Hi All
My chemo finished 13 months ago and I have been back at work for 10 months now. The problem is that I really do not have the mental capacity I had before all this. My job requires a lot of concentration (I am a claims handler) and we have just had a new system two weeks ago which is SO complicated. The trouble is everyone else is managing to muddle through but I just can’t do it.
I am getting really upset by this as I know my intelligence levels are not what they were. Is anyone else like this so long after treatment ?
Love Alise
Hi… I finished chemo almost exactly 13 months ago. I work as a software engineer, and still feel my ability to focus on detail, and accurately break-down problems is not as good as it used to be. Sometimes it even makes me feel quite panicy. I actually suspect my confidence levels are to blame - during chemo I couldn’t concentrate at all, and was convinced my brain was addled by the chemicals. I worried I’d never get back to normal. Also I find myself much more easily distracted now, everything I’ve been through is still too fresh in my mind. Lack of sleep doesn’t help either - hot-flushes wake me up twice a night! I am resigned now, to a slow recovery.
I find it sometimes helps to do something fun, but still mentally taxing (solve a suduko, test out a complicated new recipe, learn a new piece of music… something like that). It reminds me I can focus where and when I want to - its just work isn’t so central to my life anymore.
Hi Alise
I finished treatment earlier this year and my memory is no where near how it was. I’m usually a very organised person at work, but the worst thing is I say something which is total jibberish at times. I call people by the wrong names, even though I’ve worked with them for years, and I get words mixed up - like par cark. It’s really frustrating at times and I get really annoyed with myself but I’ve been told it will get better (when I don’t know). Your posting saying that 13 months on has made me think I’ve still got a lot more to get through. Nevermind, though, at least I’m here to tell the tale. I’ve even been thinking of getting that Nintendo game thats advertised on TV, Brain Training, I think its called.
I’ve been trying a herbal tablet “Black Cohash and Liquorice” and its really helped with the hot flushes. I’m just beginning to sleep through without having a hot flush. I’ve been on them for two weeks and I take 3 tablets with my evening meal. Its great when you consider I was having about 8 hot flushes a night and umpteen more during the day. I got mine from a good herbalist who took all my history of what chemo and treatment I’d had. Worth a try!!
Have you not got anybody at work to confide in regarding the new system. Don’t keep worrying about not keeping up with everybody else, new systems take time to learn and I’m sure you’ll get better in time.
Love Anniemay
Hi
i finished my treatment in Jan this year, and my memory also isnt what it was, while i was going through chemo i would forget things, they said it would improve, but like all you above i do find it hard to work out things i put it down to no pactience, i wont tolerate it any more so have to take my time and then you get there. I am administrator and payroll for the local office. I find i have to write things down like in the morning i will to a things to do list - it works as it is work it works at home me bit lazy…lol
good luck
simxx
Hi everyone, I too am the same - finished my treatment Nov 06 and my memory is getting worse I swear! Today I even forgot where I had parked the car in the supermarket car park! I also get words muddled up, was giving my daughter a postcode for her sat nav yesterday and said W instead of U - just sat staring at it thinking that what I had said wasn’t somehow right but it seemed minutes (probably only seconds) before I realised my mistake! And for remembering people’s names, and faces, well forget it! Do you think it’ll ever get better? Do hope so.
Love and hugs, Jean xx
Anniemay
Interested about the flush “cure”. Tablets? Liquid? Please tell so I can check it out. There are some thing which we can’t take if oestrogen positive so I need to be sure.
Thanks
D
I’m also strugging with my memory. I had breast cancer in 2003 but then went down with brain cancer in 2006 and finished chemo in November 2006. I have put it all down to a 6 hour brain operation and chemo that has messed me up. It was the first time last week that I actually sat through the whole of a movie and followed it. I am an avid reader but find I can only read one chapter then have to put the book down as it doesn’t make sense, as if I have tried to take in too much information.
But, on the other hand, only a year ago I couldn’t use a keyboard or walk straight and now I am coming along in leaps and bounds…and like someone said, we are all alive to deal with these problems, this is the main thing. Love Roz x
Hi everyone
Thanks for making me feel so much better! I too finished my treatment 13 months ago, and my memory is really shot. I used to be really organised and carry things lots of things in my memory at once, now I can’t remember if I’ve just opened or shut a window just seconds beforehand. I’m still at a loss to know why I recently found a pen in the fridge!!
Fortunately (though it may seem strange) I was made redundant after working for over 20 years with the same organisation just after my operation so I don’t have to struggle with complicated work patterns at the moment. My cousin went through very intensive chemo thirty years ago - yes he’s really well now - he summed it up the other day when he said the brain seems to be too tired to take things in. The fatigue plays a hugh part in closing down the memory at times. I find crosswords help, and even watching Countdown! small bite-sized pieces of brain training to keep things ticking over.
As Roz said, when we look back and see what we’ve come through and how much we are achieving that’s the important thing.
All the best to everyone
TAY X
Hmmm. Chemobrain. It gets better with time and I’m pretty convinced that although it has had an effect on my memory it also has increased my ability to learn new things. Weird but not all bad.
Best wishes,
Sue
Yeah, unless I park my car in the same place, i forget where it is, at work I get peoples names mixed up we have several people with the same or similar names. If I am off for a few days when I go back I feel a bit confused. That said I am still betteer at the job and have more oomph than some of the staff who are 10 years younger than me.
Gosh what was i going to say???
Oh i remembered, I sat in Marks and Spencers cafe today with a lady on another table smiling at me, i did know her but could i remember where from or who she was. I felt panicky about this. Eventually it did come to me and when i told her she said gosh Ruth i was only talking to you last week on a church outing.
People have no idea what chemo does to us, also i think its tamoxifen and the change.
I am pleased i dont have a job where i have to concentrate alot. However i do find at the nursery i cant remember names.
Just one more annoying thing we have to cope with hey!!
Rx
I thought I was getting Alzheimers when I put the milk in the teapot instead of the cups! Have been known to put food in the dishwasher, which is next to the fridge. Nah…just chemo brain!
Liz.
Dahlia
I got the tablets Black Cohash and Liquorice from a local herbalist. She took all my history down and went on a web site, printed off all reports on what medication I had taken but I didn’t start taking them until after I had finished my treatment. My BCN also told me about Black Cohash. I ran out of the tablets this weekend and was away and couldn’t get a supply. Needless to say, I’m sat at my desk now having a hot flush. I’ve not had one at work for weeks.
I must say though I’m still doing and saying things backwards or upside down so its not helped the brain!!
Good luck.