Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi and , This is an ongoing issue for many of us. I've come to accept the fact that I can no longer multi-task and if I need to do something, I commit to that particular thing and block everything else out. My family knows for instance that if I'm reading something on the computer or typing out an email, there's no sense in talking to me, I just don't hear it. The same can be said for when I'm making supper or baking something. Stay out of the kitchen and let me do what I have to do. I'm able to focus on what needs to be done but only by blocking everything else out. I have learned to make notes and lists for everything which has helped me stay on top of things. In my first years of taking Gleevec, I was actually finishing up my University degree so I know that studying can be a challenge but it is possible. I learned that I could no longer study while the TV was on in the background (something I could easily do pre-Gleevec days) and I also learned that I couldn't retain too much information at one time so no more cramming the night before, I had to start studying for exams a week or two before. Assignments took me twice as long to get done so I learned to start on them earlier and not wait until the week before they were due which was something I could easily get away with pre-Gleevec. Can drop a class or two to ease up his course load? I did my degree part time which was very helpful so if can take less classes, he might do better although it will take him longer to finish. Goodluck to both of you, Tracey > > Hi, my son has been on Gleevec since age 12 and he sees Dr. Talpaz > regularly. He has made several trips to Oregon to see Dr. Druker before > Dr Talpaz moved to Michigan. He currently is on 800mg of Gleevec. > This is 's first year in College and he has had a tough time with > his studies. During his last visit with Dr. Talpaz he mentioned that > he has trouble focusing and his grades are suffering. Dr. Talpaz said > that there isn't any data about Gleevec causing issues with the mind > but I have read multiple posts of others that complain of the same > symptoms. We emailed Carolyn at Dr. Drukers office and she reports > that they have other patients that have complained of the same > symptoms. It is frustrating to be a parent and not know how to help > your child. Tonight I had read a couple of posts that described > some of the symptoms that others have experienced and he confirmed that > those are the same symptoms he is experiencing. my question to the > group is, what has helped you work through the mind fog and what advice > would you give ? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Tracey, Thank you for this beautifully worded response. I have been having issues recently with doing my work and you actually explained the issues I'm having and gave me some things to try. I have been making lists (which I HATE!! ) and I'll have to see if I can work on tuning out other things to actually get some concentration time in. Not easy with an 8 yo chatterbug!! Thanks, Tammy _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Tracey Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 9:44 PM Subject: [ ] Re: age 19 Hi and , This is an ongoing issue for many of us. I've come to accept the fact that I can no longer multi-task and if I need to do something, I commit to that particular thing and block everything else out. My family knows for instance that if I'm reading something on the computer or typing out an email, there's no sense in talking to me, I just don't hear it. The same can be said for when I'm making supper or baking something. Stay out of the kitchen and let me do what I have to do. I'm able to focus on what needs to be done but only by blocking everything else out. I have learned to make notes and lists for everything which has helped me stay on top of things. In my first years of taking Gleevec, I was actually finishing up my University degree so I know that studying can be a challenge but it is possible. I learned that I could no longer study while the TV was on in the background (something I could easily do pre-Gleevec days) and I also learned that I couldn't retain too much information at one time so no more cramming the night before, I had to start studying for exams a week or two before. Assignments took me twice as long to get done so I learned to start on them earlier and not wait until the week before they were due which was something I could easily get away with pre-Gleevec. Can drop a class or two to ease up his course load? I did my degree part time which was very helpful so if can take less classes, he might do better although it will take him longer to finish. Goodluck to both of you, Tracey > > Hi, my son has been on Gleevec since age 12 and he sees Dr. Talpaz > regularly. He has made several trips to Oregon to see Dr. Druker before > Dr Talpaz moved to Michigan. He currently is on 800mg of Gleevec. > This is 's first year in College and he has had a tough time with > his studies. During his last visit with Dr. Talpaz he mentioned that > he has trouble focusing and his grades are suffering. Dr. Talpaz said > that there isn't any data about Gleevec causing issues with the mind > but I have read multiple posts of others that complain of the same > symptoms. We emailed Carolyn at Dr. Drukers office and she reports > that they have other patients that have complained of the same > symptoms. It is frustrating to be a parent and not know how to help > your child. Tonight I had read a couple of posts that described > some of the symptoms that others have experienced and he confirmed that > those are the same symptoms he is experiencing. my question to the > group is, what has helped you work through the mind fog and what advice > would you give ? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 I just changed positions because of my memory loss, distraction and overall fuzzy brain. I left a job I loved for over 10 years. So I don't care what the research says- we know what we know. I agree with Tracey- we have to develop lists -systems etc and be kind to ourselves. We still get alot done- just not all at the same time anymore. I'd love to be invited to the graduation party when gets his degree. My advice- hang in there the race isn't always to the swiftest but sometimes to those who endure with perseverance- did I spell that right- chemo brain-lol Chi --- Tracey <traceyincanada@...