Radiation And Brain Fog

I am sorry you are having to find a way through this. Sadly the only way to the other side is through. I remember this brain fog, it was like I was fine in the morning for a few hours then just ran up against a wall.
This continued for a while after radiation was done, I did start to have a lot of physical fatigue about two thirds of the way in. This all lasted for a few months after treatment ended. I did find that small naps helped.
I spent my lunch and my breaks sleeping in a chair with an alarm beside me. This would get me through the day, then when I got home I slept for two hours before I even considered a meal.
Slow but sure, my energy returned and I took less naps and started to get some physical energy back too.
Is there any more treatment planned for after radiation? Do you have the ability to slip in some cat naps?

@auntieoakley Luckily for me, 2 more weeks of radiation and I am done. I will just have to power my way through. There really isn't time to use the bathroom, let alone sit down while at work. It's just good to hear that I'm not crazy [which is what my doctor implied]. No seem to talk about the brain being tired, just the physical fatigue.

I’m not sure about the radiation in my case because I went through chemo before the radiation so mine was chemo brain and don’t think the radiation made it worse. May have prevented it clearing? However on the ai therapy, the brain fog is real. I can think if something I need to do, stop what I’m doing and open notes so I know to do it and forget what I was going to write down, it’s that quick. May or May not ever remember it. Also I have given up on remembering names and words are often lost. I know it’s the ai because when he took me off for a month it was much better. And yes, the physical fatigue is mind numbing at times.

@vtmom13 your doctor probably didn’t have breast cancer radiation. 😂 In all honesty I think these things do affect people differently. There has been some people who don’t have any real fatigue.

My husband’s radiologist prescribed memantine directly after whole brain radiation. Thankfully it was temporary, lasting around 6-8 weeks, and do he no longer takes it. We have all these leftover unopened bottles, because they kept refilling a 90 day supply!!

My cancer was in my mouth so my radiation was on my head in late 2023. My treatments were at 7 am so I used that time to say my morning prayers. I found that my brain would shift to other thoughts during the radiation and I had a hard time staying on task and finishing my thoughts. One day I switched to just saying "The Lord's Prayer". Three times on that first day I had trouble. It wasn't that I forgot the words but that my thoughts shifted to something else and I had to redirect my thoughts back to the Prayer. So that's my experience. My radiation definitely effected my cognitive process. Two years out I believe it has also slowed my processing speed. Although I'm 69 years old so it could just be age.

It makes sense that you are experiencing cognitive deficits. Radiation above the neck causes radiation-induced cognitive decline (RICD) or "brain fog". It does slow processing. Your doctors may be able to help you. It’s possible you could get some therapy. I have cognitive issues from chemo and taking estrogen blockers. It’s annoying when it takes longer to find a word or explain a concept. You are able to articulate your feelings and difficulties which seems like a good sign. Being slower is hard when other people speak fast and are impatient. Go ahead and take your time. You deserve it. And I think others, family and friends, will learn to accommodate you.