Post-Treatment > Cognitive/Emotional Issues

How's your temper?!

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mesafinn:
I've reviewed this site for any answers to this topic but haven't come across anything specific so thought I would ask:

I had Gamma Knife almost seventeen months to the date.  Side effects have ebbed and flowed, and I have my next MRI in about two weeks for the 1.5 year mark.   

One side effect I have noticed--and I don't know if it's related to my treatment or not--is a "shorter fuse."  I have always been a patient person.  I have a somewhat long fuse, and this has been helpful in my profession and personal life.

However, my temper seems far shorter than it used to be.  I am more moody, I get irritated more quickly, and I have gotten hot-tempered in the past month or two which is new for me.  I had noticed it myself, but both my mother and my spouse commented recently that I am quick-to-react when I never used to.  I asked when they started to notice this, and they said about six to nine months after my treatment.

I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this?  I recognize my hormones could be out-of-whack, but it's bothersome to me that I am responding this way to people I love.  I can't say for sure that it is the GK (I found I'm often asking, "Is this a side effect?" to anything "new" in my life) and would welcome anyone else chiming in.  I hope it subsides, and even though I knew that side effects could last two years or so after treatment, I am ready to be "healed"!!

Thanks.  Hope everyone is staying well.

P.

ANGuy:
Being patient and even tempered is over rated.  Some times people need to be dressed down.  When people waist my time I make them pay a price to discourage future grief from them.  That said, you should have more patience with your family than the general public.  They are your family after all. 

Just make sure that you don't treat your family worse than strangers.  If you would put up with something that a complete stranger would do to you, put up with it from your family.  But you are not obligated to put up with crap from some guy on the street just because your parents and Sunday School always told you to be polite.

Kathleen_Mc:
I would suggest possibly the stress of being "ill" may be playing a part in your situation. Dealing with critical/life threatening illness can be stressful, some even end up suffering PTSD from the experience. Anger can be part of the issue also, sometimes we don't even realise we're angry and it can come out in different ways....just suggestions.
I don't think I've ever heard of anyone suffering changes to thier personality from Gamma Knife but then again ya nver know
Kathleen

SDTom:
I think you have gotten good advice. I think the procedure may only be part of the problem. There may be other issues weighing on you. I didn't have your specific procedure but I can say that my temper was unpredictable for a while. An antidepressant helped a great deal.
Tom

mesafinn:
I appreciate the replies, but I think my query has been misunderstood.  I understand the distinction between behavior and personality--but I was inquiring if anyone had experienced physiological changes (mood alteration) as a result of their treatment. 

After having a physical today, I discussed it with my doctor who noted that both chemotherapy and radiation can have significant effects on mood, temperament, and the body.  He gave me literature to read and directed me to plenty of resources that indicated this can be a not-altogether-uncommon side effect that many individuals have experienced but don't always acknowledge and/or talk about.

The mind/body balance is important when coming to terms with the AN.  But my doc assured me this is more of a physical reaction impacting my mental state more than anything else.  He was confident it would pass.

Here's extending Hope to all of us!

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