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anger rages and change in personality
i am a wife and mother of three kids. i have grand mal seizures now uncontrolled and a recurant craniopharynigoma. i had a craniotomy in 06 and my tumor was found this jan and i had gamma knife this may. im having personality changes and stay stressed out all the time . i cant stand to be around alot of people as the slightest thing sets me off ! im no longer the sweet loving /good hearted women i used to be. my mother told me i was a totality different person and i feel it to. i cant handle any stress and i just go off and stay in a anger rage for hours,my hubby can look at me in the wrong way and omg i blow up,he can say the wrong thing and im mad. this has caused alot of problems in our marriage . i cuss people and imbarrase my family and i cant seem to hold the anger in. i have been dx with depression . why am i having personality changes ? i have been taking klonpin but it dont stop the anger rages. im stressing out over christmas because im worried im gona go off. my hubby dont understand and that upsets me alot. ive had 1-2 seizures a month for 7mnts now. my tumor has dead tissue around it now . my hubby says im bipolar the way my moods change. what do you think is going on and what can i do to stop these rages? please i need your help and advice.my kids deserve better
I saw five minutes of Dr Oz the other day. His program had three preventable deaths for woman. He was saying (or Dr Gee the medical examiner was saying) that one woman presented with seizures which were actually caused by blood clots in the lungs. They were saying that two causes of this are dvt and birth control pills.
I just found it of some interest. It probably doesn't apply in your situation, or even my mums.
I just found it of some interest. It probably doesn't apply in your situation, or even my mums.
I think sometimes doctors use very broad limits. For example, some doctors can view patients as not having a weight problem so long as they are not anorexic or super morbidly obese. To me, that still doesn't negate that there is a problem.
I was in icu for a week due to a reaction to medication. Afterwards I am told that I am fine.
I did ask this question of another doctor on the mental health expert forum and he said that it was emotionally damaged, not physically damaged.
I can understand that (but somewhere I still believe that no physical damage is a lie).
I guess part of the point is, that even if there is physical damage, we can't undo that. We only get to choose how we deal with it now.
Mum had pulmonary emboli too. It took her some time to get over those and sometimes, if she isn't vigilant with her exercise, she can still get quite short of breath.
Depending on how sick your mother is she may enjoy having your kids around. Since she is unable to drive you though maybe that is not an option either.
What are your husbands motives for working? Are they financial or emotional?
I personally think that it is poor when a husband can't put their wife's needs ahead of their own. I get the financial bit I really do but shouldn't your health also be his priority.
It reminds me of my sister and brother-in-law a while back. My sister had just broken her arm and had it in a sling and her three year old was sick (vomiting, diarrhea, etc), they didn't have essential food items in the house and my brother-in-law went to clean his sister's caravan in another city.
Is your husband able to cut his hours back?
Doctors thought that my mothers seizures may have been caused by a lack of oxygen.
How old are your kids? Surely they need adequate supervision. What if you become seriously unwell while taking care of them. I was pretty shaken when I first saw my mother have seizures but her consultant was there to ask if I was OK. Who's there for your kids?
Where I am they have free health shuttle buses that collect patients and take them to their appointments. It's run by the ambulance service.
A taxi could be an option but they become expensive. Unless it is covered by insurance or you can claim medical expenses. Here I can claim a disability allowance which means I can claim for doctors visits, prescriptions charges, transport, etc.
Could people just feel uncomfortable bringing it up? My cousin hung himself last year and my sister's say they just don't know what to say. It's unusual for them to be lost for words.
From that comment it sounds as though it is really important for you to talk about it. Seeing a psychotherapist could be really helpful. Although I found what I thought I needed to talk about in therapy other stuff was more important. It becomes a lot more about the emotional impact things have had on you.
I had breast cancer surgeries, coming up two years ago now, and although it affected me heaps when I went to therapy it was about other stuff. I don't think my therapist at the time helped because he just said that woman with those issues get post traumatic stress disorder. I wanted to talk about how I was feeling and what was going on for me not hear someone talk about some stupid diagnosis that I may or may not get.
I got that too but with mental health issues. If I was in hospital then people accepted that I was unwell but the moment I stepped out the door .. totally different attitude. It's almost like they're in denial of it. I wonder if your husband is just pushing you away because of his own fears. Fear of losing you, etc. Maybe he's not coping himself?
