memory loss

kris43
kris43 Member Posts: 275
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi everyone. I am wondering if any of you wise women can let me know if you had problems with memory loss after chemo. I am 4 months out from chemo but my short term memory is getting worse every day. I have been in touch with my oncologist and they asked if I would like a Neuro consult and I said no, I just wanted someone to tell me that this is normal as I am getting so frustrated. They said yes it's normal and I am having a delayed effect of the chemo.

Has anyone else experienced this? How long did it stay?

I was off the 6 months after surgery & treatment so I wasn't dealing with work plus keeping a household running - so I'm sure that's why I didn't notice it so much before. And although I am 43 and people tell me, oh I do that all the time - it is not normal for me. I work for the court system and have always prided myself on remembering details - now I can go to court and come down to my office and literally won't be able to remember what just happened without a lot of prompting or looking at my notes. I had dinner with my son and a friend a few weeks ago and they were discussing something and I said you never told me that and my son said mom, I don't want to make you feel bad but we had a whole conversation about this.

I need to quit stressing about this if it truly is normal - so I'm looking for some in put.

Thanks everyone.

Kris

Comments

  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    Yes, me too. And my hearing is going too. I can no longer multi-task. Going for chemo this morning and will ask my doctor about it. This is dose no. 7 of the maintenance schedule of taxol. I've had 9 of the heavy stuff carbo and taxol in the last 14 months. Saundra
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #3
    Kris43,
    i think it not only has something to do with the chemo,but also the stress of having this diagnosis. It is always on our minds. i think you need to be alittle more understanding of yourself. No one really ever understands just how stressful a cancer diangnosis is to us (even we don't understand it)But it does consume alot of our lives. My sister has just gone through a very stressful year(not cancer related) and is also having memory problems. I also can tell her something we talked about and she has no recollection of the entire conversation. Take it one day at a time,it will get easier for you..and if you have to take more notes right now then that is what you need to do right now...it will get better, the longer you get away from the whole cancer thing,the better your mind will improve..like I said earlier....take it easy on yourself,you have been through hell and back!!! (((hugz)))~~~Joanne
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #4
    My oncologist said it was chemo fatigue and it would get better when I get off the chem. Lack of focus so I will make list, too.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #5
    Hi Kris:
    Well, as you can see you are not alone. It's what many of us refer to as 'chemo brain'. I definitely have experienced it, and still do to some extent. I also was always very sure of the fact that I could store tons of info - names, dates, details, etc. I had total recall anytime, anywhere. While it has improved, I have noticed it moreso recently (I'm not going through chemo), along with some other symptoms that may be thyroid related. Low thyroid can also be responsible for the 'fogginess'. Our whole system goes through a great deal (emotionally too), so it's no wonder that our mental focus may be affeted. So, give yourself some time for this all to mellow out. Don't stress about it - it will only make it worse. Take more notes than usual if necessary - I know I do and it helps take the stress off. You'll be back in no time!

    God bless!

    Monika
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #6
    mopar said:

    Hi Kris:
    Well, as you can see you are not alone. It's what many of us refer to as 'chemo brain'. I definitely have experienced it, and still do to some extent. I also was always very sure of the fact that I could store tons of info - names, dates, details, etc. I had total recall anytime, anywhere. While it has improved, I have noticed it moreso recently (I'm not going through chemo), along with some other symptoms that may be thyroid related. Low thyroid can also be responsible for the 'fogginess'. Our whole system goes through a great deal (emotionally too), so it's no wonder that our mental focus may be affeted. So, give yourself some time for this all to mellow out. Don't stress about it - it will only make it worse. Take more notes than usual if necessary - I know I do and it helps take the stress off. You'll be back in no time!

    God bless!

    Monika

    Thanks for your input - I knew you'd help me make sense of it all. My nurses said the same thing basically - as in just think of all that you have gone thru in just a short period of time. I am so impatient with it though - it makes me feel stupid and I find myself constantly explaining why I can't remember anything.

    My thyroid is fine though - it's been checked a couple of times. I will try to give myself a break - it sounds like all I can do at this point.

    Thanks for your encouraging words. They mean so much. Take care!

    Kris
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #7
    Hey Kris, The good news as you have discovered is this a pretty common problem. I have talked to others who have been off treatment and after awhile it did improve. I have never been off chemo long enough to find out. :-)

    I read in a cancer magazine doing puzzles, like crosswords and sudoko help. I bought all kinds of books and I think they do after you can get through the frustration of your brain not working like it did. Also reading helps our brain refocus, I get lost reading and know sometimes I read the same page or paragraph more than once(I use to read a book in a day or so), but I am sure it helps keep me from getting as bad as I could be. Or at least think it does,LOL

    Sometimes, I have heard, anti depressants can help. I dont' know what they do but my sister in law was getting really bad, we wondered if she had altimizers, and they put her on anti depressants and I was amazed how much better her memory is now.

    Didn't mean to write a book, hope some of it helped.

    Hugs N Prayers Bonnie

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