I’d read alot about potential side effects from chemo. Some were worse than others, but this one I was not prepared for at all…..
I don’t get out much.
To be frank, my red & white blood cell counts bounced around in May & June which limited my activity. Plus, exhaustion & a GI side effect were key issues.
Doctor’s appointments & Winn Dixie/Sam’s are my big social excursions nowadays. I’m getting back to church now, too, which is the highlight of my week!
Being in public comes with mixed emotions.
One of the weird side effects I experienced from chemo was….stuttering.
It surfaced in late April, during the dose dense AC chemo treatments.
That’s right – stuttering.
I’ve never experienced stuttering before, even as a little girl. But in April, my mind began racing to formulate thoughts but I just can’t articulate it fast enough.
Interestingly enough, the stuttering would come & go. If I felt overwhelmed or exhausted, the stuttering immediately surfaced. I was very self conscious about this, and started avoided the situations where multiple people might talk to me at once. However, avoidance was not the answer!
For those of you that know me, you know I am quite social! Avoidance of others is just not in my DNA.
I was super ok with written prose communication – I could text you all day long! But call me on the phone for a conversation, and well that’s where I would struggle.
Here is what I did to battle the chemo brain stuttering:
- I purposefully put myself in situations where I would be asked questions.
In late June, Copa took me to Sam’s, for example. He made sure I am the one to greet the cash register attendant. I asked them about their day, etc. He stood by my side in case a rescue was needed! At church, he stood right by my elbow and gently guided me outside if I felt overwhelmed. Every few days, he took me out for a 30 minute outing that would ensure I would have a verbal exchange with a stranger. This sounds weird, I know, but it helped me recover. - Practicing with family. Yes, I’m very comfortable with my family members…both in person & on the phone. This helped me immensely.
The further out I am from the AC chemo the better I am getting with conquering stuttering. I think it is like chemo brain, in that respect. Time dissipates the effects.
Now, it is barely noticeable! If I had not forcefully put myself in uncomfortable situations I might have succumbed to stuttering.
It was almost debilitating at one point in May…..
But, I stayed focused on overcoming this very odd side effect! I was able to have a GREAT 4th of July with Cancer and am feeling soooo much better.
It’s the #JoyOfJesus that keeps me going! I’m so glad to put this behind me and move forward with my life again!
xoxo,
Heather
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