Personality changes

[bookworm79]

Just curious, I'm an increasingly moody person as it is.  Has gotten worse over the years.  For those of you that have had surgery, did it make it worse personality wise or increase your symptoms?  Thanks

[cash242]

I have to say my memory was zero before the surgery and it took awhile to recover but I definetly have that back and I dont feel as if I am walking around like a zombie. Now that I look back I was very moody and am much better now so besides the daily HA all of the other stuff got much better after my surgery! I know it is different for everyone hope my story helps you some keep your chin up!!!

[greeneyes247724]

Just to add my two cents... : )  I am 34...had surgery...still have headaches although they aren't as bad and aren't as frequent so the surgery was a success I guess cuz I had them daily and severe before...my memory is getting worse and worse...I also cry at silly commercials and it drives me crazy...lol...moody doesn't even begin to describe me and I was about the same before and after surgery...I might be ok towards you one day and hate you the next...like someone else said I have kinda choosen to keep to myself and my pets most of the time well with the exception of my mom and daughter...lol  : )  Most people just irritate me...but that's just me and I just assume that's the way I am and go one about my life....lol  I do go to church every weekend and pray I change so maybe one day...LOL

[bookworm79]

Thanks Cash.  You know my biggest complaint, aside from doctors dismissing me, is the memory issues of all, then maybe the moodiness.  HA's I can practically deal with if you told me I never will have a "cure."  It's the memory problems, moodiness, ADD, the feeling of getting dumber as I get older.  Oh and the lack of energy.  I think of all things, I could deal/handle the pain.  It's the other things that I feel impact my quality of life more.  I just want energy and a normal functioning mind/memory.

[cash242]

Hey, I think that you brought up a very good subject.  I had my surgery 9 mo ago and I am thankful everyday that I did it and wish I would have done it sooner.  I still have ha everyday but think it is due to neck problems but I havent had to go to urgent care because the pain was so bad, I can think again and that is really a good thing to have and my head doesnt feel as if it is going to explode.  Even though I am not exactly where I thought I would be I feel like I am on the right path. If I didn't have pain everyday I would be extremely happy.  I work with severe needs children and watch their struggles everyday and find myself humbled by them and their struggles.  I hope that you find answers and I feel your frustration it is life changing!

[drewlevas]

I don't know if Chiari makes me moodier, but my mother told me today that I am worst as ever. Been Asperger I have a lot of mood swings and I needed to learn how not to explode on people around me. But today I got realy upset on noting acording to my mother! I dont recale why I got upset. But the point is that I scream quite loudly and storm out of my mother appartment. So if you ask her she would tells you that most certainly Chiari pain and fog makes me more moodier.

[luvmy2grls]

i agree, we get pills shoved on us un necessarily!  However, i dunno how I would made it through my pregnancy without the wellbutrin..  I am however willing to take a pill to make the moody crap go away only if there are  NO adverse side effects..  If I reacted the way u say u do, I would feel the same way as u!..

Good Luck with getting the moods in order!

[bookworm79]

You name the drug, I've taken it.  Wellbutrin made me so anxiety ridden I thought I was having a heart attack.  Great for losing weight due to anxiety and nausea it caused in me and for increasing libido but not much else.  I just hate the fact that I would have to be made better by taking a pill.  I know that's dumb to think that way but I'm tired of shoving pills down my throat.  Argh!  It's like here, take a pill, side effects from that pill, ok add this pill, side effects from that pill, here's another and then you're taking pill after pill to control each set of side effects.  Gotta wonder what the hell that does to our systems in the long run.  Pharmaceutical companies make so much off of us by just pushing pills on us via dr's versus solving the problem and giving us healthy natural ways to deal with them......

Granted...I'm well aware some medications are life saving for many things.  I just feel pills are pushed on the majority of us often unnecessarily.  

[luvmy2grls]

Hey, I'm sorry u are having a bad day...  I hope as it goes on, it gets better for u!

Have u ever tried Wellbutrin??  it a very safe anti-depressant that I took when I was pregnant with my youngest..  I was extrremely paranoid, and sad 9like crying all the time) anyways, it helped me, HOWEVER, the generic made things worse.....  not sure why but it did..  anyways I too am one that has horrible side effects when taking meds... THISONE only increased my libido and made me less of a cry baby...  In still had days that all I wanted to do is cry but that was the pregnancy (well the whole thing was pregnancy and my thyroid)  But I since have had the moody crap and some months its worse than others so they tell me its PMDD..

Anyways, sorry it became such a long story when I just wanted to suggest Wellbutrin XL.  it has minimal side effects and helped me alot.........

[bookworm79]

I've done the meds.  The side effects are horrendous to me.  I have a very senstive nervous system.  That's why I can't take any antidepressants, antisiezure meds etc.  Topamax, Neurontin, Pain Killers, etc etc etc...awful.  Especially pain killers.  I wondered why so many people use them for their addictions when they are just horrible...for me anyway.  (You know how they call it hillbilly heroin for addicts).  I know everyone is different.  Seeing a therapist has not changed anything at all either.  I probably sound negative.  Really, I'm not.  I just have went through every possible medication, you name it, I've tried it and then the therapy thing too since they said it was "all in my head."  Great therapist but gee, surprise surprise, never took away symptoms.  At this point, I know I just have to learn to live with it.  But it does get exhausting trying to monitor your moods and keep them in check so you don't run off every single person in your life.  Right now it's still a waiting game anyway.  Took my MRI results from 6 yrs ago to my neurologist on Friday and still haven't heard anything back from her.  Can't get the VA to respond to my request for my most recent MRI either so I will wait until I pick up my orthotics and find the records office then.  I'm hoping to get this all sorted out in the next few weeks.  Sorry if I sound like a negative Nancy.  Just feel crappy and emotional this morning.    

