My brain seems to have disappeared

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Hi All

Can anyone tell me whether once they started chemo, did they seem to become more forgetful. I have forgotten 3 or 4 times to take my contact lenses out, even though got the case all ready, and then woken in the night to realise I didn’t actually take them out. Seem to forget other little things, like didn’t take my purse out the other day for lunch!!!

Love to know if this is just me and my “mummy brain” still not working and getting worse, or whether it is normal part of chemo - only had 1 session, hate to think what I will be like by the end. A gibbering wreck I reckon.

Thanks
Dawn
x

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Hi Dawn,

I would recognise a case of the dreaded ‘chemo brain’ anywhere!! You’re symptoms are classic ‘chemo brain’ symptoms I’m afraid!!! We all suffer with it though so you are in good company. Some of the tales I have read that ladies have posted about things they’ve done whilst suffering with this are hilarious!!

I get ‘chemo brain’ for anything up to a week after each treatment. Thank god I’m not working at the mo, thats all I can say. Sometimes I just wander aimlessly around the house 'cause I keep forgetting what I’m supposed to be doing. Having a telephone conversation some days is a real task!!!

Hope your ‘chemo brain’ dissappears soon! Take care,

Kelly
-x-

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Hi Dawn

Yep, chemo brain is definitely a side effect. I only have two children but regularly get their names mixed up!

Julie xx

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Yep I would vouch for all the above - chemo brain is definately a condition - just got to laugh at yourself sometimes.

Fiona
x

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chemo brain…ahhhh caused vast amounts of giggles in this house. I put tbags in the fridge and milk in the cupboards…couldnt figure out how to cook pasta while staring at a pan of boiling water…would lose the plot halfway through a phone conversation…couldnt remember a darn thing…kept getting my kids names muddled up to…caused vast confusion at school ahem

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Phew … am glad that it is not just me and that it seems par for the course … was thinking I was going mad (or even worse but not going into that!!!). Not got my childrens names muddled yet, but as girl and boy, hopefully this won’t happen.

Thanks for all of you telling me your little anecdotes … makes me know that I am not the only one.

Thanks
Dawn
x

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chemo brain…Was trying to empty dishwasher and this seemed like a mammoth task…the effort of picking up plate out of the machine then putting it in the right cupboard then having to repeat the task was beyond my abilities when I had chemo brain.The whole multitasking that I was used to doing just went completely out of the window!

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I am also suffering from Chemo brain… Couldn’t find the telephone so used my mobile to ring it…I found the house telephone in the chest freezer next to the bag of peas! Lots of other sad things…be nice to get back to normal…LOL