> wrote: > Hi and , > > This is an ongoing issue for many of us. I've come > to accept the > fact that I can no longer multi-task and if I need > to do something, I > commit to that particular thing and block everything > else out. > > My family knows for instance that if I'm reading > something on the > computer or typing out an email, there's no sense in > talking to me, I > just don't hear it. The same can be said for when > I'm making supper > or baking something. Stay out of the kitchen and let > me do what I > have to do. > > I'm able to focus on what needs to be done but only > by blocking > everything else out. > > I have learned to make notes and lists for > everything which has > helped me stay on top of things. > > In my first years of taking Gleevec, I was actually > finishing up my > University degree so I know that studying can be a > challenge but it > is possible. > > I learned that I could no longer study while the TV > was on in the > background (something I could easily do pre-Gleevec > days) and I also > learned that I couldn't retain too much information > at one time so no > more cramming the night before, I had to start > studying for exams a > week or two before. > > Assignments took me twice as long to get done so I > learned to start > on them earlier and not wait until the week before > they were due > which was something I could easily get away with > pre-Gleevec. > > Can drop a class or two to ease up his course > load? I did my > degree part time which was very helpful so if > can take less > classes, he might do better although it will take > him longer to > finish. > > Goodluck to both of you, > Tracey > > > > > > > > > Hi, my son has been on Gleevec since age 12 and he > sees Dr. Talpaz > > regularly. He has made several trips to Oregon to > see Dr. Druker > before > > Dr Talpaz moved to Michigan. He currently is on > 800mg of Gleevec. > > This is 's first year in College and he has > had a tough time > with > > his studies. During his last visit with Dr. > Talpaz he mentioned > that > > he has trouble focusing and his grades are > suffering. Dr. Talpaz > said > > that there isn't any data about Gleevec causing > issues with the > mind > > but I have read multiple posts of others that > complain of the same > > symptoms. We emailed Carolyn at Dr. Drukers > office and she reports > > that they have other patients that have complained > of the same > > symptoms. It is frustrating to be a parent and > not know how to > help > > your child. Tonight I had read a couple of > posts that > described > > some of the symptoms that others have experienced > and he confirmed > that > > those are the same symptoms he is experiencing. > my question to the > > group is, what has helped you work through the > mind fog and what > advice > > would you give ? > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ OMG, Sweet deal for users/friends:Get A Month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. W00t http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text2.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Thank you so much for your help. Words can express how much it means to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Thank you so much for your help. Words can express how much it means to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 There are a few days I am a bit out of it but most of the time I function about the same as before cml and gleevec (I am 41 and take only 400mg/day). I am a researcher and the cml didn't affect my job, beside a couple of weeks sick leave when I was dx. I blame the few days of mind fog on lack of sleep, work or normal life related stress, or the gleevec making me a little queasy that day. Lack of sleep and stress (for whatever reasons) can certainly affect brain function a lot. My own recipe when this happens is to work out a bit more the evening and to eat something light to help having a good night sleep. It sounds like your son is in remission for 7 years, I don't know his level of residual disease, but have Dr Druker or Dr Talpaz ever suggested easing up a bit on the 800mg/day of gleevec ? As some others mentioned going through college and university a bit off the normal course isn't always a bad thing. I started university 2 years late (French wasn't my native tongue), plus a couple of years spent in the army in the middle of my time at the university made me a pretty old student, but now I am a researcher at Stanford, so at the end it didn't matter that much. As long as it doesn't affect too much his confidence on himself. Marcos. On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 5:51 PM, <kconrad@...> wrote: > Hi, my son has been on Gleevec since age 12 and he sees Dr. Talpaz > regularly. He has made several trips to Oregon to see Dr. Druker before > Dr Talpaz moved to Michigan. He currently is on 800mg of Gleevec. > This is 's first year in College and he has had a tough time with > his studies. During his last visit with Dr. Talpaz he mentioned that > he has trouble focusing and his grades are suffering. Dr. Talpaz said > that there isn't any data about Gleevec causing issues with the mind > but I have read multiple posts of others that complain of the same > symptoms. We emailed Carolyn at Dr. Drukers office and she reports > that they have other patients that have complained of the same > symptoms. It is frustrating to be a parent and not know how to help > your child. Tonight I had read a couple of posts that described > some of the symptoms that others have experienced and he confirmed that > those are the same symptoms he is experiencing. my question to the > group is, what has helped you work through the mind fog and what advice > would you give ? > > > > > -- Marcos Perreau Guimaraes Suppes Brain Lab Ventura Hall - CSLI Stanford University 220 Panama street Stanford CA 94305-4101 650 614 2305 650 630 5015 (cell) marcospg@... montereyunderwater@... www.stanford.edu/~marcospg/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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