I'm turning into a total flake!

tgf
tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've read about chemo-brain ... but this is rediculous. I can hardly concentrate on anything. I'm still working full time and thank goodness everyone is very understanding of my situation ... but honestly ... I can hardly focus on anything. It's like I'm in a complete fog. I makes lists but then I forget what I meant by my scribbly notes. I ask the same questions over and over. It seems to get worse by the day. I keep putting off the more "detailed" parts of my job hoping that I will be sharper tomorrow ... but so far ... that "tomorrow" just hasn't arrived. I'm not getting sharper ... I'm getting duller.

Please tell me this will go away and that at least some of my brain cells will start working again.

hugs.
teena

Comments

  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #2
    Tgf
    IT DOES GO AWAY! Fear Not! I didn't even know about this when I went through treatment, but the cancer society gave me a Phone Buddy, when she first mentioned Chemo Brain, I fell about laughing, I thought she was joking..........But, when it happened to me I realised I was NOT going completely mad, Thank god for her, I honestly would have thought I was totally bonkers without her imput. I couldn't count money, I saw 20s as 10s or 50s I really screwed up a few times and I had to get my husband to double-check it for me, In the stores I paid by card but still got it wrong!..........I couldn't remember how to do a meat-loaf or a macaroni cheese. I was hopeless!!!!!!!!!!!!! I walked into shops and couldn't remember what the hell I was in there for. I couldn't remember conversations I had the day before. BUT it does come back to you...I went into a shop today, picked out a great deal and paid in cash (Without HIM) I am getting there........So will you. Hope this helps you.....Hugs Jxxxxxxxxx
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #3
    It does get better, give
    It does get better, give yourself time, and keep on making lists. If anyone starts to ask you to do anything at all, hand them the list and ask them to write it down. Try to keep a sense of humor about it as much as possible. I know it is frustrating. I decided I could either laugh about it, or cry. Laughing is more fun and much easier for those around me to deal with, so I handed out autographed notepads to my colleagues and we all lauged. I still use lists, though I am better at remembering where I put them and writing legibly so I know what I wrote.

    This too shall pass, seof
  • tami90650
    tami90650 Member Posts: 82
    #4
    Dory
    Have you ever seen the movie Finding Nemo? Well my kids named me Dory after the fish that forgot everything in seconds. Dont feel loney, it happens to most of us. Im 19 months from my last chemo and its gotten alot better. The fog does lift. At times I still have what my son calles a brain fart and I forget, but its nothing like back then. Keep the list going and youll get through this too. love ya tami
  • Bill.S
    Bill.S Member Posts: 177
    #5
    FOG
    Hi Teena,
    Glad to know that I am not the only one caught in the fog. I walk into a room and can't remember why I'm there. Open the frig door and stare--can't remember what I wanted.
    I'm amazed that you can work through all of this.
    I ended chemo early Dec 08 and hope this goes away soon.
    Remember............ ? now what was I supposed to remember ?????
    Love
    Bill S.
  • Derbygirl
    Derbygirl Member Posts: 198
    #6
    I'm also glad to know this
    I'm also glad to know this will phase will pass. Chemo ended on Halloween 2008 and I'm struggling with forgetfulness and lack of concentration. Seems to be worse now than ever. I blame it on having way too many stupid things to remember, but it's probably chemo brain. One more reminder of the struggle we go through in fighting breast cancer. Looking forward to better days ahead.
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #7
    Derbygirl said:

    I'm also glad to know this
    I'm also glad to know this will phase will pass. Chemo ended on Halloween 2008 and I'm struggling with forgetfulness and lack of concentration. Seems to be worse now than ever. I blame it on having way too many stupid things to remember, but it's probably chemo brain. One more reminder of the struggle we go through in fighting breast cancer. Looking forward to better days ahead.

    Just think!
    Hey, whatsername, just think about, about.... OK I'll get back to that later (If I remember) Keep notes, I did, maybe one of these days I'll recall just where I put them...
    Go shopping with a friend......one who is suffering from senile dementia or is in her dotage would be best...makes you feel superior for at least 2 seconds (until you forget what you are feeling superior about)
    A friend of mine who had cancer told me he could only remember certain things, like the filing cabinet is full. I have had my filing cabinet filled and now know what he meant! Hugs Jxxxxxxxxx
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #8
    tasha_111 said:

    Just think!
    Hey, whatsername, just think about, about.... OK I'll get back to that later (If I remember) Keep notes, I did, maybe one of these days I'll recall just where I put them...
    Go shopping with a friend......one who is suffering from senile dementia or is in her dotage would be best...makes you feel superior for at least 2 seconds (until you forget what you are feeling superior about)
    A friend of mine who had cancer told me he could only remember certain things, like the filing cabinet is full. I have had my filing cabinet filled and now know what he meant! Hugs Jxxxxxxxxx

    Whatsername ...
    I love the idea that the filing cabinet is full. I guess with all the "new stuff" my brain is having to deal with there just aren't enough brain cells left to handle day-to-day life. So ... my filing cabinet IS full. It's a wonder that I can find my way home at the end of the day. But it is just so frustrating ... especially at work. I feel like I'm getting nothing done. Of course ... that's because I'm NOT getting anything done. All I seem to do is move a pile of papers from one spot on my desk to another ... and never really looking or thinking about any of them. I feel like I've made a HUGE accomplishment if I can complete ONE tiny little task a day... without screwing it up.

    hugs.
    teena
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #9
    I wonder if my lack of common sense sometimes is due to chemo br
    You know what's really embarrassing is when you are given a simple task to do and you're not sure how to. It's like for a second you can't figure out how to do it. And then if there are others around you,they stare at you with this confused look like are you stupid or something? But then there are other times when I'm speaking with someone and I'm coming across as intelligent and knowing what I'm talking about!
    Boy,on those bad days my self esteem takes a big nosedive.
    Sometimes I wonder if it's chemobrain or me just being flaky!
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #10
    outdoorgirl said:

    I wonder if my lack of common sense sometimes is due to chemo br
    You know what's really embarrassing is when you are given a simple task to do and you're not sure how to. It's like for a second you can't figure out how to do it. And then if there are others around you,they stare at you with this confused look like are you stupid or something? But then there are other times when I'm speaking with someone and I'm coming across as intelligent and knowing what I'm talking about!
    Boy,on those bad days my self esteem takes a big nosedive.
    Sometimes I wonder if it's chemobrain or me just being flaky!

    chemo brain
    I used to think "chemo-brain" was just an excuse people used ... but after reading about it on the web ... I realize that it IS a REAL side-effect of chemo in many people.

    As you said ... it is embarrassing when people look at you like you are a total doofus ... but that's the way it is. I try to explain to them that this IS a side effect of chemo and that I am NOT really a total idiot ... but I think they figure I'm just making excuses. But it IS real!!!

    What frightens me more than anything is that I am 65 ... and my grandmother had alzheimers and was just about totally "out of it" by the time she was 75. I'm trying my best to convince myself that this IS chemo brain ... and that it is not the signs of alzheimbers. It's really scary.

    It's frustrating to have to ask the same questions over and over because I didn't remember the answers ... or if I did remember the answers ... I didn't understand. And ... this is all making me very cranky!

    hugs.
    teena

Discussion Boards