Chemo brain

[peterjack]

Most of my side effects have now gone, thank goodness (although I seem to have developed arthritis-type pains in my finger joints...!) but now I have returned to work full time I am struggling with the mental/cognitive side of my job. People have commented that I seem "muddled" and I am worried about this. I can't remember, for example, some words, the order in which certain things happened and perhaps most bizarrely I can no longer recognise people's handwriting, including my own, which is a bit freaky...

[veckon]

I experienced this so I can empathize. Unfortunately the only solution I found that worked for me was time. After enough time from my last chemo elapsed (it took many, many weeks), my brain started feeling more normal again. So my advice is to let your coworkers know what’s up if it’s not possible to take anymore time off. Also as hard as it can be, exercise helps a lot. Even walking is helpful.

[Tdubz]

I had a job interview a few weeks ago and it happened to fall on a treatment week when I already wasn't feeling well. I feel like chemo makes my brain work much slower and it's difficult to think on the fly, so answering the questions was a bit tough. At the beginning of the interview my brain was going so slow that I couldn't even think of an answer to the most simple question. Then I started freaking out because I couldn't answer the question lol. Luckily the interview was with my current boss so they know my situation, but it would have been rather embarrassing if it was with a new employer.

[LeonW]

Maggie Nell today bumped and old thread on chemo brain (as she's done a few times in earlier years too). Good read.
As a 'sufferer' myself, it seems not chemo but 'cancer brain'. But effects stay the same . . . .
see Maggie's bump

Thanks Maggie
L

[mozart13]

Its not fun at all.
I am in the middle of chemo, during chemo week can't remember 3 things, this folfox is brutall, than I recover slovlly, when driving, I am driving like senior citizen, dont go far, keep distance, speed is bellow limit, no hwy, my wife laughs when I told her about my driving.

Have hard time concentrating, second week I come around a bit, than try to work on some numbers just to move my brain.

I read somwhere, dont ask me where (LOL), that playing video games helps to re-wire brain,
te idea is just like with old people when they do brain excercises.

[Basil]

I'm a trial attorney and struggled with this. Not fun losing your train of thought or not being able to summon the right words when you're in front of a jury or questioning a witness. I've been off chemo a month and its mostly gone away, although I have some residual sluggishness.

[benben]

Ahh yes, the chemo brain.

This, besides neutropenia, is probably my biggest side effect.
I just had treatment 5 and all the cold sensitivity, first bite syndrome, and most tingling sensations were very minimal - in fact less than prior treatments.
However, the fatigue during day 3 (disconnect) through day 5 is very high for me. Mostly find myself sleeping like 36 out of 40 hours after disconnect.
Waking only to go to the bathroom, and drink more fluids - and force in some light snacks.

During the fatigue days the chemo brain effect is so high that doing a small routine like preparing baking soda/salt water mouthwash is a big deal.
Do one step, forget what the hell I was doing, then remember 30 seconds later or so. It's quite concerning for me when it happens, but does tend to diminish about day 5/6 and
keeps decreasing until chemo reload. This time around I noticed using some wrong words or even forgetting the words I want to convey. Hopefully it doesn't get worse and will improve back to normal brain after therapy is complete. I use my brain very much in my business as well as my hands, but the brain function is very important as my work requires a lot of sharp focus. I think it helps to relieve chemo brain symptoms to engage the brain - at least during the off week.

Hopefully your chemobrain symptoms will improve with time.
Make sure to get lots of nutrients. Might look at some supplements that help with brain function as well.

you're not alone.
best wishes,