Short term memory loss
I know there has been research carried to substantiate "Chemo brain or chemo fog" but I finished my chemo the end of March 2011. I am also afraid my employers will think I am no longer competent at my job.
Is there anyone else out there who has had similar experiences?
Tina xx
Comments
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I'm having the same problem
and am finding it extremely distressing. I used to have an excellent memory. Now I often stop half way thru a sentence because I can't remember what I'm trying to say or can't think of the right word. It seems to be affecting my concentration too. I don't know if it would be helpful but I've been meaning to buy Your Brain After Chemo by Daniel Silverman0 -
I'm pretty sure I had the
I'm pretty sure I had the same problem for at least 3 months after chemo ended. I'm now 9 months out, and still forget things, but it is definitely better. I developed habits for working around it, like counting the number of things I was supposed to bring downstairs, making mental notes of the colors people were wearing, etc. Not foolproof, but it did help some. Unfortunately, I'm at an age where this kind of thing happens anyway, so now it's hard to tell if it's age related, or still chemo. I claim chemo whenever possible
DB0 -
I can remember things thatanicca said:I'm pretty sure I had the
I'm pretty sure I had the same problem for at least 3 months after chemo ended. I'm now 9 months out, and still forget things, but it is definitely better. I developed habits for working around it, like counting the number of things I was supposed to bring downstairs, making mental notes of the colors people were wearing, etc. Not foolproof, but it did help some. Unfortunately, I'm at an age where this kind of thing happens anyway, so now it's hard to tell if it's age related, or still chemo. I claim chemo whenever possible
DB
I can remember things that happened when I was 5 years old, but can't always remember what I had for breakfast.
It makes me nuts. I definitely think it's related to chemo, and my PCP, just the other day, said, "But you've had chemo," when I mentioned that I can't remember S*&t.
Carlene0 -
I am in serious trouble whenHissy_Fitz said:I can remember things that
I can remember things that happened when I was 5 years old, but can't always remember what I had for breakfast.
It makes me nuts. I definitely think it's related to chemo, and my PCP, just the other day, said, "But you've had chemo," when I mentioned that I can't remember S*&t.
Carlene
I am in serious trouble when I begin chemo then. I walk into a room, have to leave and go back to remember what I went for. Call someone and forget who I just called. It's not fun at all. I think mine is because I've had so much on me since my husband's sudden death last year, and now this.0 -
Chemo Anonymous
I'm doing a seemingly neverending course of chemo and have all those same brain issues along with doubting my spelling ability. I was off chemo for about 3 1/2 years and I can tell you that it simply takes longer than 3 months for the chemo brain symptoms to be gone. Could you make up games with the kids so they could help you remember their names? Kids are so accepting.... maybe have them give you a hint? I found that the chemo brain confusion was better after about 6 months and so very much better after a year.
((((HUGS)))) Maria0 -
My mum is often complainingeward said:my mom
My mom has the same problem. It seems to come and go for her. Some weeks she seems to mix things up and some she does better. Hope it resolves soon for you!
My mum is often complaining that she is now very forgetful!!!! mum is a very smart cookie but she forgets lots of things now, I don't say anything , but I did mention to her about chemo brain, I thibk she thought she was losing her mind!
xxx Liz xxx0 -
yes
I am noticing the same thing in my mom and it is really freaking me out. she says oh well maybe nowi am getting alzheimers too. or maybe her tumors moved to her brain. it's scary. i have to explain things several times. she fogets alot.0 -
CRS plus Chemo Brain
I'd like to blame it all on Chemo Brain, but I have to admit I have suffered from CRS (Can't Remember 'Stuff') for years. I blamed that on stress (what is his name?) plus too much multi-tasking (what did i come in here to do?) plus a reorganization of priorities (many details really aren't that important), etc.
Even so, chemo brain seemed to add a new slant, and I don't think I'm rationalizing an excuse.
I have a friend whose Doc told her not to worry about her brain if she couldn't remember where she put her keys. He said the time to worry is when you find your keys, but you don't know what they're for.
I still know what my keys are for, so I cling to that -- ha!0 -
Hi TeaLurkerTeaLurker said:CRS plus Chemo Brain
I'd like to blame it all on Chemo Brain, but I have to admit I have suffered from CRS (Can't Remember 'Stuff') for years. I blamed that on stress (what is his name?) plus too much multi-tasking (what did i come in here to do?) plus a reorganization of priorities (many details really aren't that important), etc.
