension and if it’s too tense, I actually have to leave the room. Used to enjoy a good thriller with a good twist in the tail. Now, it’s more likely to be family films, Disney or Pixar! 🤣🤣🤣🤣😘

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply toDawnejoy

Hi Dawnejoy. My only problem with thrillers or horrors is that if they are too scary then I might have to accompany my wife to the bathroom in the middle of the night, lol. Now Disney films................I can even well up watching them! I watched 'Marley and me' yesterday.......not easy. I used to have a ckuckle at my wife watching the weepy bits in films and pass her the tissues and tell her they are only acting, there's a camera crew there! Now I have to try and tell myself that.......and do I listen!!? I try to cover my emotions with a cough, lol.

Dawnejoy profile image
Dawnejoy in reply toalfredthegreat

I’ve always cried at everything, still do, so that’s not new for me 🤣🤣🤣😘

in reply toalfredthegreat

First couple of months following transplant, I felt everybody had a bad breath, could smell it from miles away 😷. It stopped once the steroids stopped so must have been that.

As for being emotional, nobody before or post transplant can watch Rose letting go of Jack on Titanic and not shed a tear. There was plenty of room on that door for both of them though. Jack didn't have to die 😉

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply to

And she said that she would never let go!! What did she do One minute later!!!!????? Fickle or what!!

AmericanDemocrat profile image
AmericanDemocrat in reply toalfredthegreat

Hilarious, Alf! 😂

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