Mood changes after transplant

Here is some additional information that was recently posted on the Transplant Newsfeed Blog of Mayo Clinic Connect.

- Post-Transplant Mental Health & Well-being Update with Dr. Sheila Jowsey-Gregoire
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/newsfeed-post/post-transplant-mental-health-well-being-update-with-dr-sheila-jowsey-gregoire/

If anyone is not familiar with the Transplant Blog, I encourage you to check it out.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/

Jovanna,
Your emotions / feelings and roller coaster are only natural do what you have gone through and continue through. I emphasize going through because you are and will get through it.
I found accepting the feelings and emotions were real are important then deal with it and move forward. It’s okay and focus on positive after addressing it.
I to found Faith to an important aspect to healing Body Mind and Spirit. Prior to transplant waiting in ICU I felt most vulnerable as hospital gowns tend to make one feel that way 🙂 I was thinking about all I had lost and could do nothing my life and future was in the hands of the surgeon and team. I prayed and accepted whatever came before me Faith and Trust became my action. I felt more peaceful about surgery and future. I did what I could but always fall back on I can do nothing without God.
I share with friends feeling and emotions. I eventually wrote to donor family and it took several months to mail it.
Eventually we both replied and now we have met. How do you thank someone for a loss?
It’s natural to think about survivor guilt etc but we didn’t do anything to cause their loss and they are thankful that something good came from something bad.
I would not try and deal with too much to fast but rest in the fact you are better and will only continue down that road. When negative / thoughts or feelings come address and toss them aside - do not dwell or revisit them.
I have actually tied a few thoughts to a rock and prayed about it and have to God then tossed it in a little lake. When it resurfaces or tried to I would say no -I have dealt with that and I am moving on.
Anyway,
Going on seven years post transplant liver. I can tell you it becomes and smaller pothole in the rear view mirror and their is life afterward. Look for the rainbow after the storm. The days will get better and strengthen through Faith and Trust.

Blessings and Prayers for your recovery and Journey

Ed

Hi

Thank you.
I was liver transplanted.

Nowadays I am enjoying my best times since long years ago.
I am a creator of things, so spare time is used to creativity.

Anyway, it was an amazing spiritual journey. I am searching for so many things that it is happening and recording and writing about it.

@pedroxeneta, what a great outcome. You made a conscious decision to take control, honor the gift of your new organ, and to take care of it. I really liked reading your story.

May I ask, what organ was transplanted? What activities do you enjoy doing?

I know what you are talking about. I had a psychologist as part of my transplant team to talk to. Your body and mind just went through a lot of changes. Doctor had me a script that helped. I was on it for about a year then off it. I had a support group to go to weekly with other transplant patients where we talked about our experiences. Did this for about 9 months. This helped a lot to speak directly to another person who just went through what I just did.

I recently had a Left Lung Transplant at Mayo Jax, the feelings you describe are not only what anyone would feel, but can be magnified by the medications we must take. Being self aware and recognizing these feeling is an essential part of managing them. Please reach out to your Transplant team, and use the resources that they have available. I have been an Organ Donor since my late Teens, and I have a unique perspective for this journey that has helped me manage. I have taken and passed a 1st Responder Class, and kept my CPR skills up to date, because of this I have performed life saving actions on several occasions not all were successful. This has included triaging accident scenes and directing Paramedics. Accepting that we have received a gift at someone else’s loss is difficult, but with help from your Transplant Team it can be manageable.
I hope this helps,
Sid

To all transplant recipients welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Your transplants are life changing events. It is only natural that your mood and emotions will be affected as your body adjusts to such a big change! Support from your team, family and friends is helpful. But it is especially meaningful to have this group support (Mayo Clinic Connect) from people who have experienced something similar. You are not alone.

@jovanna - Your thoughts really have spoken directly to some of the things I've been experiencing. I just had my Liver transplant in Feb 2024, and am still healing. For the most part, I am staying positive, but the little black clouds occasionally creeping in include things like guilt, for not following a "perfect" exercise and diet regimen, having limited energy, thoughts of my deceased donor (who was he or she, what was their life like?) and the fact that I have not yet written to the donor family. I guess it is easy to turn anxiety into self-criticism. I keep reminding myself to treat myself more kindly and I do have great support from my family and my transplant team. It's good to hear that you have friends that care about you, and it's probably challenging for them to know how to help - I think it's normal for those close to you to make all kinds of suggestions, and it may be the only way they feel they can be of help you (though as I've told my family, just staying in touch is enough). As transplant patients, I think our teams do their best to prepare us for life after transplant - but actually experiencing it is a different level entirely.

I am amazed about I just have read here!

I was searching for pos transplant personallity changes because I am feeling so much calmer with no anger left like I had before the transplant. Now I just think that it is a change related about the condition of the organ. Pre transplant I may felt, unconsciently, more irritated and without patience.

I had a very short waiting time (15 days) and I was not so urgent at that time.
I felt a shut of my defenses in the day of the surgery and till end of the 1st week after the transplant. There was when I made a rejection and started the treatment but I felt inside me that I need to recover my power again, don't just let go. It was kind an spritual and emotional experience.
I trylly believe that there is a part - non stated very much - about the spiritual experience of a transplant.

I didn't feel and still don't feeling any guilty about the donor. I just knew that was ran over by something.
I guess that it is enough respect his organ that now it's mine and treat that even better than my previous.
In my country they don't give you any opportunity of getting in touch with donor's family. I don't feel that I need. Obviously I am so greatful to his parent that died. I guess if I have the opportunity to contact I will do but just feel that don't need.

During the first months I was struggling a lot with social isolation (I live alone), I was very depressed, the weather was always raining, was a difficult time.
I started to make decisions and even if that doesn't bring me instant clarity, I felt that I needed to do that. That's why I describe that as much more a spiritual experience that anything else.

I end up my 10 year's relationship that was in a bad situation before transplant and got worse during the internment.
I decided to quit my two jobs and start again.
Started to care about myselft, exercicing, and so on.

Suddently, and not because something specific, I started to feel with a better mood, started to contact my friends more, exposing myself more. I feel myselft with a new life.
Since then, life is bringing me so unexplained experiences and vivencies that I can't describe, even find new love.

This is, in the end, a very good experience but I know that some people experience physical pain and a lot more issues and could be very difficult, among financial issues... This is, for sure, an life changing experience and, like every life changing experience, you hope that will be the most better one.

If occours that you experience is not being good, I just advise you to vibrate in love and don't get in a down emocional spiral. Read about others issues and try to understand yours and at least make a question:
In what this could be good for me?

Always push the bright side of things.

Peace and Love everyone! I wish you the best!

Here are a few related discussions that relate to the evolving conversations here. I invite you to to browse the short list, and to join in the conversations.

Letters to donor family:
– Writing to Your Donor's Family https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/writing-to-your-donors-family/ Did you hear back?
– Letter to donor family: I'm not sure how to start https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/letter-to-donor-family/ @edwinswife ask for assistance.

Sharing your gratitude and hope:
– Snapshots of hope: Life on the other side of transplant. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/snapshots-of-hope-life-on-the-other-side-of-transplant/
All welcome to add their snapshot of hope to this discussion:

- Organ Donation and Transplant: What is Your story?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/organ-donation-and-transplant-what-is-your-story/
Your story will provide Hope and Inspiration to current /future donors, recipients, and caregivers.

@jovanna, @myfablife, @jacqualin, @ajdo129, @stephanierp, @ssapp1, @footballmum, @ajdo129