Changes

Lex

New member
Gypsy, I've also cut people out of my life since my TX....
<br />
<br />However, those people "disappeared" when things got bad. I don't need friends like that. It was a big wake up call for me to really see who really cares.
 

fahrjr

New member
Lex has it right, those who stepped up and those who ran will always be remembered by me. I may still be cordial, but will never be friends again.
 

fahrjr

New member
Lex has it right, those who stepped up and those who ran will always be remembered by me. I may still be cordial, but will never be friends again.
 

fahrjr

New member
Lex has it right, those who stepped up and those who ran will always be remembered by me. I may still be cordial, but will never be friends again.
 

jfarel

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Lex</b></i>

Gypsy, I've also cut people out of my life since my TX....



However, those people "disappeared" when things got bad. I don't need friends like that. It was a big wake up call for me to really see who really cares.</end quote></div>

"A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity." You are right, true friends will always stick with you. They helped me a lot during the tough days post transplant.

Like some of you I did have some personality changes, (more mood swings than anything) most early on, during the first few weeks, mainly due to all the meds and high steroids. I had a lot of anxiety and was constantly worried that things weren't going as well as they actually were. During the hospital portion, the first twelve days or so, I was put on a low dose of klonopin .5 mg twice a day. I have taken it it ever since. It helps me sleep and relieves alot of the daily anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed. I probably won't take it forever but it has been a help.
 

jfarel

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Lex</b></i>

Gypsy, I've also cut people out of my life since my TX....



However, those people "disappeared" when things got bad. I don't need friends like that. It was a big wake up call for me to really see who really cares.</end quote>

"A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity." You are right, true friends will always stick with you. They helped me a lot during the tough days post transplant.

Like some of you I did have some personality changes, (more mood swings than anything) most early on, during the first few weeks, mainly due to all the meds and high steroids. I had a lot of anxiety and was constantly worried that things weren't going as well as they actually were. During the hospital portion, the first twelve days or so, I was put on a low dose of klonopin .5 mg twice a day. I have taken it it ever since. It helps me sleep and relieves alot of the daily anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed. I probably won't take it forever but it has been a help.
 

jfarel

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Lex</b></i>
<br />
<br />Gypsy, I've also cut people out of my life since my TX....
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />However, those people "disappeared" when things got bad. I don't need friends like that. It was a big wake up call for me to really see who really cares.</end quote>
<br />
<br />"A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity." You are right, true friends will always stick with you. They helped me a lot during the tough days post transplant.
<br />
<br />Like some of you I did have some personality changes, (more mood swings than anything) most early on, during the first few weeks, mainly due to all the meds and high steroids. I had a lot of anxiety and was constantly worried that things weren't going as well as they actually were. During the hospital portion, the first twelve days or so, I was put on a low dose of klonopin .5 mg twice a day. I have taken it it ever since. It helps me sleep and relieves alot of the daily anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed. I probably won't take it forever but it has been a help.
 

coltsfan715

New member
Immediately post transplant you will see some changes in a person, but that is in large part due to the medications that we take. We are very hormonal and prone to mood swings. That levels out after some time and personally for me I don't feel that I have changed a whole lot with exception of foods - I like a lot more things than I used too.

I will say this though - I was engaged when I had my transplant and we are no loner together. He says my personality changed and I was no longer the person he fell in love with, though no one agrees. For me I think it boils down to this for my personal situation. I am a very driven person, as are many of us, but as my health was failing I went into conservation mode instead of pursuing my dreams. My ex met me as my health started to decline, so he only really knew "conservation mode" me and not everything else about my drive and determination to accomplish things. Once I had my transplant and got my life and health back on track I reverted back to my old self. I have things I want to accomplish and goals that I have set for myself. I started pursuing those and we started having issues and that is when the "you aren't the same person" comments came in to play. It boils down to this - I was the same person I was just healthy. I was driven and determined and had places to go and things I wanted to accomplish, he loved me when I was more dependent on him and could focus on him. Once my health improved and I was able to focus myself again I wasn't as focused on him all the time and he didn't like that.