Even so, chemo brain seemed to add a new slant, and I don't think I'm rationalizing an excuse.
I have a friend whose Doc told her not to worry about her brain if she couldn't remember where she put her keys. He said the time to worry is when you find your keys, but you don't know what they're for.
I still know what my keys are for, so I cling to that -- ha!
I love your sense of humour and in particular CRS. I think the combination of chemo & stress is lethal and has contributed to this "fog" in my brain when I am trying to remember stuff.
I have lots of keys and I too know what they are all for
Tina xx0 -
Foggy BrainTina Brown said:Hi TeaLurker
I love your sense of humour and in particular CRS. I think the combination of chemo & stress is lethal and has contributed to this "fog" in my brain when I am trying to remember stuff.
I have lots of keys and I too know what they are all for
Tina xx
Tina...
I was a secondary teacher before I took early retirement as a result of this condition, and because I have major problems with my abdomen and other health issues. It seems we have more in common than just living in the same country!
Teaching in Britain is an incredibly demanding job for any person. Add the cancer to that and you're bound not to remember some of the things you have to do or are told. Every day, teachers are asked to absorb massive amounts of information and, even if the memory problem is simply caused by being distracted emotionally, then its quite an understandable thing. Your employers should do everything possible to accommodate you as you are covered under the Disability and Equality Act 2010. You may not class yourself as being disabled but there is a section on the definition of the word on the Government's site and a special paragraph on progressive illnesses like cancer. Here is the site address:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068
By the way, you may know this already, but you might be entitled to Disability Living Allowance to help you with getting help at home. Someone else will then be able to do your washing, cleaning... well, anything you ask them to do really so long as it helps you and so that you can concentrate at work. This is not means tested and people who get this allowance can work as well with no penality.
Today, I went for my second round of Carboplatin and when the nurse was asking how I felt, I told her that I stop mid-sentence sometimes and have to really think about what I am saying to get the flow going again. The nurse said that I have 'chemo brain' which will get better as time goes by. I think it's just that so many things are going on at the moment and I'm sure it'll get better.
I think it's brilliant that you're still working. I loved working with children very much and I miss that a lot, but I'm glad I don't have to do it any more because I need to take things much more slowly. Everyone is different I suppose.
I'm sorry if I went on about your rights and protections. You probably know all of that anyway, but if you need any advice, I've been through it myself lately so I know the pitfalls. I also have applied for my pension which I got. That's a minefield too and, with the help of the NUT, provided the Fund with the right kind of evidence. You need to show certain things and if you don't know what you have to tell them, it can be a nightmare because the Fund managers won't be able to make proper decisions. If you ring them up, you often get incorrect advise and not enough guidance. I felt very frustrated but the people at the Union were great in the targetted help they gave to me. If you need anything, just ask and I'll do my best to help.
You look great by the way. Take care.
Love
Sue0 -
Hi Suewanttogetwellsoon said:Foggy Brain
Tina...
I was a secondary teacher before I took early retirement as a result of this condition, and because I have major problems with my abdomen and other health issues. It seems we have more in common than just living in the same country!
Teaching in Britain is an incredibly demanding job for any person. Add the cancer to that and you're bound not to remember some of the things you have to do or are told. Every day, teachers are asked to absorb massive amounts of information and, even if the memory problem is simply caused by being distracted emotionally, then its quite an understandable thing. Your employers should do everything possible to accommodate you as you are covered under the Disability and Equality Act 2010. You may not class yourself as being disabled but there is a section on the definition of the word on the Government's site and a special paragraph on progressive illnesses like cancer. Here is the site address:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068
By the way, you may know this already, but you might be entitled to Disability Living Allowance to help you with getting help at home. Someone else will then be able to do your washing, cleaning... well, anything you ask them to do really so long as it helps you and so that you can concentrate at work. This is not means tested and people who get this allowance can work as well with no penality.
Today, I went for my second round of Carboplatin and when the nurse was asking how I felt, I told her that I stop mid-sentence sometimes and have to really think about what I am saying to get the flow going again. The nurse said that I have 'chemo brain' which will get better as time goes by. I think it's just that so many things are going on at the moment and I'm sure it'll get better.
I think it's brilliant that you're still working. I loved working with children very much and I miss that a lot, but I'm glad I don't have to do it any more because I need to take things much more slowly. Everyone is different I suppose.
