Memory problems
I really don't like admitting it but extensive chemo has left me with a degree of cognitive impairment. When I'm writing I now find that I have problems retreiving certain words from my central filing cabinets. I also tend to confuse sound-alike- words with completely different meanings, as if I go into a particular drawer and rummage around for a bit before plucking at something thinking, "This must be it!".
And if I'm tired the problem just gets ten times worse. I can catch my mistakes, but only if I leave things for a while and then go back and read them over. It's all very frustrating, particularly when I used to write for a living.
So if you spot some really awful spelling or grammar please forgive me. Writing this blog is helping me to keep flexing my brain, and thankfully things aren't getting any worse, but equally they're not getting any better.
This is a paper on the problem.
Been a good weekend though. The Flower Show people have invited me to join them for lunch before the show opens next weekend. Just hope my prints are finished in time, the holiday weekend has affected the printing process. And GPS boy was in the local paper having won some big golf cup. The newspaper called him for a quote, and he dealt with them like some mini Tiger Woods.
And if I'm tired the problem just gets ten times worse. I can catch my mistakes, but only if I leave things for a while and then go back and read them over. It's all very frustrating, particularly when I used to write for a living.
So if you spot some really awful spelling or grammar please forgive me. Writing this blog is helping me to keep flexing my brain, and thankfully things aren't getting any worse, but equally they're not getting any better.
This is a paper on the problem.
Been a good weekend though. The Flower Show people have invited me to join them for lunch before the show opens next weekend. Just hope my prints are finished in time, the holiday weekend has affected the printing process. And GPS boy was in the local paper having won some big golf cup. The newspaper called him for a quote, and he dealt with them like some mini Tiger Woods.
posted by apprentice at
10:14 pm
4 Comments:
you know, i never even considered that chemo would/could impair cognitive functioning. but, it makes complete sense. at any rate, i'm sorry you have to deal with that. it'd drive me mad; when i see a typo in my blog i always go back and correct it, no matter how small. then again, i'm anal about that kind of thing.
as for you and your blog, we're (i know i'm speaking for ppl i don't even know), not worried about it at all. at the end of the day (or post), it's what you said that we makes us come back.
I haven't had chemo treatment, but I too fumble and bumble around for words at times - it is frustrating - I blame my failings on middle age.
I think I should do what you do too and give it a little time so I can spot the glaring mistakes.(I guess we all need to learn patience.) I haven't noticed anything in your writing - it's all great as far as I can see :)
Congrats to the golfer - well done!
Thank you both. I must admit I correct everything I can spot too, but on comments, where there's no chance to catch mistakes I often fluff things. I do find it hugely frustrating, it's not something they tell you much about pre-treatment, but then there's not a whole lot of choice in the matter.
The other common long term effect is damage to the nerves in your feet, which I have and it means I hobble around a bit after I've been sitting still for a while, mornings being especially bad.
Yes the golfer is very chuffed, as is his Mum :)
Join the club! I'm constantly consulting dictionaries, google and MTL - and he's not as good as he used to be. What drives me mad is when i can't remember the third syllable of a word. I think it is fairly normal at my age but one always wonders about the onset of Alzheimers. I am comforted by other people's mistakes but can't say I have ever noticed you making them.
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