Can we discuss chemo brain

mlmjt1
mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Well guys, I knew I was forgetful before chemo...call it menopause, or trying to do too much, I dont know, but this forgetfulness and absentmindedness is really scaring me a little.

Example...I do home health and I was driving to see a patient out of town and had gone 2 miles before I realized I was taking the road to a different city...no big deal..I realized it before I went too far, but still...Another example...I left the check book at the grocery store check out...no big deal...I was in the parking lot and someone told me about it so I went back to get it. But these little things are adding up...

Anybody else go thru this? I just finished a/c and taxol/herceptin and I will continue on herceptin every 3 wks for a year.

Love to hear any advice for my crazy forgetful brain

Hugs
Linda T
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Comments

  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    #2
    Linda
    I always thought that chemo brain didnt exist until i actually had chemo. Girl, i just finished with AC and let me tell you im even forgetting my phone number sometimes. So, i do believe in chemo brain. The real scary thing is that i almost forgot to pick up my oldest son from his filming the other day. I cried because i would have never have done that before. Its actually quite embarrassing. Im starting to write everything down, even phone numbers. When does it get better? Its not forever is it? God, i hope not. So, im right there with ya sista, you arent alone.

    take care
    laura
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #3
    lolad said:

    Linda
    I always thought that chemo brain didnt exist until i actually had chemo. Girl, i just finished with AC and let me tell you im even forgetting my phone number sometimes. So, i do believe in chemo brain. The real scary thing is that i almost forgot to pick up my oldest son from his filming the other day. I cried because i would have never have done that before. Its actually quite embarrassing. Im starting to write everything down, even phone numbers. When does it get better? Its not forever is it? God, i hope not. So, im right there with ya sista, you arent alone.

    take care
    laura

    yes, it is real
    Yes, Chemo brain is real. Multitasking is the biggest problem for me since my Chemo treatment. I have changed my habits and I am not doing more than one things at the time. Yes, I am writing everything down , making lists, notes, and reminding myself to stay focused. Still I lost disability check last week, was very upset, not about money, about Chemo brain.
    My sister said everyone can loose money. Yes, but ... My hope it is not permeant. So cancer is sucks.
    For now I am thinking about improving my record keeping system and staying happy as well.
  • Kelly248
    Kelly248 Member Posts: 2
    #4
    I'd like to recommend a great book about chemo brain called "Your Brain After Chemo: A Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus" by Dan Silverman, MD, PhD and Idelle Davidson. Lots of helpful information. You can get it through Amazon.com.
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #5
    Kelly248 said:

    I'd like to recommend a great book about chemo brain called "Your Brain After Chemo: A Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus" by Dan Silverman, MD, PhD and Idelle Davidson. Lots of helpful information. You can get it through Amazon.com.

    Kelly thanks for the
    Kelly thanks for the suggestion. I've noticed that it takes me longer to complete a sentence because I have to recall what I was going to say. This former multi tasker has to stop and really think. I feel foggy brained and forgetful. It's weird.
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #6
    natly15 said:

    Kelly thanks for the
    Kelly thanks for the suggestion. I've noticed that it takes me longer to complete a sentence because I have to recall what I was going to say. This former multi tasker has to stop and really think. I feel foggy brained and forgetful. It's weird.

    It's Real
    Chemo brain should be mentioned in the official lit they give out with chemo and rads info...I had gone through both before my on-phone peer support worker mentioned chemo-brain, hey, I fell about laughing and it took her 20 minutes to persuade me that this was REAL, not just something she had made up... And I thought I was just going insane?..
    I couldn't DO money......a $50/$20/$10 or $5 all meant the same to me, thank goodness for honest cashiers!
    Directions?........Hell I could get lost on a driveway!
    Driving........?.........Don't even go there... I am English and I live in Canada (Cambodia...????) anyway, they drive on the WRONG side of the road... I would get sooooooooo confused. Go to supermarket, get $50. worth of cat food (I don't have a cat).. Get the shakes at the checkout and not be able to sort out even the wrong money (Happy-pills not working)... Stagger outside ( Peripheral Neuropathy-could barely walk without looking like a pregnant duck!)
    Get in the drivers seat of the car..."Who stole my steering wheel and pedals?"... OK Calm down... Calm Down... Get in the OTHER side (After checking about the car park to see where other peoples steering wheels are) Attempt to drive Home (wherever THAT is?) Get to the first corner, go to change gear with my left hand, open the door and fall out of the car...Oh Man! It can be worse! LOL Hugs Jxxxxxx
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #7
    Chemo brain is indeed real,
    Chemo brain is indeed real, and it does get better, though depending on our age and life-style we may notice that things aren't quite back to normal for a long time, if ever. I had a major problem with not recalling if I had told a family member something or not...and I could kinda see in their faces that, yes, I had told them whatever not just once or twice, but now going on the 3rd time! So...I asked them to kindly TELL ME if I had already regaled them with something I saw on TV ( or whatever it was). I also started asking them: "Did I already tell you about..." and they would answer me honestly. I know my chemo brain is better because this almost NEVER EVER happens to me anymore!

