Memory

[Guest guest]

Alas, I guess it's not my age with regards to lousy

memory. What a relief. I haven't given this issue

much thought really, thinking ok, I'm 65 so it's part

and parcel of what young journalists call " elderly " .

I used to be able to multi-task without a single

problem but not any more. I don't dare light a candle

because I'll forget I have one burning. I forget I

put a load of wash in and the next day I'll remember

that it should have been put in the dryer. I too have

to write notes and put them up in obvious places so I

won't forget I have to do something.

This is really frustrating as I too used to have a

wonderful memory. I read a book and then can't

remember what the contents are. I watch a movie and

forget what it was about. A friend was visiting

tonight and she referred to something that had

happened at her parents' house. I said, " You didn't

tell me that. " My husband said, " Yes she did, you

were sitting right beside me. " Then as she started to

re-tell me the story, I remembered bits and pieces. I

sometimes think I'm not concentrating enough and maybe

thinking of something else at the time someone is

telling me something. But as I read some of the

posts, I don't think that's what is going on at all.

As disconcerting as all this is, it does make me feel

better knowing there are others among us who are

experiencing the same thing.

Thanks for sharing everyone and have a great year.

Hugs, Judy

Hugs,

Judy P. in Calgary

Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to

Answers and share what you know at http://ca.answers.

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy, that is your name isn't it? ;>)

I have so many sources of causes for memory loss that it souldn't matter if iI

was 30 years younger. There re stareting to be lots of memory-related exercises

so we're not the only ones!

Love,

L

[ ] Memory

Alas, I guess it's not my age with regards to lousy

memory. What a relief. I haven't given this issue

much thought really, thinking ok, I'm 65 so it's part

and parcel of what young journalists call " elderly " .

I used to be able to multi-task without a single

problem but not any more. I don't dare light a candle

because I'll forget I have one burning. I forget I

put a load of wash in and the next day I'll remember

that it should have been put in the dryer. I too have

to write notes and put them up in obvious places so I

won't forget I have to do something.

This is really frustrating as I too used to have a

wonderful memory. I read a book and then can't

remember what the contents are. I watch a movie and

forget what it was about. A friend was visiting

tonight and she referred to something that had

happened at her parents' house. I said, " You didn't

tell me that. " My husband said, " Yes she did, you

were sitting right beside me. " Then as she started to

re-tell me the story, I remembered bits and pieces. I

sometimes think I'm not concentrating enough and maybe

thinking of something else at the time someone is

telling me something. But as I read some of the

posts, I don't think that's what is going on at all.

As disconcerting as all this is, it does make me feel

better knowing there are others among us who are

experiencing the same thing.

Thanks for sharing everyone and have a great year.

Hugs, Judy

Hugs,

Judy P. in Calgary

Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to

Answers and share what you know at http://ca.answers.

[Guest guest]

--- In , " JudyPrusky, Calgary " <leukie2002@...>

wrote:

A friend was visiting tonight and she referred to something that had

> happened at her parents' house. I said, " You didn't

> tell me that. " My husband said, " Yes she did, you

> were sitting right beside me. " Then as she started to

> re-tell me the story, I remembered bits and pieces.

****************************************************

Hi Judy,

I think the fact that you were eventually able to recall some of the

details of the story your friend had told you, shows that it's not

actually a 'memory' problem but rather a concentration/distraction

problem.

I had the exact same experience early on in my treatment. My husband

told me a story and then the subject came up again a few days later

but the second time he mentioned it, I said " you never told me that

before " . He reminded me of the circumstances of the first

conversation and that promted me to remember the story.

I thought 'yikes, I'm losing my memory, what's going on' so I

mentioned it to my doctor and he told me that if I'm able to recall

what I thought I had forgotten (be it a story someone told me, or

just remembering where I was going or that I left the stove on etc),

if I'm able to recall the information at some point later on with

some prompting, then it's not a 'memory' issue but a concentration

and distraction issue.

