Concentration Problem

[Handoftheking]

I have a problem concentrating. Some background: In 2008 I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, a rare head and neck cancer. Good news: 95% 5 year survival. Bad news: treatment brutal. It was. I lost 4 stone in 6 months. Before we started chemotherapy and radiotherapy the consultant said be glad you're overweight. I was a touch over 18 stones. I had a constantly dry mouth and taste issues. 2 years later I had a recurrence in my neck and had a selective bi-lateral neck dissection. More problems. My gape was really reduced, making eating more difficult. I decided that it was time to retire from teaching. I was 62. 3 weeks before I retired one say I suddenly had double vision. Turned out to be radiation damage. No driving, no playing golf as I'd hoped to. A year later I had a recurrence at the original site. Terminal diagnosis later changed to36 more shots of radiotherapy. It worked, but at a cost. An inability to swallow whole food. I had numerous choking fits, some in restaurants. I also developed trigeminal neuralgia and 6 of my teeth just fell out. A year ago recurrence in nodes in neck and close to my collar bone. Another operation. My voice went just about and I am a linguist.
I am going to stop and answer my own thread because it's getting too long. Sorry.

[jennyjoan]

My heart goes out to you - what a nightmare for you xx

[Old_Geezer]

Separating paragraphs help understanding. If each has it's own nugget of information the length of the question is less important.

Maybe post a synopsis. Less of the history more of the presentj and the crucial bits involving the lack of concentration ? There are folk with medical experience that visit and may be able to suggest something.

[Old_Geezer]

Again with the untyped letter :-(
That was a comma !

[Handoftheking]

To continue: Bout 2 years ago I became very stressed and was sent for cognitive behaviour therapy. It helped, but it has returned big style. I try to do lots of things, but often can't remember what I was about to do. My brain has already gone on to the next thing. I'm I'm in my middle 60s now and I know that that is par for the course. I have coped really well, but some problems at home have ratcheted up my stress levels. I never seem to get as much done as I should. I don't think it is the onset if dementia because normally I'm just average. It is just as stress gets worse. I have had all my quota of NHS CBT. Can anyone suggest some way to deal with it? It is getting me down and I worry I'll do something irreversible. I am driving again and I have been fine. I had a bit of treatment to my eye and I've been given the all clear to drive. If anything I'm safer as I take zero risk. I jettison this to suggest it's not a persistent problem, but just comes on.
Any suggestions welcomed, particularly from those who may have experienced similar symptoms.

[Handoftheking]

I will try but I have very poor depth of field and do make errors. I wanted people to see that my problems are not from a trivial source.

[scorpiojo]

Have you spoken to your GP, Hotk?

An under active thyroid can cause comfusion if untreated. Any weight gain, feeling coldness, tiredness?

Stress can cause also cause confusion/forgetfulness. Is there anything you can do to reduce your stress level?

[scorpiojo]

Grrrrr

CoNfusion, like I typed.

[scorpiojo]

http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Psychological-therapies-(IAPT)/LocationSearch/10008

[Sqad]

Scorpiojo makes a good point....radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer can affect the thyroid and the pituitary gland.
However.......i suppose that your hormones, thyroid and pituitary have been checked.
If they are normal....I can only suggest a psychiatric opinion should be sought.

[Handoftheking]

Thanks Mark As Best Answer. I still have a problem losing weight. I'm 12 and a half stone so I'm not putting weight on I will ask my GP about the thyroid.

[Handoftheking]

God I'm new on here. I mean scorpiojoe

[scorpiojo]

Lol....no E :)