    I take lists with me all the time~ and I think most ppl should, chemo-brain or not!

    A good way to help train your brain is: When you walk from your bedroom to get something in the living room and you promptly forget what that something is, do NOT re-trace your steps. Instead, stay in the living room and force your brain to think what you came for! I have been doing this for years now since dx, and 8 out of 10 times I actually remember! It is such a triumph when I do, and I have heard it is a really useful mental exercise!

    And, for the record, because my sweetie is Native American, and we lived on an Indian Reservation while I was undergoing chemo, I did not have chemo-brain; instead I had Kemo-Sabe Brain! :-)

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #8
    tasha_111 said:

    It's Real
    Chemo brain should be mentioned in the official lit they give out with chemo and rads info...I had gone through both before my on-phone peer support worker mentioned chemo-brain, hey, I fell about laughing and it took her 20 minutes to persuade me that this was REAL, not just something she had made up... And I thought I was just going insane?..
    I couldn't DO money......a $50/$20/$10 or $5 all meant the same to me, thank goodness for honest cashiers!
    Directions?........Hell I could get lost on a driveway!
    Driving........?.........Don't even go there... I am English and I live in Canada (Cambodia...????) anyway, they drive on the WRONG side of the road... I would get sooooooooo confused. Go to supermarket, get $50. worth of cat food (I don't have a cat).. Get the shakes at the checkout and not be able to sort out even the wrong money (Happy-pills not working)... Stagger outside ( Peripheral Neuropathy-could barely walk without looking like a pregnant duck!)
    Get in the drivers seat of the car..."Who stole my steering wheel and pedals?"... OK Calm down... Calm Down... Get in the OTHER side (After checking about the car park to see where other peoples steering wheels are) Attempt to drive Home (wherever THAT is?) Get to the first corner, go to change gear with my left hand, open the door and fall out of the car...Oh Man! It can be worse! LOL Hugs Jxxxxxx

    Speaking of Chemo-brain induced driving, Tasha...
    Q: Do you know why the conjoined twins moved from NYC to London?

    A: Because the other one wanted to drive!!!!!



    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    #9
    Oh my god, it's real all right
    Doctors used to think that it was just us women being emotional, but they have since discovered that, yes, chemo does invade the blood/brain barrier. One of the most common symptoms is forgetting words. I do this all the time now. I cannot remember a damn thing anymore. It's really frustrating. I've heard that symptoms usually clear anywhere from 9 months to 3 years. Man, I hope mine is on the way out.

    Tasha, I don't mean to laugh at your experiences, but you have such a funny way of putting things. So, LOL, girl! Be careful getting in and out of your car!

    Thanks for book rec. If it continues I may pick that up -- if I remember, LOL.

    Mimi
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #10
    tasha_111 said:

    It's Real
    Chemo brain should be mentioned in the official lit they give out with chemo and rads info...I had gone through both before my on-phone peer support worker mentioned chemo-brain, hey, I fell about laughing and it took her 20 minutes to persuade me that this was REAL, not just something she had made up... And I thought I was just going insane?..
    I couldn't DO money......a $50/$20/$10 or $5 all meant the same to me, thank goodness for honest cashiers!
    Directions?........Hell I could get lost on a driveway!
    Driving........?.........Don't even go there... I am English and I live in Canada (Cambodia...????) anyway, they drive on the WRONG side of the road... I would get sooooooooo confused. Go to supermarket, get $50. worth of cat food (I don't have a cat).. Get the shakes at the checkout and not be able to sort out even the wrong money (Happy-pills not working)... Stagger outside ( Peripheral Neuropathy-could barely walk without looking like a pregnant duck!)
    Get in the drivers seat of the car..."Who stole my steering wheel and pedals?"... OK Calm down... Calm Down... Get in the OTHER side (After checking about the car park to see where other peoples steering wheels are) Attempt to drive Home (wherever THAT is?) Get to the first corner, go to change gear with my left hand, open the door and fall out of the car...Oh Man! It can be worse! LOL Hugs Jxxxxxx

    Grrrrrr...double post! LOL
  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181
    #11
    Chemo brain.
    Oh yes it is for real.It gets scary sometimes.I even forgot my husbands name.just kidding,but I forget the silliest things sometimes.I hope it gets better soon.Love and Prayers.(Pat).
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #12
    ppurdin said:

    Chemo brain.
    Oh yes it is for real.It gets scary sometimes.I even forgot my husbands name.just kidding,but I forget the silliest things sometimes.I hope it gets better soon.Love and Prayers.(Pat).

