Memory problems

[Shellygirl]

Hi everyone, really struggling at the moment with my memory. I thought it may improve but in fact I feel it’s getting worse. It’s scary really. Sometimes it’s better than others but I feel I’m in a slippery slope 🙈🙈

[Seasun36-uk]

Hi Shelly,

You must talk to someone eg. Your team or your GP. Or Anna at Ovacome or someone at Macmillan.

What I can say is I think most of us have had blips (word blindness etc) which may be down to chemotherapy or all the stress that we experience.

Really feel for you - please talk to someone. What to your relatives/friends think?

Hugs xoxo

[Shellygirl in reply to Seasun36-uk]

They say they are similar to me... age related but I do feel it’s not improving. I’ve not been doing well lately mentally feelings of guilt etc so I’ve been to gp, given blood pressure tablets first time and the heart test which was normal, I feel as if I have been set adrift. Tried Macmillan I git a generic email here are 92 places you can get help non of which were appropriate. I’ve also tried another cancer charity which offered help but in still waiting for phone call over two weeks later. I haven’t got much confidence and it took a lot to phone I’m just exhausted of hitting a brick wall 😢

[Seasun36-uk in reply to Shellygirl]

Hi again Shelley,

It is exhausting. I had a good experience with a phone call to Macmillan, which is why I suggested them..

If you’ve seen your GP recently, try him/her again.

Also try to see friends. Try today to ‘park’ it in a corner of your mind. Maybe try a walk in this lovely sunshine (hopefully you are having it too!). Sometimes when we give our minds a ‘rest’ (from worry), new thoughts come & we can see a plan taking shape..

Linda xoxo ☀️🌻🌼

[Shellygirl in reply to Seasun36-uk]

Thank you Linda. It is a lovely day 😊 xxx

[Lily-Anne]

Welcome to my world. I fire up my laptop, get comfy, decide I’m going to write, order shopping or whatever bright idea I’ve had then just stare blankly at the screen. Can’t remember why I turned it on. I say to Hubby “guess what” then we both have to guess what because I’m clueless. It has been like this for ages but have found a little improvement by retracing my steps in the hope of a ping moment

I think you get used to it. It used to make me cry with frustration now I just growl

LA xx

[Shellygirl in reply to Lily-Anne]

Glad it’s not just me. I frustrate everyone around me. I just can’t recall things 😢

[lesleysage in reply to Lily-Anne]

Love this LA, getting better at growling is my aim for this coming week. Warm wishes, L x

[jenny8c]

Oh I'm a member of the loss of memory club too. It is a pain but I just let it wash over me. My partner is as bad so it makes me think it is either age related or down to the stress we are both under plus mine gets a little worse after chemo. Growling seems the best option to me. Try to not let it get you down. good luck xxxx

[Shellygirl in reply to jenny8c]

Thank you 😊 Think I will try the growling xx

[Caroles1]

Well you know what I’m like (the txt an hour ago) I can’t even remember who I’m txting about what.

It’s easy to think it’s age related, but I do think the chemo zapped a little bit more than just cancer cells😩

Don’t know what the answer is, just keep your brain active is my motto, or it might turn to mush, you are not on your own.

If you really are worried, see your gp again

Carole xxx

[Shellygirl in reply to Caroles1]

I’m thinking of going to gp might request the nurse they seem to be more clued in xx

[Caroles1 in reply to Shellygirl]

They can be more caring too and spend more time with you,

Take care

Carole xxx

[January-2016-UK]

My memory problems have definitely worsened since chemo. I lose things, forget words and am easily sidetracked also. Try asking some one else if it really is getting worse, or may be you’re not used to it. Sometimes I’m irritated with myself but mostly not.

