Author Topic: Memory loss after radio therapy  (Read 2916 times)

Me and my Schwanno

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Memory loss after radio therapy
« on: March 06, 2008, 10:34:17 pm »
I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced memory loss following radio therapy.  I've noticed a loss of short term memory that mildly interferes with my work to a degree that I must keep much more detailed notes than I did before.  To a much smaller degree I've noticed a loss of mid-term memory (going out months or a few years).  Finally, I've noticed a reduction in my ability to quickly process information.  This seemed to hit several months after the radio therapy, and about the same time I began to experience a reduction in hearing on the same side as my radio therapy.

My radiation oncologist says he's never heard of this as a side effect.
Left vestibular schwannoma diagnosed Feb. 2006, radiotherapy Jun. 2007 at Johns Hopkins, 1.2 x 1 x 1.6

Lorenzo

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Re: Memory loss after radio therapy
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2008, 04:59:51 am »
yes, well, they haven't heard of it in general. But, you're not alone in this! lol  I became the Post-it King! My desk looked like it was more Post-it than desk. It would have taken an archaeologist to find a particular note, and weeks of digging. By the way, Post-it didn't work for me in the end as I could never find the right one! Spiral notepad worked much better, and looked clearer too!  :) 

Short-term memory, mid term memory, concentration, comprehending what was going on at meetings, not really being able to process information as normal, getting overloaded at the slightest discussion with multiple inputs - like two people talking... Been there. Took a bit of time to get through that for me, but by the 8th month things started improving. At the time I had to get a dispensation from attending meetings and from doing anything involving groups of people. For a lecturing job, that's kind of difficult to do! lol  BUT, and this is the important part, things will improve. And one day you'll wake up and suddenly realise that you're feeling better and can handle things again, slowly. Happened to me, one night I was thinking 'this is hell!' and in the morning I felt fine!! Weird. Full memory recal and concentration didn't fully come back until about 10-12 months. And even now, at times it is still easy to get overloaded, depending the circumstances and the fatigue level.

Anyway, hope things will improve for you.

All the best, Lorenzo
« Last Edit: March 07, 2008, 05:05:19 am by Lorenzo »
CK, Stanford, Drs Chang and Hancock, Dec 04,
doing great now.

tony

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Re: Memory loss after radio therapy
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2008, 05:03:45 pm »
I might have thought more often post-surgery than radio
but you have more-or-less got it right
as the brain corrects for the "dis-function" on the balance, affected side,
alot of the short term memory is used up - to balance,
to walk straight, - and not fall over
And notes, and careful planning will get around some/most of the issues
for example, I hardly forget .........anything ?
Tony

calimama

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Re: Memory loss after radio therapy
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2008, 10:45:47 am »
Hmmm...
I hope it is the case that memory and concentration issues are a result of brain having to do extra work to compensate ... and not some permanent distruction of perfectly good brain cells!
I have a job which calls for meetings and more meetings, lots of thinking, writing (clearly, consisely) and "advising". I wonder if i might have to ask for a move to some lighter duties for a while??
Anyway, GK still seems like best bet to me...

It is great to find out things like this "before"!

thanks.
Left 2.9cm CP Angle AN discovered Jan 2008. Retrosig surgery June 2, 2008 Toronto, Canada. Facial paralysis and numbness, double vision (4th nerve), SSD. DV totally recovered in 4th month; palsy started to recover slowly around month 7. Had twin boys 13 months after surgery. Doing great.

mema

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Re: Memory loss after radio therapy
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2008, 03:48:08 pm »
Short term memory loss is what seemed to effect me.  I'll say to my husband you know what?  His answer what?????????I completely forget that quick what I wanted to say.



                                                           mema
6mm x 8mm left AN FSR 26 treatments Nov.-Dec.2005
MD Anderson Orlando, Fl.

kat

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Re: Memory loss after radio therapy
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2008, 09:03:59 am »
Hi everyone

As much as I hate to admit it my memory is getting worse and I am having to write lists all the time . I love watching TV quizes and
am thrilled to bits if I do quite well but lately even the most obvious answers that I know for sure are taking their time to come up .
Having said that my husband who has no AN is just as bad and he just puts it down to getting older and having too many things to think about at the same time . One thing for sure is that my handwriting as well as spelling is getting worse and I end up typing everything since I am having trouble even reading my own writing sometimes .

Regards Kat
2.2 cm AN diagnosed July 2004 . GK at  the Royal Hallamshire
Sheffield UK in April 2005 2nd MRI in December 06 showed signs of the AN shrinking and MRI in FEB 08 showed no change . SO FAR SO GOOD .

mema

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Re: Memory loss after radio therapy
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2008, 12:15:45 pm »
Kat,


I think your right about memory loss and age related.  As we get older I am 59 we tend to forget things more often and not as quickly.    My sister  is 50 and she too is noticing memory issues.


 
                                            mema
6mm x 8mm left AN FSR 26 treatments Nov.-Dec.2005
MD Anderson Orlando, Fl.