Knowing that it's a concentration/distraction issue doesn't change

how disturbing it is to suddenly forget where you're going or what

you were doing but my doctor didn't seem nearly as concerned to think

of it as such. He said a true memory problem is when you cannot

recall the information at all, even if you're given prompts.

Take care,

Tracey

[Guest guest]

I too have had memory problems and I believe they are all really due to my

anxiety and attention span and ability concentrate like I used to. While on

Interferon and arc during my first year 2000 to 2001 it was horrible. But

with Gleevec it still exists just not as bad as with Interferon and ARC. I

try my best to just refer to it as ADD with a smile, even though I had never

been diagnosed with it, it sure seems a lot like it as I have a son with it

and know plenty of others with it. I also have a genetic anxiety disorder

and it is obvious that almost all of us with cancer acquire anxiety as well

and I can't imagine why it wouldn't.

I have taken xanax for 8 years and started a year before dx.

I have adjusted to the fact that I will always have it and do whatever I can

to keep it under control.

As for the acid reflex, I have been able to minimize it by making sure that

I take my gleevec with dinner and I usually do ok unless I eat something

like pizza, or spaghetti. Which I try not to do so often.

Lately I have been taking zantac over the counter which helps a lot. But of

course I have to wait the 2 hours after eating.

However, lately it seems like more and more foods are causing the acid

reflux.

At 42 you start to wonder what the are side affects from Gleevec and what

are the symptoms that just come with age?

Memory and concentration I believe is totally related to Gleevec and anxiety

and I also think the two go hand and hand.

That's not to be negative, but rather realistic.

The year of 2006 I was taking my magnesium, calcium, potassium and water

intake faithfully along with exercising. I did well up until January of last

year and as time has gone by most of my side affects have returned.

Needless to say it's a new year and I am starting again.

Hope my input has helped.

ez

Dx 5-2000

[Guest guest]

Hi – re the gastric reflux, within days of commencing Glivec, I

experienced this and was prescribed Somac 40mg (Pantoprazole) at night,

which quickly eased the reflux. I took about a packet and then haven’t

needed to take any since, although I have them on hand for “just in case”.

I can’t believe the memory problems! That is so frightening not knowing how

to get home!

Regards,

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

ez

Sent: Tuesday, 8 January 2008 3:19 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Memory

I too have had memory problems and I believe they are all really due to my

anxiety and attention span and ability concentrate like I used to. While on

Interferon and arc during my first year 2000 to 2001 it was horrible. But

with Gleevec it still exists just not as bad as with Interferon and ARC. I

try my best to just refer to it as ADD with a smile, even though I had never

been diagnosed with it, it sure seems a lot like it as I have a son with it

and know plenty of others with it. I also have a genetic anxiety disorder

and it is obvious that almost all of us with cancer acquire anxiety as well

and I can't imagine why it wouldn't.

I have taken xanax for 8 years and started a year before dx.

I have adjusted to the fact that I will always have it and do whatever I can

to keep it under control.

As for the acid reflex, I have been able to minimize it by making sure that

I take my gleevec with dinner and I usually do ok unless I eat something

like pizza, or spaghetti. Which I try not to do so often.

Lately I have been taking zantac over the counter which helps a lot. But of

course I have to wait the 2 hours after eating.

However, lately it seems like more and more foods are causing the acid

reflux.

At 42 you start to wonder what the are side affects from Gleevec and what

are the symptoms that just come with age?

Memory and concentration I believe is totally related to Gleevec and anxiety

and I also think the two go hand and hand.

That's not to be negative, but rather realistic.

The year of 2006 I was taking my magnesium, calcium, potassium and water

intake faithfully along with exercising. I did well up until January of last

year and as time has gone by most of my side affects have returned.

Needless to say it's a new year and I am starting again.

Hope my input has helped.

ez

Dx 5-2000