I almost have night hot flashes solved. They are very minor now using magnesium. I have accepted my sporadic muscle weakness cramping etc. I still need to learn to not do stupid things. Yesterday I rescued an old blind dog who got stuck in the creek near our house. I fell into a patch of poison oak but the doggie was saved. Almost hit my head on a rock My leg collapsed when I tried to deal with slipping on a rock. I used to be a mountain goat.
So brain fog is my challenge now. I used to be really smart and quick. I was the type of person who answered peoples questions before they were done asking. I still have my sense of humor and am still pretty quick. I must have gotten that from my mother, she had a great sense of humor and was quite quick with her snappy replies until the day before she died.
The problem is that I enjoy computer programming as an advanced amateur. I do almost everything copying and pasting stuff I wrote long ago. Now hen I look at what I wrote I am amazed and have a hard time understanding it. If I need to write new code (complicated stuff) it is a real challenge. I have horrible short term memory. If I go to the shop or shed to get something I usually forget what I was after unless I make a real attempt to remember by repeating to myself.
I really prefer quiet during programming but my husband has the TV and fans and other noisy stuff most of his waking hours. I guess I could go to our little cabin for quiet but we have a long term guest. A young guy who is very very helpful so that is more important at this point.
Any suggestions, for improving concentration and also avoiding doing stupid things? I do remind myself that I need to be careful but new situation arise all the time. I was thinking about the poor old dog more than my footing.
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Ahh brain fog...yea. i used to build websites not coding but wasnt long before i fell way behind. Things in general got tougher. Like i forget im not on the bottom rung of a ladder before dismounting. It kinda levels off. Im told i need to restart lupron now. Boy i really dont want to do that. But if i have to i will.
Watch out for the slippery rocks! Brain fog? Comes with adt and no t .. I myself became a bit accident prone after treatments ..I use care “ not “ to injure myself doing what used to be normal things. But I still do..Yard work and such . I thought . “ oh boy , I m in front of APC ,just don’t walk infront of a yellow cab! Ever walk into a room and forget what you came in for? Common place for me now . IMO geriatric disease abounds after dx.
Ever walk across the room and forget why you headed that way? I have absolutely no short term memory unless I make a concerted effort and then forget some time anyway. That is why programming is so difficult, it really needs short terms memory. I just copied some good code I wrote ten years ago but why did I and what was I planning on doing with it? I need to figure out new methods like maybe keeping notes each time I do something.
I'm very curious about your statement that you "have night hot flashes solved. They are very minor now using magnesium." A what strength are you taking magnesium and how often?
I feel this post in my soul. My brain fog has gotten so bad my oncology team has referred me to a neuropsychologist. I simply can not learn new concepts, and I have zero short term memory. When my exhaustion is really hitting me hard, I even get “the shakes”.
Clumsiness and forgetfulness seem to go hand in hand with my extreme fatigue. Not able to work currently, but that is a blessing in a way. I get to go to the gym 3 times a week. I have made the purposeful decision to decide I am on a Cancer Vacation, versus being too tired to do anything…. On particularly bad days, if the weather is nice, I ride the hammock vs riding the couch…. I mean, who can feel sorry for themselves when laying in a hammock in the sun??
Good luck on your journey! Take things slowly (compared to before Cancer) watch your feet, and soak up the beauty in the “small” things in life.
Are getting a lot of exercise? Quit alcohol? My being a little drunk did not combine well with the other chemicals. Surprisingly I had no trouble quitting. The brain fog is my final obstacle.
I do vigorous exercises 3+ times a week - I average over 200 mins a week of 130+ heart rate. I also add in light weights / resistance training. I do not drink alcohol.
My Oncology team includes a Cancer Rehab Specialist, as well as my MO, RO and a palliative care doctor. They say I am being hit harder by the fatigue than most.
But is fatigue is as bad as it gets, then I am doing better than a lot of others!
I have had a bad back for over a decade…. Unfortunately I have been experiencing some bone pain around the vertebrae that have collapsed. Shoulders/neck seem to be where I hold my stress now, which kind of sucks…. But the more I hurt, the more I need to move! My Palliative doctor did get me a bunch of Lidocaine patches - they help quite a bit!
My hardest fight is my diet, which I am working on. I just love my red meat too much! 🤣.
I have issues with brain fog too, I’ve been on ADT for over 7 years now. I try and do things that exercise my brain just like I exercise my body, reading, math, aquarium chemistry, etc. it seems to help. But I still try to be extra careful when driving and working around the house, I find myself double checking myself before doing certain things. For hot flashes I’ve found estradiol patches to be very effective. Some guys also use Ritalin to help with brain fog and fatigue.
that is why they mentioned Ritalin. i forgot if it gets to the point that i just can't program i might consider it. oh and i also quit caffeine maybe i need to reintroduce a little of that maybe green tea?
Damn no caffeine, I couldn’t function. And you may want to give Ritalin a shot, it is used more than you think, you can always stop if it’s not for you.
I may be younger than you (58) and am going on 2 years of ADT. I have experienced some of what you have to a smaller extent, but I can feel it. I still run my company though I have toned it down a bit over the last 2 years. I have also added things to my system that help me remember and access info correctly. The only thing I would encourage, if not already done, in addition to what you mention above, is eat well with very diverse foods. I don't know for sure if this has helped me in addition to a lot of exercise but I am sticking with it. I eat a lot of varied mushrooms, nuts, greens, tuber veggies in addition to all the other veggies I can find. The single thing that helps with the room thing is to say what I am going to do out loud while I am doing it. Sometimes I might sing it. I also learn new songs on my guitar regularly as I was told that music is a good way to hold off Alzheimer which runs in my family.
Thanks for saving that dog. Your a hero in my mind even if you forget you did it soon
I'll try outlook. I tried reading thinking fast and slow and realized I was just reading the words and not registering anything without a concerted effort. I need to get the audio book, I seem to follow them better
I like to call it brain farts instead of fog. I can find myself in the bathroom wondering why I'm there. Not a lot of choices. It is different than my normal CRS-can't remember stuff (actually another S word). I can tell myself 10 times to do X and still forget. At one time in my early life I was a programmer, so know what you mean.
I found that for leg cramps that a supplement by Spring Valley which contains calcium, magnesium and zinc plus vitamin D3 helps a lot in one pill.
Sorry about your injury, but like everyone else, kudos on the dog rescue. Spencer says good on you.
Hello Spencoid2, I have found the following to help:
1. Vigorous and strength exercise (5+ hours/week)
2. Eating twice a day within a 6-8 hour period (also known as time restricted feeding)
3. Eating a low carb diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts (walnuts), mushroom, etc.
4. Drinking coffee and black tea in the morning and early afternoon (not beyond)
5. Taking 15-20 minute timed catnaps as needed in the morning and early afternoon, only.
6. Sleeping 7-8 hours each night
7. Low dose tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, before bed, 3 - 5 mg, oral and held in the mouth under the tongue for a minute before swallowing). THC is a good sleep aid for me, but it helps "old" brains (PMID: 28933048)
8. Good social life, family, especially grandchildren!!
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My leg collapsed when I tried to deal with slipping on a rock. I used to be a mountain goat.
Thank you for giving us hope!!! 
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