    Chemo Brain is alive and active in my life
    Funny:

    I wore my wedding ring on my right hand for hours, before thinking to myself - wrong hand, I think .. scary

    I have to write down how many times I feed my 4 legged daughters by x's on a piece of paper on refig .. Little Emma Rose my 4 lb T-Cup Yorkie now weight 5.7lbs.. Vet is very UNHAPPY with me. Geeesh .. she looks like a little butterball turkey - BIG stomach and all. Baily Storm is now 11.5 lbs, up from 8 lbs my sweet angel "Morkie dog". She now waddles around the house, and is unable to jump on 'our' chair to sleep on me .. too fat. I see that her left hind leg is limping from lack of exercise and extra food. No snaks or treats for my girls ...

    I forgot where I parked my car at Albertson's. Took me several moments to gather my thoughts, & wits. scary

    I've miss 2 appointments ... even tho written on my calendar .. Ok maybe I'll chalk this one up to being a Ditzy Bottle Blond .. wait, I can't .. No HAIR, Heeee heeee heeee

    Worst thing of all for me .. READING or typing email .. at times I must think ... did I spell that right ??? Why did I type that word, I want to type this word, and so on.

    LOL at another sucky side effort of chemo.


    VickiSam


    VickiSam
  • JmG86
    JmG86 Member Posts: 53
    #13
    I've definitely noticed it
    I'm so glad to see you guys talking about it. I thought I was losing my mind. I've been doing some very absent-minded things at work. I am usually such a great multi-tasker, and I can't anymore. I figure I'll try and do one thing well, and see how that goes! And the words...that I've noticed the most...just forgetting the word for something. Or I've been in the middle of a sentence and lost my train of thought! I haven't fallen out of my car yet, but give me time...
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #14
    JmG86 said:

    I've definitely noticed it
    I'm so glad to see you guys talking about it. I thought I was losing my mind. I've been doing some very absent-minded things at work. I am usually such a great multi-tasker, and I can't anymore. I figure I'll try and do one thing well, and see how that goes! And the words...that I've noticed the most...just forgetting the word for something. Or I've been in the middle of a sentence and lost my train of thought! I haven't fallen out of my car yet, but give me time...

    You All
    wouldn't believe how long it takes me these days to even type a simple post! And the spelling, forget it! I look back & laugh at myself & wonder what I was thinking! Course I was like that before Chemo because of aging & difficult children-now it's just amplified. Glad to know I haven't lost what's left of my mind yet!
    I have a mirror that says: Of all the things I've lost..I miss my mind the most. My body is in shock over all these meds. I feel like I'm walking around in a fog. Don't know what's going to happen from one minute to the next. Lists? My desk is full of them. Sometimes I can't even stand up straight for too long because I sway and lose my balance so I can see how you might fall out of a car. (Hilarious by the way Tasha!) :-)
    Thanks for posting your experiences.
    Hugz,
    Cathy
  • mlmjt1
    mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537
    #15
    Hi everyone
    Thanks for all the posts. I am so glad to know that I am not the only one losing my memory...I was beginning to wonder. I used to be so good at multitasking but there is just no way anymore. I really have to focus on one thing at a time until I find some normalcy here.

    THanks everyone

    Linda T
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #16
    My hubby gets so made
    My hubby gets so made because I'll ask him the same question over and over because I didn't remember asking it.. or I'll be in the middle of a conversation with some one and forget what I was even talking about...
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #17
    I know what you mean. I
    I know what you mean. I sometimes am driving and suddenly can't remember where I was going. I also often stop in the middle of sentences because I can't remember simple words. That happens a lot. I also noticed a few months after chemo that I have started stuttering. That probably happens about 5 or 6 times a day. Others have noticed but I don't mention it to my onc. because I don't want to seem like a paranoid cancer survivor.
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #18
    tasha_111 said:

