← Return to Cancer Related Brain Fog: How do you cope with it?

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@gemjaynes

I have given myself permission to space out, honor my exhaustion, and be utterly useless for now. Despite 2 graduate degrees, English and Law, I often find complex reading too taxing during chemo. So I watch old B movies I've never seen before on Youtube. Or I listen to audio books. If all I can handle one day is 1.75 loads of laundry, I stop. At 63, I'm already used to having to write stuff down because my memory is not what it once was. I give in utterly to what is for now.

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Replies to "I have given myself permission to space out, honor my exhaustion, and be utterly useless for..."

I'm so sorry you're having to go through chemo, basically all I remember was that I was extremely worn out and would take a nap every time I pulled up in my driveway because I was too tired to go inside the front door. That, and everything tasting weird. Yes, I understand! I feel like I wish I had never went to graduate school because now I owe a crap ton of money and feel like I'm only 50% of the level I need to be as far as speed and recall and don't have any competitive edge if I were to seek another job. I certainly couldn't realistically see tons of patients all day at the speed that unfortunately is commonplace when they only give you 5 minutes to spend with a patient. Some days I think clearly and some days I forget exactly what I'm saying while I'm talking. And... I don't know what brain fog is.. it's definitely more like a wet heavy tarp thrown over my brain rather than a fog. I think it should be called "post traumatic chemo related brain battering that sneaks up and rears it's ugly head when you least expect it because NOBODY "really " prepares you for it.. or even understands how harsh the impact on your life is... brain." Thank God they didn't let me name it..haha..But, just like the usual people who never had cancer always say and to which I at least agree, Thank God I'm still here because there was a time when I did not think I would be and that really sucked. God bless you while you are you having to go through this junk!