Basically my point is we are all essentially the same people before and after transplant, but the process of dying changes the way we function. It isn't that WE change it is just that the way we do things changes and the parts of our personality that are more prevalent change. I personally love me now, and so does everyone else in my life. My ex didn't, so he is no longer in my life. It is that simple. It is hard to make such a huge life change post transplant, and it is NOT always the case but its possible.

Other than food I also find that now I rarely let an opportunity to do something I really want to do pass me by. If something comes along I made a promise to myself shortly after my transplant that I would seize the opportunity if I could; if nothing else it will make for a great story afterward.

Lindsey
 

coltsfan715

New member
Immediately post transplant you will see some changes in a person, but that is in large part due to the medications that we take. We are very hormonal and prone to mood swings. That levels out after some time and personally for me I don't feel that I have changed a whole lot with exception of foods - I like a lot more things than I used too.

I will say this though - I was engaged when I had my transplant and we are no loner together. He says my personality changed and I was no longer the person he fell in love with, though no one agrees. For me I think it boils down to this for my personal situation. I am a very driven person, as are many of us, but as my health was failing I went into conservation mode instead of pursuing my dreams. My ex met me as my health started to decline, so he only really knew "conservation mode" me and not everything else about my drive and determination to accomplish things. Once I had my transplant and got my life and health back on track I reverted back to my old self. I have things I want to accomplish and goals that I have set for myself. I started pursuing those and we started having issues and that is when the "you aren't the same person" comments came in to play. It boils down to this - I was the same person I was just healthy. I was driven and determined and had places to go and things I wanted to accomplish, he loved me when I was more dependent on him and could focus on him. Once my health improved and I was able to focus myself again I wasn't as focused on him all the time and he didn't like that.

Basically my point is we are all essentially the same people before and after transplant, but the process of dying changes the way we function. It isn't that WE change it is just that the way we do things changes and the parts of our personality that are more prevalent change. I personally love me now, and so does everyone else in my life. My ex didn't, so he is no longer in my life. It is that simple. It is hard to make such a huge life change post transplant, and it is NOT always the case but its possible.

Other than food I also find that now I rarely let an opportunity to do something I really want to do pass me by. If something comes along I made a promise to myself shortly after my transplant that I would seize the opportunity if I could; if nothing else it will make for a great story afterward.

Lindsey
 

coltsfan715

New member
Immediately post transplant you will see some changes in a person, but that is in large part due to the medications that we take. We are very hormonal and prone to mood swings. That levels out after some time and personally for me I don't feel that I have changed a whole lot with exception of foods - I like a lot more things than I used too.
<br />
<br />I will say this though - I was engaged when I had my transplant and we are no loner together. He says my personality changed and I was no longer the person he fell in love with, though no one agrees. For me I think it boils down to this for my personal situation. I am a very driven person, as are many of us, but as my health was failing I went into conservation mode instead of pursuing my dreams. My ex met me as my health started to decline, so he only really knew "conservation mode" me and not everything else about my drive and determination to accomplish things. Once I had my transplant and got my life and health back on track I reverted back to my old self. I have things I want to accomplish and goals that I have set for myself. I started pursuing those and we started having issues and that is when the "you aren't the same person" comments came in to play. It boils down to this - I was the same person I was just healthy. I was driven and determined and had places to go and things I wanted to accomplish, he loved me when I was more dependent on him and could focus on him. Once my health improved and I was able to focus myself again I wasn't as focused on him all the time and he didn't like that.
<br />
<br />Basically my point is we are all essentially the same people before and after transplant, but the process of dying changes the way we function. It isn't that WE change it is just that the way we do things changes and the parts of our personality that are more prevalent change. I personally love me now, and so does everyone else in my life. My ex didn't, so he is no longer in my life. It is that simple. It is hard to make such a huge life change post transplant, and it is NOT always the case but its possible.
<br />
<br />Other than food I also find that now I rarely let an opportunity to do something I really want to do pass me by. If something comes along I made a promise to myself shortly after my transplant that I would seize the opportunity if I could; if nothing else it will make for a great story afterward.
<br />
<br />Lindsey
 

jfarel

New member
Very well written Lindsey. I can relate to the "conservation me" and now the driven, goal oriented person I have become. It's not that I didn't have goals pre-tx, but they were different, I was trying to SURVIVE...and that was my focus. Now I feel like there are so many options available to me and I am excited to get on with my life...where that takes me, I have yet to decide.
 