    It's Real
    Chemo brain should be mentioned in the official lit they give out with chemo and rads info...I had gone through both before my on-phone peer support worker mentioned chemo-brain, hey, I fell about laughing and it took her 20 minutes to persuade me that this was REAL, not just something she had made up... And I thought I was just going insane?..
    I couldn't DO money......a $50/$20/$10 or $5 all meant the same to me, thank goodness for honest cashiers!
    Directions?........Hell I could get lost on a driveway!
    Driving........?.........Don't even go there... I am English and I live in Canada (Cambodia...????) anyway, they drive on the WRONG side of the road... I would get sooooooooo confused. Go to supermarket, get $50. worth of cat food (I don't have a cat).. Get the shakes at the checkout and not be able to sort out even the wrong money (Happy-pills not working)... Stagger outside ( Peripheral Neuropathy-could barely walk without looking like a pregnant duck!)
    Get in the drivers seat of the car..."Who stole my steering wheel and pedals?"... OK Calm down... Calm Down... Get in the OTHER side (After checking about the car park to see where other peoples steering wheels are) Attempt to drive Home (wherever THAT is?) Get to the first corner, go to change gear with my left hand, open the door and fall out of the car...Oh Man! It can be worse! LOL Hugs Jxxxxxx

    Are you serious???
    Is this all real stuff? I'm scared to death now!
  • contrail
    contrail Member Posts: 129
    #19
    Foggy!
    I think that's the perfect word for how I feel! I think we were all great multi-taskers before all of this, but now?!?! Lists are the only way I get anything accomplished. At least I have a good excuse for why I forget things, and why I'm wandering around my kitchen wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do next. At least we're in good company.
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #20
    contrail said:

    Foggy!
    I think that's the perfect word for how I feel! I think we were all great multi-taskers before all of this, but now?!?! Lists are the only way I get anything accomplished. At least I have a good excuse for why I forget things, and why I'm wandering around my kitchen wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do next. At least we're in good company.

    Well
    I blame everything on rad brain, but, I really think it is just bc brain. And, noone will argue with that!

    Leeza
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #21
    jnl said:

    Well
    I blame everything on rad brain, but, I really think it is just bc brain. And, noone will argue with that!

    Leeza

    chemo brain is REAL!
    Foggy ... yes! Flaky ... yes! Yes ... chemo brain is REAL!

    If you google "chemo brain" you'll come up with some real articles/research done on the subject. It's just one of the side-effects we have to deal with. I finished taxol/herceptin the end of May and I can honestly say that I am finally beginning to feel some of those foggy braincells are beginning to work again. Not all of them ... but some.

    I'm 65 and I work full time so in the beginning I just thought it was "old age" and as time when on I was really getting pretty scared that it was something like alzheimers ... until I read some of the posts on this board. It helped a great deal to know that I wasn't really losing my mind ... even though I felt like it. Working full time has made it even more "interesting." I work in an administrative position in a small research area at a large university ...so there's a lot of bureacracy and red tape to EVERYTHING. There were days when I tried to do something that was so simple ... something I had done dozens of times ... but I would be totally blank on the steps I needed to complete to submit information etc. It was so frustrating there were days when I would honestly just sit at the computer and be totally blank. Not a clue what I was supposed to do. Thank goodness I have a wonderful boss ... who is VERY, VERY patient. He even read about chemo brain and told me he understood how frustrating it must be for me ... but just take my time. And the people at the university I would have to call to ask for help were also terrific. I'd explain to them that I had chemo brain ... and that I needed them to talk me through something ... step by step ... and they did. They were wonderful.

    I tried all kinds of "tricks" to help my brain work ... but nothing seemed to help. I'd make notes and lists ... then I'd got back and read them ... and I wouldn't have a clue what I meant. I was a total flake! One day I must have spent 10 minutes staring at the computer looking for the question mark key.

    I guess I had hoped that chemo brain would go totally away as soon as I finished chemo ... but it hasn't. I do feel a bit more competent at work ...but the main thing I still have a lot of difficulty with is finding words. I'll be trying to say something and for the life of me I can't find the right word. Either that ... or the wrong word will come out ... and then I'll have to start describing what I'm trying to say.

    I wish I had some words of wisdom that might help ... but all I can say is ... be patient and don't be embarassed to let people know you are having chemo ... and that chemo brain is real ... and that you need a little extra help right now. Hopefully, you'll have understanding people around you to help. There were times when I was so frustrated all I wanted to do was cry ... but I just trained myself to laugh at the stupid, dumb things I said and did. Laughing felt better than crying.

    Good luck ... and hang in there.

    hugs.
    teena

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