Anyone else w/ memory issues after masectomy?

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mircann
mircann Member Posts: 45
edited August 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi,

Since my masectomy on April 22 my memory isn't that good, and it seems like the organizing part of my brain is in a fog half the time. The memory issue isn't every day, but its enough to worry me. I heard that this is an affect of anesthesia....if it is how long does it take to go away. When I go back to work, I will never be able to keep up the pace there..it is a very fast pace and you have to multi task all day long....anyone experience this?

I start chemo next week so then I will have a double wammy when the chemo brain kicks in? When does  that kick in? and how long do we have chemo brain? or how long does it take to recover from that?


 

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited May 2015

    mircann- I had the same thing with my memory after my BMX on January 20th. The good news is that I am no longer experiencing this! It took a good 2 months before I could remember some things that happened before it.

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  • ucfmom
    ucfmom Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2015

    I called it anesthesia brain but mine lasted several months. Then about six months after my second surgery, I had a routine blood test and found out I had a severe vitamin B12 deficiency. I started taking B12 daily and the fog has lifted. :)

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  • mircann
    mircann Member Posts: 45
    edited May 2015

    Very interesting that you mention B-12 as Im also having bad canker sores and I have heard from others that canker sores can be form a low supply of B-12  in  your body...I do have some tablets on hand will try..thanks!

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    My understanding is that if you are given the anti-anxiety drug Versed in the pre-op room, it can cause amnesia. Some people consider it a "nice" side effect of the drug, because you don't remember going into the operating room, etc. It is a very common pre-op medication: so common I have to ask, remind, cajole, insist that I don't want it every time I've had surgery (I've had a lot of surgeries not just for bc). I don't care for the amnesia effect. So now the anesthesiologist just wheels me into the operating room with no drugs, I get on the operating table myself, and then they give me the general anesthesia. It is a personal choice. If you look up Versed you'll see. You may not get the memory of just before the surgery back, but I think like the others have said your regular memory returns after a while? Interesting about the B-12, maybe that is depleted by all of the drugs?

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  • 610girl
    610girl Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2015

    Hi

    I had a total of 7 surgeries for breast reconstruction in 4 years. I had my last surgery 4/22/15. It seems that with each surgery the memory fog gets worse. My prior surgery on 4/21/14 it took me about 6 months to  get back to feeling my old self and now I am having the same issue and hoping it soon goes away. I even saw a neurologist, it's called post operative cognitive disorder.  Surgery is very hard on your body and mind. I keep on trucking and I am thankful that I don't have cancer and I am alive.


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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2015

    Memory and retention difficulties can also be an effect of anxiety or preoccupation--either way, some mindfulness medication practice couldn't hurt and is often useful for focusing better (which helps with memory).

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited August 2015

    I am a total space cadet in every part of my life except work. I blame Ativan. At work, though, I still have good focus and memory. You may find you are similar.

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