Poor balance

Ribbons
Ribbons Member Posts: 150 Member

I have just finished chemo, very happy about that. My problem now is my lack of balance. It doesn't help that I have an ankle injury, but I can't hardly walk a straight line, and I could fall over at any time! I am wondering how long it might take to kind of get back to normal? Also, I was in the grocery sore the other day and couldn't remember my pin for my debit card. I had the right numbers but I couldn't get the right order till after a few tries.

Comments

  • LisaPizza
    LisaPizza Member Posts: 358 Member
    Maybe talk to your doctor

    Maybe talk to your doctor about it, because the balance problems could be neuropathy.  You might get more help from your PCP than your oncologist.

     

    The memory issues are frustrating for sure, I can empathize :(

  • derMaus
    derMaus Member Posts: 558 Member
    My balances was off for

    My balances was off for months afterwards. It eventually recovered, thank god.

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member
    Not remembering your pin

    Don't worry about not remembering your pin.  Chemo brain is a very real thing.  It can make you feel very foggy.

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    Ribbons

    Yes, chemo brain does exist.   I try to play word games, crosswords, etc.   It has really helped.  I still do.   It will get better.  Having an injury on top of everything else can really bring you down.  After first being treated and then recovery its called the "New Normal".   Hang in there!

     

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 565 Member
    Ribbons, I've had just a

    Ribbons, I've had just a little trouble with balance being off - only when I first get up in the morning - since the chemo.  And yes, I'm searching for words that used to come easily, too.  I'm hoping it will get better with time.

  • Tamlen
    Tamlen Member Posts: 343 Member
    I had balance problems for

    I had balance problems for months after chemo, as well as some cognitive problems like short-term memory loss and trouble coming up with the right words. All of it slowly dissipated, though I still search for words, a problem I didn't have before chemo (I'm in my mid-50s).

  • Tamlen
    Tamlen Member Posts: 343 Member
    Kaleena said:

    Ribbons

    Yes, chemo brain does exist.   I try to play word games, crosswords, etc.   It has really helped.  I still do.   It will get better.  Having an injury on top of everything else can really bring you down.  After first being treated and then recovery its called the "New Normal".   Hang in there!

     

    Games

    My gyn onc recommended games to me, particularly ones like chess that require you to follow a train of thought or strategy and have to remember it for a bit. Her reasoning was that for many of us, chemo is a period where we aren't doing a lot of the daily work and mental tasks that keep our minds sharp, so we have to rebuild that capacity after chemo. My husband and I started playing board and card games that make my mind work hard and I really do think it has helped. I was skeptical but I think she was right.

  • Ribbons
    Ribbons Member Posts: 150 Member
    Thank you

    Thank you for the support, I just needed reassurance that it will get better.

  • Soup52
    Soup52 Member Posts: 908 Member
    My balance is not the

    My balance is not the greatest and I sometimes suspect neuropathy may be partly to blame. I’m now taking exercise classes that may help. Granted this is a couple years after chemo. This all takes some time unfortunately . I hope yours improves.