Steroids

txtrisha55 said:

It's Chemo Brain
I too have those moments. It is Chemo Brain more than the steroids. Chemo Brain is a real symptom. Researchers have found that women with breast cancer (of course this is waht they research) 20 years later that still have chemo brain symptoms, this was reported in my local (Dallas) newspaper about a month ago.

This is what one web site has about chemo brain. Signs and symptoms of chemo brain may include:

Being unusually disorganized
Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty finding the right word
Difficulty learning new skills
Difficulty multitasking
Fatigue
Feeling of mental fogginess
Short attention span
Short-term memory problems
Taking longer than usual to complete routine tasks
Trouble with verbal memory, such as remembering a conversation
Trouble with visual memory, such as recalling an image or list of words
Signs and symptoms of cognitive or memory problems vary from person to person and are typically temporary, often subsiding within two years of completion of cancer treatment.
When to see a doctor
If you experience troubling memory or thinking problems, make an appointment with your doctor. Keep a journal of your signs and symptoms so that your doctor can better understand how your memory problems are affecting your everyday life.

This is what one web site had about long-term side effects of systemic (When taken in oral or injected forms, the route of administration is termed “systemic.” ) steroids:
Long-Term Side Effects of Systemic Steroids
When systemic steroids are used for long periods of time, or when steroids are taken on multiple occasions, more serious side effects may occur. The length of time that steroids stay in the body varies from a couple of weeks to more than 18 months. It is for these reasons that the dose and duration of systemic steroids should be minimized whenever possible. Some side effects can be decreased by taking systemic steroids every other day instead of daily, even if the total dose is the same. Many of the side effects are reversible if the steroids are stopped, while other side effects may be permanent.
Side effects of long-term steroid use includes:

•Glaucoma
•Cataracts
•High-blood pressure
•Heart disease
•Diabetes mellitus
•Obesity
•Acid reflux/GERD
•Osteoporosis
•Myopathy
•Increase in certain types of infections
•Cushing syndrome


My problem is with words and short attention span. I cannot think of words to say and I know I know them. My concentration is slower so that does not help my attention span which is why it is short.

I had no problems with the steroids as I only had a small dose of them each time I received chemo. I am only 8 months from the last chemo and the fog is still there.
I am sorry you are still having problems and I will keep you in my prayers. trish

debrajo said:

Thank you Trish, I have
Thank you Trish, I have most of the things on the first list and unfortunately have several things on the extended steroid use already. The thing that bothers me the most besides the vertigo is concentration(so I have just about stopped reading) and memory of written things( I use to do Genealogy and could recall not only the line, but dates, deaths burials, children, ect.) Is this forever? do they have anything medically for this? I tried the Brain teasers, Sudoku, crosswords, ect and for a time I thought I was coming back, but recently the fog is thicker and all the brain exercises just frustrate the Hell out of me, so I quite. I am going to talk to the dr. in May, but they seem to think this is small stuff compaired to cancer and I AM blessed. Any suggestions will be wellcome! Thanks again for the info. Best, Debrajo (from Texas, Too!)