WORRIED about memory loss ,how long does it last? Brain mets?

I had horrible memory loss from the chemo.  My dh would tell me something and 5 minutes later I would be asking him what he said.  I couldn't remember any appointments, what I had scheduled, etc.  For the first time in my life (52) I started carrying around a calendar and to this day almost 3 years later I still need it.

My memory started improving about 1.5 years from completion of chemo but it still isn't where it was prior to chemo.

Add menopause to the mixture and you just lost your brain.

I still stumble for words.  I had always been proud of my extensive vocabulary but I couldn't even carry on a normal conversation the first year.  Simple 4 letter words would escape me and I would just sit there almost stunned trying to find the word I wanted to use.  Luckily those people around me were patient and understood that I was having difficulties.

Wondering if the Tamoxifen isn't giving you headaches.  My SE's from tamoxifen change on a regular basis.  For a couple of months I had extreme jaw pain but that has gone away now.  I still have bad pain in my lower extremeties.  Some days are worse than others - I will all of a sudden feel like I have shin splints.  The pain in my hips is constant.  I am on Percocet 10/325.  I had developed a tolerance to Lortabs so they switched my pain meds.

5 months out from chemo and I have serious swiss cheese brain, like there are air pockets.  It takes me so long to come up with the right word.  It feels like I am reaching back into my head.  If I am with DH he sometimes gives me the word, but at work it is not cool. 

No help here, but my sister who is a 33 year survivor has the worst chase of chemo brain I have ever come across.  She cannot remember things that happened over the course of her life - like parts of her slate were wiped clean.  I feel bad for her.  She lost a daughter to BC, and now another daughter has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer ... I wish I could wipe those horrible things from her memory and she could remember the really good times from when they were little, and healthy. 

Cancer sucks.  Side effects suck.  But the alternative is worse I guess.

Debbie

Just so you feel better about it, I'll share my most memorable chemo-brain incident. 

I was at a bagel store picking up a couple of things, and they were wrapping it up, and I started panicking - I couldn't find the keys to the blue car that was driving that day.  I searched everywhere - I was so mean to them - like hurry up, I need to go and see where the keys are - if I dropped them outside and someone finds them they could steal the car or something.

 I walk outside, and there is my gray car sitting right where I parked it.  I had THOSE keys.  I completely forgot which car I drove there. 

 So, now I've totally embarrassed myself, but I hope you realize its not just you.

Speaking of doing stupid things.....

I bought a pair of snow skis at a garage sale.  6 months later I am asking my dh where did they come from?  I don't even remember to this day bringing them home.

There is no telling what other stupid things I have done on chemo brain.

One of the worst was "hiding" a $7K diamond watch.  I found it 6 months later in a tampon plastic holder thingy in my desk drawer.  I supposed I was thinking nobody in their right mind would look there for the watch.

I have not had chemo, just 2 mastectomies 1 year apart, but I have quite a memory issue now. My doctor feels it is the severe emotional response I had to it all, as well as the instant menopause (ovaries removed)...sometimes I worry myself.

I use to pride myself on my memory. I am going to look into the supplement mentioned above.