I would give anything to feel angry at the moment. Anger is way better than apathy or passivity. Anger, I think, at least motivates you. Anger shows you what you're upset about. And can also motivate you to change.
Have you tried some mindfulness meditation practice. That might help to center or ground you. Or, anything really that will help relax you. Music.
Try the neuropsychiatrist first if you can. Otherwise just a competent psychiatrist.
I would also push for therapy. It sounds like you need to talk things through.
Also, do you have access to social workers or health workers, etc who could come to you? What about occupational therapists?
Through some of the schemes here people can also have assistance with house work, etc. If that's available that could take some pressure off you.
There should be a whole heap of people out there who should be able to help you. It seems like a matter of accessing the resource that puts the others in motion.
I was in icu for a week due to a reaction to medication. Afterwards I am told that I am fine.
I did ask this question of another doctor on the mental health expert forum and he said that it was emotionally damaged, not physically damaged.
I can understand that (but somewhere I still believe that no physical damage is a lie).
I guess part of the point is, that even if there is physical damage, we can't undo that. We only get to choose how we deal with it now.
Mum had pulmonary emboli too. It took her some time to get over those and sometimes, if she isn't vigilant with her exercise, she can still get quite short of breath.
Depending on how sick your mother is she may enjoy having your kids around. Since she is unable to drive you though maybe that is not an option either.
What are your husbands motives for working? Are they financial or emotional?
I personally think that it is poor when a husband can't put their wife's needs ahead of their own. I get the financial bit I really do but shouldn't your health also be his priority.
It reminds me of my sister and brother-in-law a while back. My sister had just broken her arm and had it in a sling and her three year old was sick (vomiting, diarrhea, etc), they didn't have essential food items in the house and my brother-in-law went to clean his sister's caravan in another city.
Is your husband able to cut his hours back?
Doctors thought that my mothers seizures may have been caused by a lack of oxygen.
How old are your kids? Surely they need adequate supervision. What if you become seriously unwell while taking care of them. I was pretty shaken when I first saw my mother have seizures but her consultant was there to ask if I was OK. Who's there for your kids?
Where I am they have free health shuttle buses that collect patients and take them to their appointments. It's run by the ambulance service.
A taxi could be an option but they become expensive. Unless it is covered by insurance or you can claim medical expenses. Here I can claim a disability allowance which means I can claim for doctors visits, prescriptions charges, transport, etc.
Could people just feel uncomfortable bringing it up? My cousin hung himself last year and my sister's say they just don't know what to say. It's unusual for them to be lost for words.
From that comment it sounds as though it is really important for you to talk about it. Seeing a psychotherapist could be really helpful. Although I found what I thought I needed to talk about in therapy other stuff was more important. It becomes a lot more about the emotional impact things have had on you.
I had breast cancer surgeries, coming up two years ago now, and although it affected me heaps when I went to therapy it was about other stuff. I don't think my therapist at the time helped because he just said that woman with those issues get post traumatic stress disorder. I wanted to talk about how I was feeling and what was going on for me not hear someone talk about some stupid diagnosis that I may or may not get.
I got that too but with mental health issues. If I was in hospital then people accepted that I was unwell but the moment I stepped out the door .. totally different attitude. It's almost like they're in denial of it. I wonder if your husband is just pushing you away because of his own fears. Fear of losing you, etc. Maybe he's not coping himself?
I would give anything to feel angry at the moment. Anger is way better than apathy or passivity. Anger, I think, at least motivates you. Anger shows you what you're upset about. And can also motivate you to change.
Have you tried some mindfulness meditation practice. That might help to center or ground you. Or, anything really that will help relax you. Music.
Try the neuropsychiatrist first if you can. Otherwise just a competent psychiatrist.
I would also push for therapy. It sounds like you need to talk things through.
Also, do you have access to social workers or health workers, etc who could come to you? What about occupational therapists?
Through some of the schemes here people can also have assistance with house work, etc. If that's available that could take some pressure off you.