[luvmy2grls]

I have gotten increasingly IMPATIENT with my children and people around me..  It kills me every time I fly off the handle at my kids just for being kids..  I hope this is one thing that will get better after I have surgery on the 17th..  If it does NOT then I will seek the help of a psychiatrist or my PCP in managing these moods swings with medication........  I don't want to continue like this and have my children growing up thinking I'm some kind of moody weirdo. LOL

Anyways, I have high hopes that my surgery is a sucess and that I can be the person I once was (if not better)!!!!

I hope u find some answers that work for you!

[sandy629]

  bookworm,
                     i researched my doctor, i think the mood swings  is what linnelou  said.  you wont know until you do and it's what you make of it and how you handle it.  we all have to learn to live our new life and that is part of it.

[bookworm79]

Thank you.  I appreciate the honest responses.

[selmaS]

  The problem is not getting rid of symptoms and having a postitive  outcome...I think there is a much higher % than 5...but that is me, and I am happy I had my surgery and see improvements everyday.

The problem is those with negative experiences write about it more, unfortunately and  they many times did not research like maybe they should have,....they wanted to feel normal again and went for the first Dr that offered it,....that is not the best way to handle it...a Dr that is honest and says u may have residual issues is being honest, but too many opt to go with a Dr that says they can "cure " u.,...the best thing u can do there is run the other way, the honest Dr is the way to go...but too many do not want to hear that and then r upset when they do have residual issues and will not stop saying how it was the surgery....not who did the surgery, or how it was done etc....or even if it was bcuz their body reacted in such a way that was unforeseen....these things can happen, be open to that....and  know u may only get worse if u do not have surgery and it can get to a point that u have perm nerve damage that no surgery could possibly help.

So, u can get worse with out surgery too....having the right drs to guide u and help u decide what is best for ur overall health is what u need to consider...and know, yes, this may continue to affect u in some manor.

  "selma"

[rod44]

Unfortunately surgery is not a cure, surgery is preformed to ease symptoms and prevent deterioration. CM is not well known in the general medical community, many doctors have never even heard of CM. If you are treating something you know little about then things can and often do go wrong. This is why it is important to research the doctors who treat you, sitting in a doctors office and listening to him/her blow their own trumpet is not enough, it is a sad reality that CM, a condition that was first recognised in the 1890s is still so poorly understood.

[bookworm79]

I'm 32.  I want to get rid of all these problems but to be honest I think out of everything I've read on the internet, only about 5% of people had anything positive to say about the surgery.  Makes me wonder if it would even be worth it.  I know how bad my quality of life is.  I don't know if it's worth it ending up even worse.

[linnielou232]

With me.  I have never been a moody person at all, but I know that after my surgery each day I try to find the person I was before surgery.  I acturally loved myself.  Now I stuggle with flustration because I can't do the thing's I used to be able to do.  I used to be very active and never was able to sit still.  I have found after surgery I have become a better person as far as being able to ask other's for help, and appreciating the little thing's in life a lot more.  I was alway's the one doing for other's and this journey has taught me it's o.k. for other's to do for me.  I think having chairi and after surgeries I appreciate the little thing's in life.  I don't know how old you are, but the mood swing's could be because of age.  At least that is what I use as my excuse when I get emotional, or I do have a bad day LOL.  Just take one day at a time.  It will get better.

[selmaS]

  Well my 2 yr annv of my surgery was in May.,..so I am past 2 yrs..and I do not think I am worse....in fact, I feel I have more patience than I had b4....the mood swings r typical bcuz of the compression of the brain stem...

And how we all do individually depends on what else u may have going on....

Research the Drs u consider to go see to be sure they have the experience with chiari and related conditions.

  "selma"

[bookworm79]

I was wondering more long term...not just before and after surgery.  I was hoping if I eventually do it my mood swings I've had the last 2-3 years will get better or go away with the surgery....not get worse.

[selmaS]

  Mine did get better, it is all a matter of u as an individual...and how u handle the surgery and pain....how u heal etc....we r all diff so how u r post op will also be diff from ne one else...

Choose ur destiny....decide how u want to be and head for that....it is like when sliding on ice, we r told not to look at the ditch or that is where we will end up....look away toward where u want to go, or be.....

[bookworm79]

So basically don't expect the emotions to get better?  I was hoping my mood swings was BECAUSE of the Chiari and maybe if I ended up w/surgery eventually it would make them better.

[sandy629]

  i had the surgery in 07. i have reclused myself  i am not the same person i once was, i find myself not defending myself  walkin away from problems, not just the person who i once was. my friends see a big change in me and can't believe it's me.  i think it's because of the daily pain  we endure

[selmaS]

  Hi,,,I too saw an increased emotional me b4 and right after surgery...I am still emotional but not quite as bad as right b4 and right after surgery. It is the compression of the brain stem that affects us....and when that compression is gone I feel a good part  of  the more uncontrollable emotions is gone as well....at least for me...I still cry at silly commercials...but I do not get as upset as b4.....

  We r all different and I feel who we r post op is who we were b4...chiari just fine tunes our sensibilities a bit.....I know I have much more patience now...and I am not sure if that is age or the surgery....

"selma"

[Sexybare]

Hello. I had surgery in aug 2011. I am also extremely moody. I think its due to all we go thru on a daily basis. Since my surgery its worse lol. I believe as we heal the mood swings will decrease, I hope.