jfarel

New member
Very well written Lindsey. I can relate to the "conservation me" and now the driven, goal oriented person I have become. It's not that I didn't have goals pre-tx, but they were different, I was trying to SURVIVE...and that was my focus. Now I feel like there are so many options available to me and I am excited to get on with my life...where that takes me, I have yet to decide.
 

jfarel

New member
Very well written Lindsey. I can relate to the "conservation me" and now the driven, goal oriented person I have become. It's not that I didn't have goals pre-tx, but they were different, I was trying to SURVIVE...and that was my focus. Now I feel like there are so many options available to me and I am excited to get on with my life...where that takes me, I have yet to decide.
 

NYCLawGirl

New member
i would agree with most of what's been said above. i've changed a bit post-tx, but i think most (if not all) of it gas to do with either 1) being healthy and having energy to rediscover my personality, 2) medication, and 3) the experience of living through tx and recovery.

personally i don't really buy into the idea that my donor's personality is now reflected through me. for one thing, i don't think our personalities reside in our lungs, but more than that -- i just feel pretty strongly that i'm still me through and through. i have grown up in some ways and probably regressed in others, but when push comes to shove i have only myself to blame for all my many personality flaws <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

i like the idea that "donor bob" is with me, but so far my lungs haven't been whispering to me to go eat spicy food and ice cream. now the prednisone, on the other hand...
 

NYCLawGirl

New member
i would agree with most of what's been said above. i've changed a bit post-tx, but i think most (if not all) of it gas to do with either 1) being healthy and having energy to rediscover my personality, 2) medication, and 3) the experience of living through tx and recovery.

personally i don't really buy into the idea that my donor's personality is now reflected through me. for one thing, i don't think our personalities reside in our lungs, but more than that -- i just feel pretty strongly that i'm still me through and through. i have grown up in some ways and probably regressed in others, but when push comes to shove i have only myself to blame for all my many personality flaws <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

i like the idea that "donor bob" is with me, but so far my lungs haven't been whispering to me to go eat spicy food and ice cream. now the prednisone, on the other hand...
 

NYCLawGirl

New member
i would agree with most of what's been said above. i've changed a bit post-tx, but i think most (if not all) of it gas to do with either 1) being healthy and having energy to rediscover my personality, 2) medication, and 3) the experience of living through tx and recovery.
<br />
<br />personally i don't really buy into the idea that my donor's personality is now reflected through me. for one thing, i don't think our personalities reside in our lungs, but more than that -- i just feel pretty strongly that i'm still me through and through. i have grown up in some ways and probably regressed in others, but when push comes to shove i have only myself to blame for all my many personality flaws <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />i like the idea that "donor bob" is with me, but so far my lungs haven't been whispering to me to go eat spicy food and ice cream. now the prednisone, on the other hand...
 

jamiebug

New member
I am 3 years post transplant. . .I am still me in almost every way, however, there are a few personality things that are kinda noticeable. I don't think 'sugar coating' life post transplant is healthy. I like that these kinds of things are talked about! I have discussed some of the issues of depression, anxiety, fear, worry. . etc. I am sure it's the medication, also if you think about it. . . transplants are very traumatic! Physically AND emotionally. So really it could be a form of 'post traumatic stress syndrome'

Also our life starts over. . so we have a lot of new things to evaluate in life. Like for me I have a weird 'inner struggle' with "what now?". Feeling like I have a purpose every day <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

The positive changes in my life outweigh the negative 10 to 1. The few bad things are something I live with every day. My husband has learned to recognize when I am having a bad day & he is a very loving and patient man. . .thank goodness! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> I take a medication if I feel like I am getting to anxious, stressed or overwhelmed by life.
 
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