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Partner struggling with work and concentration...

Hannah8
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Hi everyone,

My partner was diagnosed Grade III anaplastic astrocytoma 2 years ago at 26 years old and has the usual side effects; fatigue, difficult concentrating, short term memory problems. He is doing great and has recently decided he wants to go back to work because he hates being at home and feels like he has no purpose, he used to work in marketing and spent his days working on PCs. He has recently gone back and planned on working 1 day a week to et into it, but 2 hours into his day he had to leave because of tenseness up his body and blurry vision from too much concentration.

Has anyone else had similar problems with concentration? Is it something that he could build up over time? I have suggested he works a few hours on and off over the day (his work are brilliant and very accomodating) but he is well and truley disheartened and now feels like he can't do anything at all and that his concentration will never get better. I am trying to give him as much positivity and encouragement as possible so would like hear some stories from others :)

Thank you,

Hannah

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    I've always had a pretty rubbish memory but since having myeloma and treatment, as well as ongoing anaemia, I have what is termed 'mild cognitive impairment'.

    Both long and short term memory are shot. I cannot concentrate, cannot plan and cannot think, Such thoughts that I have are reactive - I hear or read something and a response is triggerred. I remain articulate in the main but can forget words.

    As it happens, I'm a long-term taker of anti-depressants which make me unable to hold a negative thought for more than a few seconds so basically, I don't care. About having cancer, about having two stomas, or about the cognitive impairment.

    For me personally this seems to be a permanent state of affairs and can occasionally be such that I'm completely lost as to what's happening about me, though this only lasts a day or part of it.

    I suppose that it's a bit like having some form of dementia, although I'm aware of it. I suppose there could actually be an element of dementia but I've not had any investigation of it, so I don't know.

    Not sure if this helps in any way and maybe not a positive you were hoping for but it's my experience.

     

    Best Regards

    Taff

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    Hi Hannah,

    Pardon my ignorance, but what sort of treatment did your partner receive?

    I ask because his symptoms are similar to some of the side effects of both chemo and radiotherapy. If that is the cause, his symptoms should diminish over time. 

    Too many of us try to get back into the workforce too early. I certainly did and regretted it as like him my concentration was diminished. I also became even more short-tempered than I usually am and intolerant of people's problems which seemed so petty in comparison to having an incurable and inoperable cancer. As adults we often make the mistake of defining ourselves by what we do, rather than who we are. Cancer shocked me into reviewing my own lifestyle and redefining myself in many ways. 

    Four years on and my situation is thankfully much improved.

    Good luck, I hope your partner pulls through this and gets his mojo back soon.

    Dave

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