Can We Talk Chemo Brain?

jimwins

COBRA666 said:

KEMO BRANE

I WAS GOIN TO YTPE SOMETHING HERE, BUTT I GOT UPP TO GOE TO THE CITCHEN AND FORGETTED WHAT I WAS GOIN TO RIGHT. SURE GLAD THAT WHAT CHA MA CALL IT STUFF, OH YEA, KEMO BRANE NEVER AFFECTED ME NONE. I STILL SPELL GOODER AND NEVER TRANSPORT WORSD, NUMBRES OR NOTHING. I AMM STILL 010%.... I MEAN 100%. IT MITE AFFECT ME ONE DAY, BUTT I AMM STILL AT THE TOP OF MY GAIM NOW. EVER ONCE IN A WHILE I GO TO THE BAHTROOM AND FORGETTED WHY I WENT IN THEIR TO DO. HANG IN THEIR PEOPLES YOU WILL BE AS GOODER AS ME ONE DYA.  JHON

Gald you ear spotting again

Geart to see you spot, Jhon.  Woke pu in the dimmle of the night - porbly cause I heard that bowstring being darwn.

Sguh 

COBRA666

jimwins said:

Gald you ear spotting again

Geart to see you spot, Jhon.  Woke pu in the dimmle of the night - porbly cause I heard that bowstring being darwn.

Sguh 

SERIOUSLY THOUGH !!!

I can relate to everything said here about Chemo Brain. I transpose letters all the time. I have to re-read everything I post before posting or it may not make any sense. I can not do math any longer in my head. Something I used to be so good at doing. I use a calculator and honestly I mess that up sometimes too. I find myself searching for words all the time. Most of the time they are just simple words. I go to say things and the wrong word comes out. It's like my brain is connected to the wrong end at times. Short term memory is gone. Haven't forgot my name and still know how to get home. Damn, I hope it never gets that bad, but who knows where this can all lead in the long term. Wonder if it's the chemo or maybe the Rituxan. Probably a combo of both. John

  PS:( Depression thread) Jim, I hope you don't throw out any of those crayons and markers out by mistake while taking the garbage out. You'd be in a world of S#%T then. LOL

embracinghope

chemo brain

Hi...I'm new here..but just had to add my input on chemo brain...a little background...used to be an oncology nurse...I stopped to raise my kids...when youngest was 16 I got a job with learning rx as a brain trainer...we dealt ....with all kinds of adults and kids...some with major issues in reading...and math...some who wanted an edge for life and school...at any rate...it was fun going to work...playing brain games for a job...it sharpened me up...while working here I was diagnosed with nhl....I was concerned about chemo brain...when I asked hematologist about it...she said...with tongue in cheek...oh that doesn't exist...I found out real fast otherwise...had many of symptoms u all describe...in fact became so bad that I didn't drive for a year...after a couple of close calls...I felt like I had a fog induced add...when I could make it to the store...I frequently stood there and bawled...at my lack of processing...in the beginning I could only process to buy one or two meals of groceries at a time...much more was way too overwhelming....couldn't process reading...would read same thing over and over...and forget math...wasn't good...but I had kind of an epiphany about this this past week...its been five years since chemo...they r watching something in my neck...hoping I'm not out of remission...I went in for my 5 year all clear....and it wasn't...combine that with being an only child...just losing my dad to liver cancer....dealing with my mom having a stroke...and dementia...and my son finishing up a one year residential treatment program....equals....major stress...over the top.....the other day I walked into the store...something felt oddly familiar...I couldn't process...couldn't shop...cried...brain fog...I realized that I think chemo brain has as much to do with stress...as the chemo...it had been 5 years since my last chemo...but it was like I stepped back in time...and who isn't greatly stressed with this diagnosis.?....it was interesting to me...and all that brain training background did not seem to make a difference.it is what it is...what did help...was time...gradually it all lifted...made improvements daily...until last week...but its not lingering...so maybe for some of us...actively decreasing stress whether by prescription or other means will help the brain fog......

embracinghope

one more thing
One more thing..funny...cant remember movies...happy as a clam...they r all new again...my family despairs of that one...but I keep entertained at a very low cost...lol

tall floridian

embracinghope said:

one more thing
One more thing..funny...cant remember movies...happy as a clam...they r all new again...my family despairs of that one...but I keep entertained at a very low cost...lol

Stress

I believe that stress plays a big part in our chemo brains. When things are running smoothly I tend to relax and the symptoms are less but when stress rises I can feel the drift feeling coming on and have to put up my defenses quickly-especially while driving. So the less stress the less drift becomes a reality in my day to day living. I'm retired so it's easier for me when I feel this coming on to lie down and relax and even take a nap. I also find taking deep breaths help relieve stress also and I use a wrist band at sleep time to help give me a deep sleep. Eating healthy too eases stress as my body can function better rather than too much sugar and fat going in instead of fresh fruits and vegetables like I know is best for my system. Very important to me is my faith-praying is very very relaxing and meaningful to me. Knowing that God's in control of everything in my life gives me hope and comfort. I hope this helps you guys a little in understanding how to cope with chemo brain.

anliperez915

COBRA666 said:

SERIOUSLY THOUGH !!!

I can relate to everything said here about Chemo Brain. I transpose letters all the time. I have to re-read everything I post before posting or it may not make any sense. I can not do math any longer in my head. Something I used to be so good at doing. I use a calculator and honestly I mess that up sometimes too. I find myself searching for words all the time. Most of the time they are just simple words. I go to say things and the wrong word comes out. It's like my brain is connected to the wrong end at times. Short term memory is gone. Haven't forgot my name and still know how to get home. Damn, I hope it never gets that bad, but who knows where this can all lead in the long term. Wonder if it's the chemo or maybe the Rituxan. Probably a combo of both. John

  PS:( Depression thread) Jim, I hope you don't throw out any of those crayons and markers out by mistake while taking the garbage out. You'd be in a world of S#%T then. LOL

Hi John!!!

Hi John!!!

Very nice to hear from you... Glad to know that you still remember your name hahaha! Well, that happened to me once and it sort of throws you off like Sue said...an extremely weird sensation like you're lost or something. I just hope it doesn't happen to me anymore and I'm trying very hard to concentrate on everything I do. And just like Rocquie don't talk to me while I'm doing something because I will either screw it up or won't listen to a word your saying hehehe!!! Man man man I think we're screwed lol...but you know what I'll take this memory loss instead of the cancer (Any day)! take care and hope your Christmas and New Year were awesome! (((Hugs)))

Sincerely,

Liz

COBRA666

anliperez915 said:

Hi John!!!

Hi John!!!

Very nice to hear from you... Glad to know that you still remember your name hahaha! Well, that happened to me once and it sort of throws you off like Sue said...an extremely weird sensation like you're lost or something. I just hope it doesn't happen to me anymore and I'm trying very hard to concentrate on everything I do. And just like Rocquie don't talk to me while I'm doing something because I will either screw it up or won't listen to a word your saying hehehe!!! Man man man I think we're screwed lol...but you know what I'll take this memory loss instead of the cancer (Any day)! take care and hope your Christmas and New Year were awesome! (((Hugs)))

Sincerely,

Liz

POSTING

Liz,

 I know I do not post that often anymore, but I do check out the post daily. Hope you are doing well. Take care, John