There should be a whole heap of people out there who should be able to help you. It seems like a matter of accessing the resource that puts the others in motion.
ithank you for your help. i do take 3000mg keppra and 600mg gabapentin daily and still having seizures. my neurosurgeon tells me i dont have any brain injury. i did ask how i couldent with the tumor and crainotomy then this tumor and gamma knife. he says i dont have any brain problem . i would have to go to lexington for any treatment and thats my problem . i wish i did have time to recover from all this. i was taking care of my kids and my house a month after my craniotomy and blood clots in my lungs. my mom cant help much she is recovering from breast cancer and im not putting my kids on her. my hubby goes to work 12hrs a day and im taking care of the kids and house. i cant even get to my doc appts because i cant drive till my seizures get controlled and my hubby dont take off work and my mom just cant take me and my friends have left my side as im no fun anymore. ive been fighting this alone and no one mentions my tumor or seizures . i am upset at my hubby for only supporting me in the neurosurgeons office and when we walk out its over. im in this battle alone and i do have alot resentment toward my hubby. i just want the anger rages and personality changes gone. i am depressed and sometime wake up mad because i gota live another day. i will look into finding a psychiatrist i do think it would help .thanks for your advice
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There are several possible explanations for what is happening.
Seizure disorders can definitely cause many of the symptoms that you are having.
The brain injury from your craniopharyngioma could be contributing.
Certainly stress and worry are not going to make things better for you... although from your description of what has happened, I doubt that those are enough to explain what has happened.
I would suggest that you go to see a psychiatrist who has experience in working with folks with brain injury. You probably will have to drive to Lexington to find such a person, but I think it would be worth it.
I suspect that part of the solution is going to involve taking a mood stabilizing anti-seizure medication.
I do think that this is worth doing, and I do think that you will get help.
Seizure disorders can definitely cause many of the symptoms that you are having.
The brain injury from your craniopharyngioma could be contributing.
Certainly stress and worry are not going to make things better for you... although from your description of what has happened, I doubt that those are enough to explain what has happened.
I would suggest that you go to see a psychiatrist who has experience in working with folks with brain injury. You probably will have to drive to Lexington to find such a person, but I think it would be worth it.
I suspect that part of the solution is going to involve taking a mood stabilizing anti-seizure medication.
I do think that this is worth doing, and I do think that you will get help.
From a lay perspective I would say that the changes are due to your condition and also from the treatment of it. Or maybe the stress of it.
Seizures can also be tiring. My mother has severe head injuries and can become very moody, etc when tired and/ or stressed. Her neuropsychiatrist use to tell her to take regular breaks so that she would avoid become overly tired.
Maybe you need to limit the number of people you are around while recovering. May isn't really all that long ago.
Your husbands comments don't seem to be particularly helpful.
Have you thought about joining a support group? That could be helpful for both you and your husband. Maybe therapy would be better??
I would also attend psychotherapy. That will help with the depression, etc. Could you be angry because you feel so overwhelmed and feel that the condition was unjust?
I would make your health your priority. Do what you need too to help yourself. Let your husband and mother take care of your kids.
My understanding is that it is best to treat the issues as soon as possible to improve functionality, recovery, etc
The more you stress about Xmas too the more likely is that you will have problems.
I would see all the specialists you need to see. Attend therapy. Treat the depression. And probably have a holiday. Xmas is probably a good excuse to do that. Enlist the help of friends and family so that you have space to recover. Low stimulus could be what you need at this time. Consult with your treatment team to get the best possible outcome for yourself.
You must feel quite dependent on others at times. Be kind and gentle to yourself. Don't feel pressured to do more than you can.
Seizures can also be tiring. My mother has severe head injuries and can become very moody, etc when tired and/ or stressed. Her neuropsychiatrist use to tell her to take regular breaks so that she would avoid become overly tired.
Maybe you need to limit the number of people you are around while recovering. May isn't really all that long ago.
Your husbands comments don't seem to be particularly helpful.
Have you thought about joining a support group? That could be helpful for both you and your husband. Maybe therapy would be better??
I would also attend psychotherapy. That will help with the depression, etc. Could you be angry because you feel so overwhelmed and feel that the condition was unjust?
I would make your health your priority. Do what you need too to help yourself. Let your husband and mother take care of your kids.
My understanding is that it is best to treat the issues as soon as possible to improve functionality, recovery, etc
The more you stress about Xmas too the more likely is that you will have problems.
I would see all the specialists you need to see. Attend therapy. Treat the depression. And probably have a holiday. Xmas is probably a good excuse to do that. Enlist the help of friends and family so that you have space to recover. Low stimulus could be what you need at this time. Consult with your treatment team to get the best possible outcome for yourself.
You must feel quite dependent on others at times. Be kind and gentle to yourself. Don't feel pressured to do more than you can.
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