[Shellygirl in reply to January-2016-UK]

Thank you 😊 I feel it is getting worse my daughter in law suggested I should do brain training and it’s my own fault if I don’t😢 I just haven’t got the energy

[Cropcrop]

Oh Shelly, you could be me talking. My brain just doesn’t function like it used to pre chemo, my memory is shot to bits, a bit like LA I pick up my iPad to look something up and immediately have no idea what I wanted to look up but then I remember in the middle of the night during the ‘awake’ times 😬my poor old chemo brain is addled. I used to do huge accounts and balance massive spreadsheets and control a really big budget, now I wouldn’t dare to even try. Some days are better than others and some days I get really frustrated with myself but then I try to balance it against the joy of still being here and find that helps me a little. The most frustrating thing is forgetting words, I’ve always been quite eloquent but sometimes these days I can’t finish sentences that make sense to me let alone anybody else.

You’re not alone with this but I would suggest if it’s getting you down that a chat with somebody who can help would be nice.

Take care lovely ❤️Xx Jane

[Shellygirl in reply to Cropcrop]

Hi Jane, thank you so much for making me feel like I’m actually not going mad. I still have the awake times the wee small hours are not my friend. I worked in microbiology and knew all the bacteria and antibiotics they were usually susceptible etc. I went back to work the first day back they hounded me with questions I cried I couldn’t do it. I was still capable of doing the job but I felt pressured constantly it was horrible. Needless to say I left the job I had spent years of my life training for. I swim dogs for a living now 😊 I sometimes struggle with names etc but I don’t feel as pressured. If I do forget I explain and hope they understand 😢xx

[Lizchips]

I called it chemo brain, I went back to work full duty 8 months after diagnosed, I found I really had to concentrate on what people were saying. Also I had to slow down and really think when I would talk. A lot of time my mind would wander. 6 months later I was much better.❤❤❤Liz

[Shellygirl in reply to Lizchips]

That’s fab. I am nearly three years post chemo, some days are better than others, I felt improvement for a while but I know feel I’m in a slippery slope back down 🙈🙈🙈

[TudorPurr68]

Shellygirl I find my memory has been bad lately and I was told this is common after chemo paclitaxel and carboplatin. I'm also more disorganised than ever. Try not to worry too much, we have been in a war after all. God Bless - Jayne x

[Shellygirl in reply to TudorPurr68]

Thank you Jayne, the further you get away from chemo I forget how rigorous it was my family say forget and move on. It’s difficult to not feel how much cancer has affected me 😢

[Caroles1 in reply to Shellygirl]

Hi lovely,

Don’t beat yourself up, my lot don’t acknowledge there are after effects as I am “cured” now(in their minds), because that’s what they want to believe, they don’t want to go down any other road.

You know I am run ragged, looking after grandkids, both my kids moving to houses that need doing up in the last 2 months and us there helping.

There are days I don’t want to do it, but I think that’s what keeps me going.

My memory, I do worry about, but cope with it, by lists and calendars, alarms and anything else that helps.I like to think I have so much going on it’s difficult to remember all and I’m sure with your work and family, you are the same.

I know I am doing a lot better than my parents, since they moved away and didn’t do much until they passed away in their 80’s

We have been through a lot and all the ladies seem to be saying the same,

Love,

Carole xx

[Shellygirl in reply to Caroles1]

As always I see myself reflected in your words. My family think the same re being cured. I am going to look into something that will help with my memory such as lists and a more comprehensive calendar. Thank you for being there for me I don’t know what I would do without you 😍 xxxx

[Caroles1 in reply to Shellygirl]

I’m always here, maybe do some word puzzles, crosswords, knitting, anything that will excercise your brain....but mostly what you enjoy and of course, lots of dancing and singing and silly uplifting stuff

Cxx

[Shellygirl in reply to Caroles1]

I love knitting not done any in years, crosswords have always been a challenge for me 🙈 let’s face the music and dance 💃 🥂🥂 xxx

[Caroles1 in reply to Shellygirl]

You go girl! Knitting is a bit of a prob for me as my eyes aren’t so good......we are falling apart lol!

