forgetfulness

medsec

I had my last cancer treatment last November, and it seems like since that time I am forgetting things, saying things wrong even having a hard time spelling simple words. I went to my doctor today she says this is normal after all my body has been through. Last year I had a severe reaction from a tick bite, a rash they could never explain, big red welts all over my body, my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer stage 3 then a month later I had Hodgkins Lymphoma and treatments for that. Along with finanical and family issues she said the stress could certainly cause the confusion and depression. She gave me a B12 shot and told me it would help. Has anyone else experienced confusion or periods of forgetfulness after their treatments? If so what did your doctor prescribe, and has it gotten any better. I feel like I am losing it. Please tell me i am not alone, or losing my sanity. Thanks, I am like Ashlee I want my life back.

truckingalong

Learning to pace yourself; Old and New Self

I surely understand how you feel. I noticed when I really feel down, I forget things especially when I am stressed out with worrying over finances or what have you... not to mention that I already had the chemo so all this is a bit much to take all in so I would say it is normal to forget something!! When I want to feel better fast, I get impatient. When I let myself take it easy and be gentle on myself, I remember more. I decide to do 1 or 2 tasks then I run out of gas, I just rest. I also had grieved for my old self; I now am appreciating my new self knowing that I get some of old self back with time - little by little. My last chemo was 3 weeks ago. I see the improvement in myself very slowly. But I am getting there!

I had Vitamin B 12 shots last year and that helped gain my energy only temporarily because I did not know I was having lymphoma till 6 months later which gave me fatigue attacks every few weeks. Now in remission, I am now taking multi-vitamins and eating a good, healthy diet especially proteins and carbs that keeps my energy up. I am also taking Wellbutrin - an anti-depressant (for several years) and that works well for my moods.

Hope this helps in any way - with positive thoughts,

Liz
HL-4B-8/2010 (remission 12/2010)

JoanieP

me too
Hi
I seem to have it pretty together at work although I do forget how to do certain things when I am doing report cards on the computer. At home though I can't remember words, have short term memory loss at times. I wonder if it is chemo brain, blonde brain or old brain.

allmost60

Forgetfullness...
Hi Medsec,
I don't know if my forgetfullness can be classified as actually forgetting what I'm about do as much as it is about not being able to focus clearly.I usually at some time during the day remember what I've forgotten to do, but by the time I do I'm either too tired to do it, or just don't give a hoot...ha! Some days are better than others, but I do knowtice since having chemo that I'm more scattered brain, if that makes sense. I use to be able to mentally make a list of things to be done but now resort to writing myself notes. If I don't write the notes then I end up forgetting half of what I planned to do. I also do things in small increments spread out over more days instead of trying to do many things at one time or in one day. I vacumn one day...dust the next day..mop the next day..do only the laundry on one day..etc, etc. If I plan too many things in one day I get anxious and scattered brained, and then the whole lack of energy thing crops up and the day is doomed before I finish anything. When that happens it triggers anxiety which makes me angry at myself for not being able to do more and then before I know it I'm in one of my funky doom and gloom moods. Figuring out the "new normal" is challenging, but absolutely do-able when we finally learn to give ourselves a break and not expect so much of ourselves. Like John said, our bodies have been bombarded with poison and it's going to take time to heal from all of it, and that includes our minds, not just our bodies. You arn't alone in this, so keep coming back here and we will all get through this together.
Best wishes...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

onlytoday

Forgetting
I had a terrible problem right after treatment and it kept getting worse for awhile after. I went back to work a month after treatment and it was a mess. I would be talking and suddenly forget what I was saying! To clients! I would forget simple words and forget how to spell them.When I talked to my onc about it she said that it is partially the treatment and partially the stress of all of it. She recommended an anti anxiety pill temporarily and it helped.(xanax) I don't know how but I muddled through and eventually it got better and better. My husband and I play cards every night and I play scrabble against the computer all the time. I'm still working and I'm doing much better now.

I think I needed more time and taking the anti anxiety pill for awhile helped too. My treatment ended in October. I hope this helps you and I hope you are feeling better every day!

Donna

NMZ NHL stage IV 05/10 REMISSION 01/11/11

Bodoni

forgetfulness
You are definitely not alone. I have the same problem but it seems to get better day by day and I'm 82, which is an age in which forgetfulness is not only expected but forgiven. Carry a small notebook if all else fails. Good luck!

medsec

onlytoday said:

Forgetting
I had a terrible problem right after treatment and it kept getting worse for awhile after. I went back to work a month after treatment and it was a mess. I would be talking and suddenly forget what I was saying! To clients! I would forget simple words and forget how to spell them.When I talked to my onc about it she said that it is partially the treatment and partially the stress of all of it. She recommended an anti anxiety pill temporarily and it helped.(xanax) I don't know how but I muddled through and eventually it got better and better. My husband and I play cards every night and I play scrabble against the computer all the time. I'm still working and I'm doing much better now.

I think I needed more time and taking the anti anxiety pill for awhile helped too. My treatment ended in October. I hope this helps you and I hope you are feeling better every day!

Donna

NMZ NHL stage IV 05/10 REMISSION 01/11/11

forgetfulness
Thanks to everyone for responding, it makes me feel better knowing that their is hope. My doctor gave me some Xanax so maybe my symptoms will start improving. Just having you guys to chat with has made so much difference. I feel I have lost so much of me. I know I am blessed and am working on getting my life back together. Thanks again for your encouragemnt...

medsec

onlytoday said:

Forgetting
I had a terrible problem right after treatment and it kept getting worse for awhile after. I went back to work a month after treatment and it was a mess. I would be talking and suddenly forget what I was saying! To clients! I would forget simple words and forget how to spell them.When I talked to my onc about it she said that it is partially the treatment and partially the stress of all of it. She recommended an anti anxiety pill temporarily and it helped.(xanax) I don't know how but I muddled through and eventually it got better and better. My husband and I play cards every night and I play scrabble against the computer all the time. I'm still working and I'm doing much better now.

I think I needed more time and taking the anti anxiety pill for awhile helped too. My treatment ended in October. I hope this helps you and I hope you are feeling better every day!

Donna

NMZ NHL stage IV 05/10 REMISSION 01/11/11

forgetfulness
Thanks to everyone for responding, it makes me feel better knowing that their is hope. My doctor gave me some Xanax so maybe my symptoms will start improving. Just having you guys to chat with has made so much difference. I feel I have lost so much of me. I know I am blessed and am working on getting my life back together. Thanks again for your encouragemnt...

COBRA666

Forgetfulness
Medsec,
The chemicals will cause what they call chemo brain. I think it happens to everyone in one way or the other. I know it did me. It is from the chemo. They affect all parts of your body including your brain. Stress could also cause the forgetfulness as well. This disease alone will cause all sorts of stress.I had the same problem spelling simple words and saying something entirely different than what I was thinking. You have others things that are causing you stress and that will put a lot on your mind and body. I did notice it was worse during the chemo sessions,but got better the farther away I got from the treatments. I am 4 months out of treatment and in remission, but still have periods of not being able to remember things. It is no way as bad as it was during treatment though. I do hope your husband is doing better. You will get thru this,it just takes time. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)