NO CONNECTION!!!

Mom3

I'm so tired of my brain not connecting with my tongue!!! It's so frustrating to "attempt" to say something and either just getting slurred words or nothing at all!! I tell my husband it's like the neurons aren't fusing. Sigh. It's been 2 and 1/2 years since dx, I wonder if this is a permanent thing or if it'll ever get better. I feel like I'm 2 years old again learning how to talk.

littletower

OMG, I know exactly how you feel!! There have been moments I've made a real ass out of myself. Went to the back door to call my dog (Buster) and instead called out "Buffallo". And then last Saturday, was coming back from my walk, listening to music, and instead of saying "hi" to the guy walking towards me, waved and said "womanizer" (as in the Britney Spears song, which was playing on my iPod). Thank God he was wearing headphones too...that could've gotten ugly:)

paml

I have the same problem. It's really embarrasing because I am a teacher. I will stand up in front of the class and forget what I was going to say. Not sure what it is but Ive had it quiet a while. Some days are better than others. I was thinking it could be the femara or lack of estrogen. It's worse when I am tired. hang in there everyone!

jenn3

During chemo my brain turned to mush.  I too am an avid reader and just couldn't read books during chemo, I didn't have the concentration, nor could I remember what I read when I picked up the book again.  There were times I started cooking something, left the kitchen to do something else, forgot what I was doing walked back in to smell food burning or food on the counter.  I am 7 months PFC and have just started reading books again.  It does get better with time.

116

I almost posted this same kind of question myself recently. I have lost my ability to concentrate and find myself forgetting what I was saying, or ending up saying the wrong words etc. I am three years from diagnosis now and yet I cannot seem to type straight, get all my letters in the wrong spot and lose my train of thought documenting files at work and have to keep rereading what I have already wrote and start over. When trying to study or read books I keep reading the same paragraph over and over again trying to get it to sink in what I just read. My grown daughters even made an intervention call saying that they were worried about my memory and were worried something was terribly wrong. I finally even went to see my doctor about it. He said it was normal due to age, hormones and the fact that I am burning the candle at both ends. I work full time days and go to the University full time nights....He went ahead and ordered a brain scan just to be safe but it was clear. Although chemo put me into menopause for 1 1/2 years my cycles returned and the doctor said at age 48 it is normal perimenopausal issues that are messing with my mind. I even saw a counselor about the problem since I even got concerned enough to think maybe it was due to depression or some other kind of underlying mental health issue. She also said she thinks that I am just fine and said that she thinks the problem is that I never gave myself a chance to rest and heal from all the BC treatment trauma since I kept working and then started back to school again right after wards. So I got lots of reassurance that it is normal and that I am just fine. But it still does not change the fact that I am having to deal with this problem on a regular basis and it is effecting my ability to work and study. I feel like I am never settled if that makes any sense and I do wonder if having gone through this experience is at the root of that. I have a lot to be grateful though, so I just try to focus on that and come up with some ways to try to focus better but it is still frustrating and worrisome

jenn3

I find that post-its and note pads help the memory.

KittyDog

ummm what was the post about.  lol  Needless to say I understand and I am having the same issues.  Not everyday and I agree if I am tired it is worse.  I tell everybody it is chemo brain.

Pure

I have the exact same problem but it only started after my oopmh. I talked to my frend who had to have an emergency hysterectomy when she was 24 ( doesn't have cancer) and she says she has the same issues along with really bad memory issues. I do take coq10-that is suppose to help.

Joviangeldeb

I'm another with the same problems.  been over 2 years since ending chemo, but my short term memory is shot.  Sometimes its so bad that my coworkers notice.  I use alot of post it notes, too.  It gets so frustrating but thankfully everyone around me seems to understand.

geewhiz

I was going to write something in agreement....but I forget what I was going to say   

She

I'm about 13.5 years post AC.  At first the mushy memory was awful, I could get lost driving down my own street!  It did gradually get better.

Fast forward to last year and 12+ hour BMX & DIEP.  The brain pharts came back full force and it was very unsettling.  It took almost 6 months before I could do an easy crossword puzzle again.  I still get the brain pharts when I'm overtired or highly stressed.  I used to have perfect grammar (or is that grammer.....) and spelling.  It went for a big dump and some of the words that come out ... oh my!  ...lol's.  There are some good books on cognative therapy, maybe I should find some for myself.  I used to cry when it was really bad, but after all this time, I've learned to laugh and be upfront about it.  Most people do like to help when you go blank mid-sentence.  As for the spelling, well look at what has happened to the English language with the onset of texting... I don't sweat the small stuff any more

jenn3

I like to think I'm getting better, but I have to share what happened yesterday at work. I had a brain freeze that freaked me a little.  I scanned in something to send off to a customer.  After the scan I sat there staring at my computer wondering why it wasn't popping up so that I could name the file.  The pop up box never showed up, I started to search around ended up in the files looking through for recently scanned items and there it was.  I had already named the damn file.......  I still can't remember naming the file.  Strange.....strange....strange....  My only excuse is that I was busy and multi tasking - but forgetting in just those few seconds?????

116

Even my post-it notes are scattered

karen1956

My cognitive functioning improved significantly when I stopped taking the AI's....I've been off them for almost 4 months after 3 1/2 years  of taking them....

Annie62

Yes, I also feel 'disconnected' at times. It does get better and I fell that I've reached my final level the last 2 years or so. My brain still isn't as quick as it was, but I also feel some of that is due to responsibilities at home and work. I found having kids had this same effect!

Annie

Kodapants

Thank God I am not the only one.

Koda