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Personality Change of Kidney Transplant Patient

Caregivers | Last Active: Nov 21, 2023 | Replies (63)

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@lulujj777

I can completely emphasize with your situation which I certainly hope has very much improved or resolved. I'm am also at my witts end with my husband's change in personality following his kidney transplant 7 weeks ago. I have tried everything I can think of, including pastoral counsel. He continues to go into fits of rage, cursing me, putting me down and saying all our problems are my fault. I am the one who reports this to his doctors & social worker but he will not listen to their suggestions. Do you have any suggestions based on your experience? Thank you for sharing your story.

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@lulujj777
Hi, I am familiar with two cases of personality changes such as are being described here. One was in myself after receiving massive steroid infusions after diagnosis of MS in 1999. In the months subsequent to this my personality changed to a degree which I didn't notice at all but my wife noticed clearly. I became different from my normal kind caring self. At first she came to wonder whether I was having an affair (which I was not and never have) but eventually through research she found out that steroids can cause significant personality changes in a person. Mine went away after a few months. The other case was Bill, our one time next-door-neighbor who had had heart surgery and, according to Barb, his wife, an ER nurse, one or more of the heart medications he received changed him from a very sweet a wonderful gentleman into an angry, mean and abusive person. Barb was beside herself in how he treated her, even as she was caring for him while he remained sick. In a few months Bill died of his ongoing heart issues. I do think that certain medications, and steroids for sure, can cause this type of personality change. If I were you I would investigate all medications your husband is receiving, or has received (in my case it was 2 months after I'd gotten the steroids), for this possible side effect. BTW, I also just read that personality changes can also be caused by anesthesia. Best, Hank