I’m not giving up without a fight, one of my friends calls me a stubborn little f....r and she doesn’t swear😳

You will be fine Cxx

[Shellygirl in reply to Caroles1]

I too am stubborn, I’m not going to give up 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 xx

[Caroles1 in reply to Shellygirl]

Go girl!, I am a Gemini, what are you? Lol!

Don’t give up, you will be fine, you are strong, to give up isto give in and you have so much to live for xx

[Shellygirl in reply to Caroles1]

I’m a Libra always weighing up my opinions 😊 xx

[Caroles1 in reply to Shellygirl]

Most of my friends are Librians, it’s that split thing again, Gemini’s, 2 sided , weighing up mine too.

My slant on things, keep yourself busy and get on with life, otherwise you may look back and think you have wasted your well time, I will pm you, I’m good at research to see if there may have been some help you have overlooked in your area.

Be in touch

Cxxx

[Shellygirl in reply to Caroles1]

Thank you 😊

[mrstadpole]

I would agree with you as my memory is not as sharp as it used to be.Remembering things that happened last week is difficult but things from years ago is much easier.It could be age related as friends say they experience this ( I am 68 however).Often I walk into a room and cannot remember why I am there!!

I am inclined to blame the Avastin but it could be the Carbo/taxol.I guess I will never know for sure. Hope the outcome is good for you.Stay positive and try not to worry too much as I think this can be a huge problem xx

[Shellygirl in reply to mrstadpole]

I’m worrying more lately but I have to tell myself that it doesn’t get you anywhere 😊

[BellmoreBelle]

Like Liz, I went back to work after chemo (in my case, 6 months after stopping treatment), and then got made redundant! I had to apply for jobs that I had qualifications for and spent the night before swotting up on all the terminology I used to have on tap that had gone clean out of my head! I still have chemo brain moments where my mind goes completely blank (like white fog), but I've learnt - the pathways in the brain can and will regrow. I also play bass guitar, and I had "forgotten" all of my bass lines - but actually, it took one rusty play-through of each and then the muscle memory kicked in - the basslines were still there in my brain, I just couldn't access them! So now, I have a strategy where I will lie in bed at night and mentally reconstruct the connection to what I used to know, the "lost" memory. It's "mindful rewiring", and the trouble is that I can end up quite tired as my brain is so active doing it that it's difficult to switch off and go to sleep! But it works - once I've remembered, the memory is back in place, available to be accessed. 2 years post treatment I am having less and less chemo brain moments but it requires constant hard work - mental exercise, the equivalent of physical exercise in order to get fit. I've always spent a lot of time on cogitation and it has paid off - I'm loving being able to once again indulge in the thinking that I always loved doing.

[Shellygirl in reply to BellmoreBelle]

Wow I dint think I would know where to start. I’ve let go of my previous career so I don’t need the past memory pathways. I don’t sleep well anyway as my mind is too active worrying about what’s gone wrong recently. For me it’s the here and now I need to recall and it’s just not happening. I think it maybe age related with a dash of chemo brain 😊

[Di16]

I started having difficulty remembering words I wanted to say while I was having chemo, & it was suggested at the time it may be due to chemo fog. But I still have the same thing happening, & am getting quite forgetful sometimes, so maybe it's my age. I'm 69, & it's over 2 years since my last chemo. Di

[Shellygirl in reply to Di16]

It’s nearly 3 years for me I will be 55 in October 🙈 I just haven’t got it in me to brain train 😢 I’ve too much happening to devote the time. I feel as if life is slipping away from me like sand through my fingers. 🤔

[Neona]

I have had memory problems since all this started - mostly short term memory loss and it certainly hasn’t improved. I get a few good days but mostly feel confused.

[Shellygirl in reply to Neona]

It’s awful I can function but i see the looks on people’s faces when I can’t remember it’s embarrassing 😢