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Memory loss causing marital problems

Breast Cancer | Last Active: Jan 7 10:38am | Replies (20)

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@kimkeith

Sorry for taking so long to respond. Dang cancer!!!!! My problem isn’t forgetting to take medication or misplacing things it’s more of I forget what we have talked about & decisions that were made during that discussion. He feels like I’m depending on him to be my memory. We had a big fight yesterday because I forgot a decision we had had made so when I asked him the same question again he got mad. This is what we fight about. I don’t know what I can do to help improve it. I have been taking tamoxifen & I have read that it can cause memory loss. I get to quit taking it next month so I’m hoping & praying that my memory improves at least a little bit.

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Replies to "Sorry for taking so long to respond. Dang cancer!!!!! My problem isn’t forgetting to take medication..."

I wish there was counseling that we could do online that focuses on memory loss & helps our partners cope with it.

I was having brain fog with tamoxifen. When we lowered the dose, it went away! So there’s hope!

But I know forgetfulness is a typical aspect of aging, so I may be dealing with it again down the road.
For myself, the way I plan to manage it is by using technology. Not sure whether you like using phone apps, calendars, messaging, etc. Our lives are only going to get more intertwined with technology and I plan on embracing it while I still have the brain cells to form habits. Whether we like it or not, so much of our world is being handled on the internet and that will only increase.
I keep my phone with me pretty much 24/7. I don’t lose it very often because I check myself as I go through the day to make sure I carry it with me, I have a slim zipper bag made for runners (not me) that I can put my phone in if I don’t have pockets,
Small decisions are more difficult to track, but I add items to my calendar all the time to keep up with things my husband and I decided or plan to do. I use January 1 as a place to save things I need to do that don’t come up very often, or the 1st of the month. I’m trying to get into the habit of referring back to those days if I can’t remember.
For instance, if you decided to buy some plants next time you’re out - I add it to the first of the month that I think we’ll go buy them. If either of you jot down notes as you talk, you can take a photo of it to refer back to.
I plan on trying to use the reminders app. The more things you can systemize now the easier it will be to rely on the habit when you’re older.
I apologize in advance if I have mentioned memory areas that are not helpful to you, I don’t know if any of these ideas would help you.
I’m sending good wishes that when you’re off tamoxifen this issue will clear up!