Chemo Brain versus Something Else

 

We’ve all experienced a minor hiccup when it comes to our memory.  We laugh about it and even make up silly songs. 

 

The chemo cocktails are toxic. It kills cancer and it also kills good cells. I’m not sure how long the effects last or how age can tamper with our memory, but this is the next battle I’m facing. 

It’s a little more than forgetting why I walked into a room to do something.  The first time it happened, I forgot who my husband was and I lost a decade of memories.  It finally came back, but man, oh man, it really blind-sided both of us.   When it happened again 6 months later, I made a doctor’s appointment.  Again, my memories returned, except the last several moments when it happened.  Those moments are gone. 

My doctor wrote amnesia.  Hmm, sounds like a better description than black outs.  Oh, I’m fully awake when it happens and alcohol is not involved (which evokes the connotation of the word “black out”).  I haven’t decided how much I’ll share or how raw, but this issue almost cost me my marriage.  By the grace of God, our marriage is whole again and better than before. 

Insurance denied a CTscan, so an EEG has been scheduled in February.  Until then, no driving allowed and just trying to keep tranquility all around me and “be still”.

 

Don’t fear for the future, God is already there ~

I want my brain back!

 

I'm extremely curious about http://www.lumosity.com/

I want to get back in the game!  back in life! back in work! 

 

I want my brain back!

Got this from my new found blogging friend Denise http://denise4health.wordpress.com/


I'll keep you posted :)

Chemo Brain

Evidence of 'chemo brain' verified by researchers

By Loren Grush

Published November 27, 2012

FoxNews.com
 

• 

For many cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, memory problems and a general mental haziness often plague them during and after treatment. The condition – known as‘chemo brain’ – has only been a reported phenomenon, without ever having been fully verified through scientific measures – until now.

That Fogginess

Duct Tape is Wonderful

So there IS such a thing as Chemo Brain !!! I knew it just wasn't ME....seriously?!  Pre-chemo, I use to say I had "some-timerz", not Alzheimer's (hope I'm not offending anyone).

The article states
Here are just a few examples of what patients call chemo brain:

• Forgetting things that they usually have no trouble recalling (memory lapses)
• Trouble concentrating (they can’t focus on what they’re doing, have a short attention span, may “space out”)
• Trouble remembering details like names, dates, and sometimes larger events
• Trouble multi-tasking, like answering the phone while cooking, without losing track of one task (they are less able to do more than one thing at a time)
• Taking longer to finish things (disorganized, slower thinking and processing)
• Trouble remembering common words (unable to find the right words to finish a sentence)

I can certainly attest to it!

I see my oncologist in the morning and my blog helps me keep things in order.  Like most people, I make lists and try to remember it all.

Day-to-day coping

Experts have been studying memory for a long time. There are many resources that might help you sharpen your mental abilities and manage the problems that may come with chemo brain. Some things that you can do are:

• Use a detailed daily planner. Keeping everything in one place makes it easier to find the reminders you may need. Serious planner users keep track of their appointments and schedules, “to do” lists, important dates, websites, phone numbers and addresses, meeting notes, and even movies they’d like to see or books they’d like to read.
• Exercise your brain. Take a class, do word puzzles, or learn a new language.
• Get enough rest and sleep.
• Exercise your body. Regular physical activity is not only good for your body, but also improves your mood, makes you feel more alert, and decreases tiredness (fatigue).
• Eat your veggies. Studies have shown that eating more vegetables is linked to keeping brain power as people age.
• Set up and follow routines. Pick a certain place for commonly lost objects and put them there each time. Try to keep the same daily schedule.
• Don’t try to multi-task. Focus on one thing at a time.
• Ask for help when you need it. Friends and loved ones can help with daily tasks to cut down on distractions and help you save mental energy.
• Track your memory problems. Keep a diary of when you notice problems and the events that are going on at the time. Medicines taken, time of day, and the situation you are in might help you figure out what affects your memory. Keeping track of when the problems are most noticeable can also help you prepare. You’ll know to avoid planning important conversations or appointments during those times. This will also be useful when you talk with your doctor about these problems.
• Try not to focus so much on how much these symptoms bother you. Accepting the problem will help you deal with it. As many patients have noted, being able to laugh about things you can’t control can help you cope. And remember, you probably notice your problems much more than others do. Sometimes we all have to laugh about forgetting to take the grocery list with us to the store.