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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Chemo Brain

I started my second cycle on Monday. The three infusions went fine and I'm feeling good. People ask me how I'm doing. I am fortunate that I have had very few side effects. The biggest one for me is one you can't see or feel. It's Chemo Brain. People have made fun of my memory but in the past I had a great memory. And my long-term memory is still very good. But...

I’ve heard of chemo brain before. Last time I had chemo I experienced a loss of memory or really not so much loss as the ability to remember things especially short term. It’s happening again.

Here are a few examples people call chemo brain I found on a website:
- forgetting things that they usually have no trouble recalling; memory lapses
- trouble concentrating; they can't focus on what they're doing
- trouble remembering details like names, dates, and sometimes larger events
- trouble multi-tasking, like answering the phone while cooking, without losing track of one of them; less ability to do more than one thing at a time
- taking longer to finish things; slower thinking and processing
- trouble remembering common words; can't finish a sentence because you can't find the right words

I have no trouble focusing. If anything I get over focused on what I am doing. I associate that with the Predisone. My favorite question is waking up and asking Eunice, "This is Thursday, right"? Then I know what day it is. It's a good start. I don't do it every day but more often than you might believe.

I've created a list to make sure I take my medications. I check them off so I know whether I have taken them or not. This includes my Lantis insulin which I have forgotten twice. Also the NPH I take with the Prednisone which I also forgot once. OK, I forgot my Coreg at night once too. So the list helps.

Chemo Brain. Google it and see what you find.

I can remember what I had for dinner last night, Fish Tacos. They were very good.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth
Click below for the collection of recipes or for an easy to print copy of a single recipe.

Collection of Recipes

Fish Taocs: I was skeptical at first but no more. Everyone enjoyed them.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I've been wanting to make fish tacos for months now. Tyler and Kaylin wrinkle their face at the mention of it. Now that you've given them the "thumbs up", I'm definitely going to try your recipe. Thanks, David!