I'm sorry if I went on about your rights and protections. You probably know all of that anyway, but if you need any advice, I've been through it myself lately so I know the pitfalls. I also have applied for my pension which I got. That's a minefield too and, with the help of the NUT, provided the Fund with the right kind of evidence. You need to show certain things and if you don't know what you have to tell them, it can be a nightmare because the Fund managers won't be able to make proper decisions. If you ring them up, you often get incorrect advise and not enough guidance. I felt very frustrated but the people at the Union were great in the targetted help they gave to me. If you need anything, just ask and I'll do my best to help.
You look great by the way. Take care.
Love
Sue
Thanks for your reply Sue. I appreciate your advice regarding my rights. My employer did suggest to me in February of this year that I could consider early retirement. That upset me because work offers me normality and routine which helps me mentally. I am only 51 so I do not want to give up work.
I teach in a college and my pupils are 16+ I have very structured teaching files for my planning and where I write everything down that gives me the reassurance that I have the answers if my brain goes on strike ha ha.
My manager was initially really supportive but just lately she seems to have reverted back to her uncaring ways,
Anyway I am reassured that other ladies are experiencing this same chemo brain that I am and that I am not going mad.
Love Tina xx0 -
i understand ..Tina Brown said:Hi Sue
Thanks for your reply Sue. I appreciate your advice regarding my rights. My employer did suggest to me in February of this year that I could consider early retirement. That upset me because work offers me normality and routine which helps me mentally. I am only 51 so I do not want to give up work.
I teach in a college and my pupils are 16+ I have very structured teaching files for my planning and where I write everything down that gives me the reassurance that I have the answers if my brain goes on strike ha ha.
My manager was initially really supportive but just lately she seems to have reverted back to her uncaring ways,
Anyway I am reassured that other ladies are experiencing this same chemo brain that I am and that I am not going mad.
Love Tina xx
As you probably can remember, I have a long history of major surgeries on my abdomen. I've also been in hospital with blocked intestines with the 'nil by mouth' routines. I've lost count of the number of drips I've been on and even the number of visits and instays.
I can quite understand that you want to stay in work. I wanted that too but the scarring from all of the previous surgeries has caught up with me. Because my disease is microscopic, I think I could do the job provided the ascites didn't get too bad too soon. I believe I've had this since at least 2009 but it was undiagnosed despite the surgeons got in my abdomen again then to do a laporascopic gallbladder removal. It took six hours which is a long time for that operation because I had complications and the top of the gallbladder was naturally ectopic in that it was incubated to the underside of the liver. This is just one of the things that has got in my way of being normal. After the operation, there was about 4 litres which didn't go away. They didn't drain it saying it was in pockets, it would go away, and that it would drain naturally. Actually, my abdomen didn't get smaller and when I went in in March of this year, a lot of the ascites there was historical and had been there since the operation. I was really annoyed that they didn't take biopsies given that I had some small bowel removed about in 2006 as it had a 'rough papillary surface'. My cancer is serous papillary PPC which makes the connection. I've since found out that, if surgeons do find things such as that in an abdomen, they take it out and regard it as cured. They very often don't seem to tell their patients. I asked on the ward what it was and they it was just not healthy tissue. Had I known it was pre-cancerous, I'd have been more insistant last October when I presented with quite serious abdominal symptoms and was just sent away and told to come back if it got worse which seems to be a common GP response these day. Whether it is to stop patients worrying because living with the information itself is hard even if it is considered cured and no more treatment is necessary. I had to teach with the pain and the fluid because the cancer wasn't diagnosed and I was constantly being asked when the baby was due by staff and children. It was very distressing since I had 18 years of fertility treatment and that pain never goes away ... well, for me it has never done.
When I was on the ward this March,I asked about the small bowel resection and was this time told it has probably necrotised due to the pressure on it. I looked at my file which I'd requested and that's when I saw the lab report.
I've worked with many difficult people. Usually, they're under tremendous strain themselves to get the children the best grades they can. There's no excuse for not treating people with love and kindness though and sometimes they need reminding of that. If it gets worse, it might be a thing to speak to a senior person you are comfortable with at work to go through your feelings.
Well, Tina. I was worried that I was interfering but I just thought I'd jump in try to help.
I wish you all the good wishes in the world. It's a good thing to do things you love doing and that is what you are about.
Take very good care.
Love Sue xx0
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