My Idea for a Game Show

alicem · 01-21-2010, 08:26 PM

I do all of these things plus a couple more to add:

1. Stop the car, put my keys in my purse, get out of car. Open up purse again not once, but TWICE to make sure the keys are there so they don't get locked inside!!

2. I take my Arimidex at night after brushing my teeth. After climbing into bed, I literally cannot remember if I took the pill or not. I figure it is better if I forget one night instead of double dosing. I've tried the weekly pill box, but I FORGET to put the pills in the box!!! Oh, dear.

Jackie07 · 01-21-2010, 09:21 PM

Barbara,

Self-esteem? Mine had been trampled long ago after my first brain surgery in 1990. Thanks to my very injured brain, I wasn't aware of it until I was fired from my job - again and again.

There was one time at church when I was at the piano . I played the wrong number because my brain was not functioning... Our small Chinese congregation went on and sang the correct hymn. I had to stop and sat through the song because I wasn't a good enough pianist to change keys 'by ear' on the spot. Turned out that everyone knows about my problem except myself. (One of my early Texas Rehab counselors had enlightened my husband about that - "the head-injured person thinks he/she is moving in normal speed while others see him/her functioning in slow motion.")

I got my confidence back whenever I was evaluated by a psychologist - I would be told that I still had a very high IQ. I was finally redeemed (from all the job losses) when the neuropsychologist (yip, there's a big difference between an experienced psychologist and a well-trained neuropsychologist) tested me (17 different batteries) and located all the 'short-circuits' in my brain.

We did not realize that chemo had add so much 'insult' to my brain 'injury'.

The only reward of this 'game' is that I 'might' qualify for disability. So we'll see.

Oh, 'forgot' to answer your question. I've done both - honest/pretend. Neither approach worked - I got 'fired' all the same.

Barbara2 · 01-23-2010, 09:15 PM

I have not seriously discussed my dealings with chemo brain with anyone other than family, and even then, it is only my husband who really knows how much it has affected me. As more evidence of chemo brain's reality comes to the front, I intend to let the rest of my family know more about it.

I have joked and made reference to "chemo brain" with friends, but for the most part they really don't know how serious the remark is. Maybe we need to have "a talk." I empathize, though that I am not looking for sympathy, but I would like to be understood, if that makes sense.

In the meantime, I often think of our Chemo Brain Jeopardy when I have a chemo brain moment. Still makes me laugh! Those of us who are playing the game certainly understand the catagories!