Hubby hates when I say "chemo brain!"

Patrusha
Patrusha Member Posts: 487
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
OK, only after two rounds of chemo I already have experienced what I term "chemo brain." In my case it is this irritating, agitated feeling throughout my head and upper body that makes it hard to concentrate around day 4 and 5 (like today). I feel like I am coming out of the flu and I'm walking in a tunnel. Or, like today, I feel like I've drank 50 cups of coffee and have no way to burn off that extra agitation.

It has to be the chemo.

My hubby thinks that if I say I have "chemo brain" that somehow that makes it worse. I think it is just reality! LOL!! So I won't say it around him anymore. I'll just come here and say it where folks will know what I am talking about!

I did go to see my sister at lunch, though. She's a licensed massage therapist and she worked out a lot of that nerve stuff that was making me crazy. I highly recommend massage for anyone who is going through chemo, followed by lots of water. Just make sure you go to a therapist who is knowledgeable about massage with cancer patients...

There, now I feel better!

Comments

  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #2
    I think "chemo brain" is partly the direct effect of the chemicals but also related to the fatigue and other secondary effects. Saying it doesn't make it any worse. I like to say "chemo brain" when my wife makes a silly mistake although I am the one getting treatment. The general stress that the diagnosis of cancer and of the treatments adds into it and affects our caregivers as well. The massage therapy is good advice. I find that walking when those periods come helps as well.

    ****
  • mum-of-four
    mum-of-four Member Posts: 22
    #3
    vinny3 said:

    I think "chemo brain" is partly the direct effect of the chemicals but also related to the fatigue and other secondary effects. Saying it doesn't make it any worse. I like to say "chemo brain" when my wife makes a silly mistake although I am the one getting treatment. The general stress that the diagnosis of cancer and of the treatments adds into it and affects our caregivers as well. The massage therapy is good advice. I find that walking when those periods come helps as well.

    ****

    oh I can SO relate to "chemo brain" on top of the things you have already mentioned, it drives me insane when my kids spin round and round on my office chair - arrggghhh!! Also, if anyone sends me a long, detailed email, I get to about the 3rd line and give up, I just can't read it anymore!
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #4
    Hi Patrusha,

    Like you said we understand completely. I just had a moment today when I couldn't remember someones name that I work with. I also tend to go do something and forget what I was going to do. Like walking into a room and going "OK, now what was it I wanted???" Very frustrating. HUGS and you just have to make fun of it.

    Lisa F.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
    Just recognizing chemo brain won't make it worse, in fact, by laughing about it, it removes some of the stress. STRESS? What stress????? Having to go thru what we go thru to vanquish the beast...well.....
    I have a beau who is a little under-sympathetic....but is learning...because I expose him to other cancer fighters, and he sees that all of this is OUR 'normal'!

    I have not had chemo in 6 months, and can STILL forget the name of someone I remembered 5 minutes earlier!

    Hugs to a VERY BRAVE warrior!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #6
    That chemo brain thing is very real. I had it big time. Could't focus, couldn't remember anything, couldn't sleep enough, never felt alert.

    That 50 cups of coffee feeling - hm, are they giving you decadrone (sp?), which has steroids. That could account for the agitation, and nervousness. I opted out of it after 2 rounds and chose to throw up instead. So most of the time I felt like I needed 50 cups of coffee just to wake up.

    My husband was so supportive we joked that he was developing a sympathy chemo-brainess to support me :)

    Cheers,
    Ying
  • alta29
    alta29 Member Posts: 435 Member
    #7
    a good example...
    I'm a realtor and this past week i met with some clients...I introduced myself and said the common "nice meeting you". The next week I had to go to their house to have them signed a contract...it was then that I realized that I picked them up twice at their apartment 4 months ago to show them some houses...Can you imagine what are they thinking ?? Like..."This is my realtor...?????
  • TheBean
    TheBean Member Posts: 9
    #8
    Chemo brain is real. My short term memory is lousy right now. Absolutly laugh about it as much as possible. In fact, my sister is now claiming to have "CBBA" (Chemo Brain By Association)!

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